MARCH 24, 2012

THE ARMENIAN

Mirror -Spe ctaItn Ouor Mirror -Spe ctatror 80th Year Volume LXXXII, NO. 37, Issue 4231 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language in the United States Since 1932 Armenian Journalist Slams Anti-Armenian Armenian Patriarchate Files Suit in Radio Program YEREVAN (Mediamax) — Mediamax received an Turkey for Return of Properties open letter from former employee of the Armenian service of the radio station, Anna Karapetyan, “addressed to all those who will receive Steven Korn in Yerevan.” Korn, the pres - Sansaryan Buildings Are Sought ident of Radio Liberty/Free Europe (RFE/RL), was in Yerevan for meetings. from Government In the letter she complains that the radio sta - tion “fully repeated the lie of the Azerbaijani ISTANBUL (Hürriyet Daily News) — The Hürriyet Daily News last state propaganda presenting the Xocali [Khojaly] Armenian Patriarchate has filed a land - week. events as the start to the Karabagh war” in its mark suit in Ankara on March 14 for the The patriarchate also English-language programs on February 26 and return of the historical Sansaryan School in demanded the return of 27. the eastern province of Erzurum that was other properties in the Karapetyan noted that the Armenian service the site of the 1919 Erzurum Congress, an Central Anatolian of RFE/RL did not issue a response. Moreover, assembly led by the founder of the modern province of Sivas for - the Armenian and Russian services of the radio Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. merly owned by the station refused the offer on interviewing Czech “Some other foundations belong to Sansaryan Foundation journalist Dana Mazalova, who was an eyewit - [minority] communities, but the Sansaryan in the lawsuit it filed ness of the events in 1992. Foundation was granted to the patriarchate March 14. by philanthropist Migirdiç Sansaryan in the “We are not going to 1800s. The administration and manage - content ourselves with Acting Armenian Patriarch Aram Ateshyan Activist Accuses ment of the Sansaryan Foundation legally the mere return of his - belongs to the patriarchate,” lawyer Ali torical buildings. We are Armenian Parties of Elbeyoglu, who represents the Turkish- also going to demand compensation from material losses incurred by the patriarchate Armenian Patriarchate in court, told the the Foundations General Directorate for all since 1936,” Elbeyoglu said. Forgetting Javakhk Upon the government’s request, Turkey’s YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Artak minority groups in 1936 gave the govern - Gabrielyan, coordinator of the Samtskhe-Javakhk ment declarations detailing their real prop - Council of Armenian non-government organiza - Armenian Woman Killed in Syria Blast erty. Over the years, however, many of tions (NGOs) said Armenian parties are not help - these properties did not remain registered ing to settle the problems in Javakhk. ALEPPO (ArmeniaNow) — An ethnic killed in the deadly attack. Five more under the minority foundations’ names and Their existence and activities remain unno - Armenian woman was killed in a bomb Syrian Armenians were reportedly injured some were even sold to third parties. ticed in the territory of Samtskhe-Javakhk, he attack here, on Sunday amid continuing in a terrorist act in the capital Damascus, Turkey’s Foundations General said at a press conference. clashes between rebel groups and the gov - according to the French-Armenian maga - Directorate expropriated the Sansaryan When asked whether the council of Armenian ernment army in the restive Middle Eastern zine, Nouvelles d`Arménie . Foundation citing the 1936 Declaration, NGOs supports any Armenian parties, country. The strife in Syria that has entered its according to Elbeyoglu. Gabrielyan said the issue is still undecided. A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign second year is increasingly becoming a con - The Turkish-Armenian patriarchate also filed Affairs of said, citing a report con - cern for the country’s estimated 80,000- another suit against the Foundations firmed by the Armenian Consulate in member Armenian community. Earlier this Directorate General in recent months demand - Armenian, Turkish Aleppo, that the bomb blast occurred in the year, Vigen Hayrapetian, a Syrian soldier, ing that the Sansaryan Shopping Center in city’s mostly-Christian Sulemaniyeh neigh - was among the victims of a series of deadly Istanbul’s Eminönü district be returned to the Filmmakers to Meet in borhood. Araxie Bedrossian, was reportedly explosions in Aleppo. patriarchate. However, the head of Turkey’s Istanbul Foundations Directorate General has said it will not be returned despite a ruling by an ISTANBUL (Panorama.am) — The upcoming NANCY KALAJIAN PHOTO Istanbul court to impose an interim injunction Armenia-Turkey Cinema Platform workshop will Atom Egoyan over the building. be held April 11-14, at the Istanbul International see PROPERTIES, page 4 Film Festival, the Golden Apricot International Receives Chlotrudis Film Festival press service reported. Films in the short, documentary and feature- Hall of Fame Award length film categories are eligible. Former Employee Sues The top film in Istanbul, as well as the one Premieres ‘Calendar’ in in Yerevan at Golden Apricot, win $10,000 Cafesjian for Back Pay each, donated by the Eurasia Partnership HD at Brattle Theatre Foundation. By Dan Browning By Nancy Kalajian Special to the Mirror-Spectator ST. PAUL, Minn. (Star Tribune) — Gerard INSI DE Cafesjian is best known in Minnesota as an CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — On Sunday, art aficionado and March 18, the Chlotrudis Society for the primary bene - Independent Film honored director factor who helped Avedisian Atom Egoyan during its 18th Annual preserve the his - Chlotrudis Awards Ceremony at the his - toric State Fair toric Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square. carousel that now Mission Egoyan was honored with a special bears his name in Chlotrudis Hall of Fame Award for his Como Park. Story on page 10 achievements as a filmmaker and was The longtime accompanied by his wife, actress director of Arsinée Khanjian. Cafesjian’s family The Chlotrudis Society is a - foundation says in based non-profit group that teaches a federal lawsuit Gerard Cafesjian INDEX people to view film actively, experience that Cafesjian was Arts and Living ...... 12 the world through independent film also a tough boss Armenia ...... 2 and engage in discussion. The group who has become increasingly paranoid, Community News...... 5 works with film festivals, local art-hous - miserly and vindictive as he has aged — and Editorial ...... 18 es and theatres, production companies, Atom Egoyan accepts the Trudy Award. who stiffed the employee out of more than International ...... 3, 4 see EGOYAN, page 8 $5 million in salary. see CAFESJIAN, page 8

Benefit for the Armenian Mirror-Spectator Celebrating 80 Years and Beyond Thursday, May 24, 2012 2 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Makes Major Commitment to ATP Concerned over YEREVAN — In recognition of programs in northern Armenia, mainte - program, since they are desperately in Tensions in Karabagh Armenia Tree Project’s (ATP) successful nance of recently planted forests, envi - need of green spaces.” YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Iran’s position record in tree planting, environmental ronmental education programs that The seedlings for ATP’s reforestation on the Nagorno Karabagh issue remains education and sustainable develop - train teachers and inspire youth and programs are grown in the Mirak unchanged, with the country continuing to urge for ment, the Norwegian peaceful settlement of the conflict, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Embassy in Armenia said in a statement. has awarded a $1.2-million Iran’s policy on conflict settlement is based on grant to ATP. The funding mediation efforts towards establishment of a dia- will help to underwrite a logue between the conflicting parties to achieve portion of ATP’s core pro - sustainable peace and stability in the region, the grams through 2014. statement said. “One of the primary As the only country sharing a border with the objectives of our partner - conflict zone, Iran expressed concern over the esca- ship with the Norwegian lation of regional tensions. government is to mitigate the impacts of climate change,” explains SEEDS Nine Iranians Injured in Program Manager Vardan Melikyan, “and we plan to Yerevan Grenade Attack do this through raising YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Officials say 10 people — awareness about conserva - including nine Iranian nationals — were injured in tion issues, planting trees a grenade explosion at a nightclub. The injuries are to promote sustainable not believed to be life-threatening. development in Armenia, Yerevan police officials say an unknown attacker and fostering a sense of threw a grenade inside the Alen-Elen nightclub on personal commitment March 20. about the importance of The motive for the attack was not clear. environmental steward - ship.” ATP launched an excit - Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has awarded a $1.2-million grant to underwrite a portion of Three Armenia-bound ing new program in 2011 — ATP’s core programs through 2014; these ATP programs are led by, from left, CTP Manager Tourists Killed in Social, Economic, and Arthur Harutyunyan, Forestry Manager Ani Haykuni, Nursery Manager Samvel Ghandilyan, Environmental Education Manager Manya Gevorgyan and SEEDS Manager Vardan Melikyan. Iranian Coach Crash Development for Sustainability (SEEDS). It YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — Three people were has allowed ATP to build killed on Tuesday after a coach carrying tourists to capacity in its reforestation programs community trainings for sustainable for - Family Nursery in Village Armenia crashed in northern Iran. while improving results through new est management. and in backyard nurseries in the Getik Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman Tigran methods of program delivery. These In 2011, ATP’s SEEDS Program River Valley. These newly planted Balayan cited a report from the Armenian Embassy include a greater emphasis on commu - planted 186,785 tree seedlings on com - forests are established with oak, pine, in Tehran saying that all of the victims were ethnic nity development and investing in social munity lands in , Jrashen, ash, apple and pear seedlings, which are Armenians with Iranian citizenship. capital in the areas where ATP is plant - , and Tsakhkaber in the native to the region. More than a dozen people were injured in the ing trees. Lori region. The SEEDS team also “In addition to planting trees, coach crash reportedly caused by a wheel blast. “Over the past 17 years, ATP has maintained previously planted sites to ATP’s SEEDS Program also addresses Thousands of Iranians come to Armenia every been quite successful at getting things improve survival rates by clearing grass community development and socio- year during Nowruz, the Persian New Year cele- done on the ground in Armenia, and around thousands of seedlings that sur - economic issues in order to mitigate brated around the Spring Equinox. this was made possible through the sup - vived their first growing season. some of the root causes of deforesta - port of the diaspora,” adds Melikyan. “We have ambitious plans for 2012,” tion and unsustainable land use. This “We believe this grant from Norway notes Forestry Manager Ani Haykuni. includes providing jobs for hundreds Burberry Takes Jazzve demonstrates an investment in our “ATP plans to establish new forests in of workers in the Lori region for sea - Coffee to Court track record and commitment to excel - partnership with the communities of sonal tree planting, and partnering lence, and we hope it will inspire others Saratovka and Sverdlov, which have with other organizations who can YEREVAN (news.am) — Burberry Ltd., the British to join in support of our mission.” already provided nearly 80 hectares of bring their development expertise to luxury fashion house, manufacturing clothing, fra- The Norway funding will provide par - land for tree planting. ATP has been communities where we are working,” grance and fashion accessories, says that Jazzve tial support for some of ATP’s core pro - working with local partners to create Melikyan said. “These jobs mean peo - Ltd. in Armenia is using its distinctive tartan pat- grams including tree planting initiatives small community forests. Towns and vil - ple can work in their communities tern trademark without permission. in towns and villages throughout lages that are located far from forested and don’t have to emigrate to Russia The trademark was registered at the Republic of Armenia, an expansion of reforestation areas are given special attention in this to earn a living.” Armenia Ministry of Economic in February 2011. Burberry wrote to Jazzve in November of last year, urging the company to stop using its trade- mark. The British firm has now taken the case to the Russian Mining Firm Plans to Triple Gold Production in Armenia Yerevan Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — A Russian reconstruction of the Ararat smelter es for what it called mismanagement Court for adjudication. company exploiting Armenia’s largest built in Soviet times. The plant’s mod - and serious legal violations. In particu - Burberry was founded in 1856 and according to gold mines has reported a sharp rise in ernization is due to be completed in lar, it claimed that the Russians’ 2008 Business Weekly is the 98th most valuable brand in output last year and pledged to raise 2013. licensing agreement with the the world. The company has 475 stores in 48 coun- production levels further after mod - Government statistics confirm a sig - Armenian Ministry of Energy and tries. ernizing its gold smelter in the south - nificant increase in gold production by Natural Resources was signed in viola - ern town. GPM Gold and several other firms min - tion of the country’s mining legislation YSU Student, 21, Alive The GeoProMining group purchased ing gold in smaller deposits elsewhere and regulations. the Ararat Gold Recovery Company, in Armenia. According to the Customs GPM Gold rejected the accusations After Suicide Attempt now called GPM Gold, from Indian Service, Armenian gold exports rose, and said it will take the parliamentary investors in 2007. The company, which in physical terms, by 62 percent to over body to court. But with the Armenian YEREVAN (Tert.am) — A female student of Yerevan has exclusive rights to the massive 1.6 tons in January-September 2011. government essentially ignoring the State University (YSU) attempted to commit suicide gold deposits at Sotk, eastern Armenia, The National Statistical Service Audit Chamber’s recommendations, the by throwing herself off a 12th-floor balcony last stood idle at the time. Large-scale pro - (NSS) reported last month that total scandal seems to have been laid to rest. Monday, but remained alive due to a break in her duction operations there resumed only export revenue from precious metals GPM Gold has also been at odds fall. in 2010. and gem diamonds was up by as much with Armenian environment protection A special rescue team arriving on the scene found In an interview with the Regnum as 46 percent, at over $196.4 million, groups. They cried foul last year after the 21-year-old on metallic clothesline, reporter news agency, the GPM Gold chairman, in 2011. the company began building a gold ore Gagik Shamshyan told Aravot.am. Rescuers pulled Roman Khudoliy, said GPM Gold near - The Armenian gold mining industry, crusher at Sotk, not far from the eco - her down and handed her over to an ambulance ly doubled gold production to 40,000 dominated by foreign investors, has logically vital Lake Sevan. Armenian team. She was hospitalized with serious injuries. ounces last year. He said it plans to greatly benefited from the current law bans any manufacturing activity The neighbors told the police that the girl, a smelt 120,000 ounces of gold next record-high prices of gold in the global involving toxic emissions in the vicinity fourth-year student at the university, had psycho- year. markets. of Sevan. logical problems. Khudoliy added that the Russian Despite rising production volumes GPM Gold also owns another The Investigative Department of the police has group would make $200 million in and earnings, GPM Gold has had a Armenian company that mines copper launched an inquest into the circumstances of the additional capital investments in its bumpy ride in Armenia. In November and molybdenum in the southeastern incident. Armenian subsidiary for that purpose. 2010, the Armenian parliament’s Audit Syunik province. It also has extensive He said the bulk of them would be Chamber urged the government to interests in neighboring Georgia’s min - channeled in the ongoing capital revoke the company’s operating licens - ing sector. S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 INTERNATIONAL Salacious Video Defames Journalist International News Critical of Azerbaijani Government Policeman Who Posed With Dink Killer looks like she got enough ‘freedom’ tion in countries around the world, By Ben Brumfield now,” according to Radio Liberty’s ranks Azerbaijan slightly worse than Promoted translation. The article went on to Pakistan, on a level with Belarus and ISTANBUL (Hurriyet Daily News) — A police officer describe salacious details of the video Nigeria. It used to be lower. that was photographed posing with Hrant Dink BAKU (CNN) — A compromising and pointed out where it could be found In May, Azerbaijan will host the murderer Ogün Samast behind a Turkish flag video has appeared on the Internet of on the Internet. Eurovision Song Contest, with partici - immediately after the assassination has been pro- an investigative journalist who has been The video has triggered support for pants coming from Europe, North moted, the daily Radikal reported this week. extensively reporting on government Ismayilova from human rights activists Africa and parts of the Middle East. Yakup Kurtaran, who was a fourth-class police corruption in Azerbaijan. but also from an unlikely group. Journalists from about 40 countries are officer in the Black Sea province of Samsun at the Khadija Ismayilova, a radio talk show Religious conservatives, who are usual - also expected, which will mean time of the murder, has been appointed as the pub- host, is afraid the sexually explicit ly among her critics, have come to her increased global press exposure. lic security deputy manager in the eastern province images could ignite religious rage aid. Azerbaijan has a reputation at stake of Malatya. against her in the conservative country. The elders in the conservative town of and seems to respond to intense, con - The controversial photo was taken on January The video of her and her boyfriend Nardaran, while pointing out that they stant international pressure — “but with 20, 2007, after Samast was detained and taken to was recorded via a hidden camera in her often disagree with Ismayilova, said in a a lot of resistance,” Ognianova said. the anti-terror office in Samsun. bedroom and then posted anonymously statement that they “strongly deplore “The country has become more Kurtaran and other officers were suspended after on a website imitating the homepage of this blackmail against Khadija and sophisticated in their repression of criti - the photo was revealed; initially, Kurtaran was the New Equality Party, a rival of the demand it stop.” cal voices,” she said. “The government docked one day’s pay for his role in the photo, but ruling New Azerbaijan Party. Ismayilova believes that the support tactics of sneaky punching in the gut the penalty was later rescinded by a Samsun court. Social mores in the Muslim society from mosque communities and other has happened before.” Authorities launched an investigation into the are not as strict as they are in neigh - conservatives “could have saved my The website featuring the Ismayilova unidentified people who leaked the photo on boring Iran, Ismayilova says, but they life.” video was traced back to a web hosting charges of “breaching an investigation’s secrecy by are “similar to rural Turkey.” Honor Journalist advocacy groups across the company based in Texas called featuring photos and videos in the visual and print killings for behavior outside of accepted world have also called on the personal HostGator. CNN contacted the company media.” morals are a reality in Azerbaijan. attacks to stop. “Azerbaijan must halt to ask about who posted the website Samast was sentenced to over 22 years in prison The video surfaced a week after smear campaign against reporter,” read with the video. Despite multiple last year for the January 19, 2007, murder of Dink, Ismayilova received a threatening letter a news release from the Committee to requests, a customer service representa - a Turkish-Armenian journalist. by mail “containing photos of a person - Protect Journalists on the day the video tive refused to connect CNN with its al nature,” according to a news release appeared. Reporters Without Borders press office or give out its telephone from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. opened its reaction statement with the number. An e-mail to multiple recipients Turkish PM Denied “I received a package with pictures word “despicable.” at the company remains unanswered. suggesting I have a sexual life,” They say this has happened before. Ismayilova says that although she is German Award Ismayilova said, “and the note saying: “Journalists in Azerbaijan are fre - now in danger, she wants her story told. BERLIN (AFP) — Organizers of a German prize for ‘You whore, behave. Or you will be quently subjected to smear or intimida - “It needs to be made public,” she said. humanity and tolerance Saturday decided against defamed.’” tion campaigns as punitive action and “It needs to be turned to embarrass - honoring Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip People in high places could have rea - are sometimes forced to leave the coun - ment for those who are doing it.” Erdogan as 25,000 people protested against him son to be angry with Ismayilova for her try,” the journalism group said, citing On her account after receiv - receiving the award. reporting. She has written articles its own research. ing the initial photos, she wrote, “I am The plan to hand Erdogan the 2012 Steiger implying that the daughters of Nina Ognianova, the committee’s pro - convinced and determined that I can Award had been heavily criticized in Germany, President Ilham Aliyev could have a gram coordinator for Europe and withstand any blackmail campaign where Turkish authorities have been accused of secret ownership stake in Azerfon, the Central Asia, said Azerbaijan is one of against me.” human rights abuses, notably against the minority country’s major mobile telecom compa - the most authoritarian countries she At that time, she had sent an official Kurdish population. ny. She has also connected the presi - has covered. letter to the prosecutor’s office, request - The award organizers said they changed their dent’s family to the ownership of a bank “In 2009, it was the leading jailor of ing an investigation. She received no mind because Erdogan was not traveling to and alleged that the relationship was journalists in the region, with 11 behind response. Germany to receive the award at a ceremony used for shady dealings. bars,” she said. “They never called me,” she said. “They Saturday night in the western city of Bochum, Presidential spokesman Elnur She recalled a similar case to never asked for additional materials. They German news agency DPA reported. Aslanov declined to comment on Ismayilova’s, one that involved sexual never asked for the envelope.” Erdogan cancelled his trip to Germany after the Ismayilova’s stories, but he condemned claims being spread about an indepen - On Friday, two days after the video deaths of 12 Turkish soldiers in a helicopter crash the video a day after it surfaced, blam - dent journalist. The journalist was por - appeared, the prosecutor’s office called in Afghanistan, his office said Friday. ing it on “subversive forces who try to trayed by pro-government media as her to question her about her request. German police said some 25,000 people, mostly violate the stability in Azerbaijan.” being homosexual. Officials agreed to open a criminal case of Turkish origin, demonstrated Saturday in Aslanov also said Thursday that “The labeling put the journalist in on charges of violation of privacy, but Bochum. Among them were members of minorities authorities “will make all efforts to iden - peril,” Ognianova such as the Kurds, Alevis and Armenians, who tify and punish the persons who are said. “He almost accuse him of persecuting their community. behind this dirty action.” died in a stabbing Erdogan had originally been due to receive the Ismayilova, however, calls the attack, and some - prize “in the name of the Turkish people” on the spokesman’s statements “absolutely one tried to push 50th anniversary of a pact between Germany and insincere ... absolutely outrageous.” She him under a Turkey to admit hundreds of thousands of Turkish believes that the government is punish - train.” workers into Germany. ing her for her stories. The govern - About three million Turks or Germans of Turkish After all, the ruling party has raked ment, however, origin live in Germany. her over the coals in print, she said, disputes accusa - tying her ethnic background to tions that it Armenia. represses journal - Protesters Counter Tensions run high between ism. Azerbaijan and Armenia over the dis - “Azerbaijan is Racist Rally puted breakaway region Nagorno- an open democra - ISTANBUL (news.am) — In response to the anti- Karabagh, as well as Armenia’s military tic state with free Armenian demonstration held here on February 26, occupation of adjacent Azerbaijani ter - media,” said Khadija Ismayilova held under the pretense of commemorating the ritory. Creating the impression that Aslanov, who is Khojaly killings of Azeris by Armenians, a demon- Ismayilova is connected to Armenia can also head of the stration against discrimination and racism was held easily stoke additional passions against country’s Political Analysis and she also had asked for an investigation last week. her with the Azerbaijani public. Information Department. into her allegation about efforts to hin - Close to 1,000 people gathered to protest against “They’ve been accusing me of work - The Aliyev family has held on to der her work as a journalist and is still the earlier anti-Armenian demonstration, according ing for the enemies of the country,” she power for nearly four decades. The cur - awaiting a response. to the Turkish website, Demokrathaber. said. rent president’s father, Heydar Aliyev, The same day, Ismayilova was at a The participants held signs condemning racism, One day before the contentious video was in office for almost 30 years before gathering of civic society groups sup - xenophobia and discrimination. of Ismayilova surfaced, an article he died. The current president ascended porting her, and Radio Free Europe Journalist Yasar Guven delivered a speech on appeared on a pro-government news to the office in a landslide election that streamed it live on its home page. Radio behalf of those who gathered. website, again bringing up questions was boycotted by opposition parties and Free Europe/Radio Liberty receives “We shall not leave the Armenians on their own. about her ethnic background. It also criticized as below standards by the funding from the US government to We call upon those who bear human values to unite attacked her private life: “Khadija is a Organization for Security and practice critical journalism in countries against nationalism, racism and xenophobia,” permanent resident of Baku’s expensive Cooperation in Europe, which monitors where it is perceived to be less free. Guven stated. bars and clubs. She never hid her affec - elections internationally. Also Friday, the explicit Ismayilova Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s tion for alcohol and fast living. She The former Soviet republic has recent - video disappeared from view in the US Party (CHP) MP Mahmut Tan criticized Prime often makes fun of the upbringing and ly raised its profile on the international and elsewhere. Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statements that values of Azerbaijani women.” stage. It was elected to the UN Security “It’s still available in Azerbaijan, but spread vengeance and enmity. A day after the video appeared, a pro- Council in October and has put in a bid not in the Czech Republic,” said Kenan government newspaper, Iki Sahil , wrote, to host the 2020 Summer Olympics. Aliyev, who runs Radio Liberty’s “In her articles very often Khadija But Transparency International, Azerbaijani service from Prague. “They would say ‘give me a freedom’ and it which tracks the perception of corrup - are targeting Azerbaijan.” 4 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL Armenia Invited to Join International Scientific Team

VIENNA — The president of the Scientific sis tools developed by Chilingarian and his sci - Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics entists. (SCOSTEP), Dr. Nat Gopalswany, on February Stated Gopalswamy, “Armenia has been 13, invited Armenia to join SCOSTEP as an very active in the Solar Terrestrial Physics adherent member. This invitation is a direct research area with lots of young researchers result of the monumental achievements of the active and making their presence known with Cosmic Ray Division (CRD) of the Yerevan excellent publications. Armenian scientists Physics Institute in the global scientific arena. have also been contributing enormously to In his invitation Gopalswamy noted the the physics of -Earth system by creat - valuable contribution of Armenia’s scientists ing observing facilities and data analysis tools, and of Prof. Ashot Chilingaryan to under - and are recognized internationally. For this standing the physics of Sun-Earth interac - reason, I invite Armenia to become an official member of the Scientific Committee on Solar Terrestrial Physics.” Gopalswamy is a noted research scientist at the US National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA). Chilingarian is the director of Armenia’s Yerevan Physics Institute, Prof. Ashot Chilingarian (back row, second from right) with some of the ISWI colleagues at the the head of its Cosmic UN subcommittee meeting in Vienna Ray Division (CRD), a noted scientist research - ing cosmic ray physics world, Chilingarian reported on CRD’s Space Austria on February 6 – 12. and space weather — the Environmental Viewing and Analysis Network On a further note, in February Chilingarian effects of solar distur - (SEVAN), which is a network of cosmic ray visited a number of National Scientific bances on the earth’s monitors which are designed and made in Laboratories in Germany and Austria, meet - environment, and a pro - Armenia and are being deployed in a number ing and solidifying relationships with their fessor of cosmic ray Prof. Ashot Chilingarian with NASA’s Dr. Nat Gopalswamy and of countries. The ISWI currently has 15 directors. In his visits to these research insti - Dr. Joseph Davilia, co-chairmen of the ISWI physics at Yerevan State instrument projects either under development tutions, Chilingarian noted the large number University with several or in deployment in 101 countries. These of scientists from Armenia who, after the col - PhD students under his instrument deployments are coordinated by lapse of the Soviet Union and Armenia’s diffi - tions. In his letter to Prof. Samvel wings. scientists from Armenia, France, Japan, cult economic situation, moved to scientific Harutunyan, chairman of Armenia’s State In mid-February, the United Nations Office Switzerland and the United States. institutions in Europe. Committee on Science, Gopalswamy cited the of Outer Space Affairs held its International The conclusions from the steering commit - During discussions, Chilingarian worked to enormous Armenian scientific contributions Space Weather Initiative (ISWI) steering com - tee meetings were reported to the United establish collaborative relations between from both the data collected at observatories mittee meeting in Vienna. As a member of this Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of these expatriate Armenian scientists and their on Armenia’s Mt. Aragats and the data analy - elite group of scientists from around the Outer Space 49th session held in Vienna, colleagues in Armenia. Iran Sanctions Put Wrinkle in Turkish Trade

Tunisia and Egypt,” says Kapiyoldas from his the past decade to top $3.5 billion last year, for orders with cash carried across the border By Joe Parkinson smoke-filled office above a clothing store in plunged 25 percent in January from December, in suitcases Istanbul’s Osmanbey district, where more than as sanctions pushed the real value of Iran’s cur - As a result, businesses across Turkey that had 4,000 textile retailers jostle for space — and mar - rency, the rial, as much as 55 percent lower expected sales to surge in the run up to the ISTANBUL (Wall Street Journal) — When ket share — in an area of about one square mile. against the dollar. Persian New Year festival this week, are now Yasar Kapiyoldas landed hundreds of orders The businesses had also attracted Iran’s youth - All Turkish banks but one have stopped pro - bracing for a sustained slump and, in some worth tens of thousands of dollars in Iran, he ful population, which lapped up more-contem - cessing payments for Iranian customers, while cases, mothballing stock. thought his clothing company could offset loss - porary designs from established producers in higher costs have seen the number of Iranians Travel agents report that tourist numbers and es from its slowing Europe and Middle East Turkey, a regional textile hub. visiting Turkey tumble. hotel bookings fell as much as 80 percent from markets. “We have thousands of long ladies’ overcoats Turkey has refused to adopt tougher unilat - last year, and tourist spending has fallen Just two months later, with fresh sanctions that were ready to ship to Tehran that we can’t eral sanctions against Iran from the US and the sharply. causing a run on the currency and soaring infla - sell anywhere else,” he said. “Now what am I European Union, instead stressing its commit - “Sanctions have hammered their currency, so tion in Iran, every one of Kapiyoldas’ orders has going to do with them?” ment to the weaker United Nations measures Iranian companies are now terrified because been canceled. Some clients have defaulted on The fresh wave of sanctions feeding panic in passed in 2010, and to buying Iranian oil and our business is done in dollars,” said Ali Ulvi their payments. Thousands of garments made Iran’s economy are hitting businesses in North gas, albeit at a declining rate. But the deterio - Orhan, head of Osmanbey textile traders asso - for the conservative Iranian market are now Atlantic Treaty Organization-member Turkey, rating trade business removes a major tie ciation. “Our members are badly affected gathering dust in his company’s depot. upending a boom in bilateral trade that was between Ankara and Tehran, which are increas - because the Iranians have basically disap - We thought Iran would be the solution after underpinned by improving diplomatic ties. ingly splitting along sectarian lines over Middle peared. Even if they’re here, many can’t pay.” the revolutions killed our business in Libya, Turkish exports to Iran, which surged 12-fold in East conflicts. Turkey’s trade with Iran has been lopsided — “A trade relationship that has grown rapidly Iranian exports of natural gas to Turkey made in recent years is now being pressured by poli - up more than 70 percent of the $12.5 billion tics,” said Arzu Celalifer, a professor of interna - total last year. But that ratio has declined in tional relations at USAK, the International recent years as strengthening diplomatic ties Armenian Patriarchate Files Suit in Strategic Research Organization, in Ankara. and visa-free travel boosted trade in everything “That trade decline is one component of how from textiles to flat-screen televisions. Turkey for Return of Properties Turkey and Iran increasingly have differences Data published Thursday show that trend on Middle Eastern issues. They’re now just try - accelerating, as Turkish imports of crude oil PROPERTIES, from page 1 ing a link between the lawsuit and the ing to preserve the minimal mutual interest,” from Iran plunged 40 percent on the month in “This runs counter to all international legal Foundations Law that recently came into effect. Last year, the pressure being levied on December, partially offset by an 86 percent rise [norms] as well as the Treaty of Lausanne. The The Turkish government enacted a measure Iranian traders’ rials by sanctions was offset by in purchases from Saudi Arabia. Patriarchate is still in possession of the title that went into effect on August 27, 2011, to a sharp decline in the Turkish lira, which fell Traders say pockets of bilateral business con - deed,” Elbeyoglu said. return properties seized from minority founda - almost 20 percent against the dollar as tinue on a small scale, but at much lower vol - The Armenian community currently owns tions through the 1936 Declaration. investors became nervous about Turkey’s over - umes. For some Turkish merchants, the dra - three small foundations. If the patriarchate The Foundations Directorate General still heating economy. matic collapse of a trade relationship that wins its lawsuit, it will mark the first time that classifies Sansaryan as a property left without a But when new US sanctions targeting Iran’s Ankara actively cultivated until late last year Turkey’s Armenian community has regained manager and whose ownership consequently central bank in January sent Iran’s currency has prompted anger and frustration, as politics control of a foundation in Anatolia. passed onto the Foundation Directorate plunging, the lira began to surge, making the trump traders’ livelihoods. “If the Armenian community had not hesitat - General, but for that definition to hold up in relative cost of some Turkish products almost “This year we were expecting two million ed for various reasons, they could have filed court, it would require there to be no citizens of double in price in the space of a few days, Iranians for New Year for the first time ever, but this suit in 1936, as they are legally in the right. Armenian descent in Turkey, according to traders say. we won’t have anywhere near that many,” said There is a case dated to 1936, and its files indi - Elbeyoglu. The rapid price increase was aggravated by Esadullah Renjber, owner of Tehran Tour, a cate that the patriarchate officially owns The Sansaryan Foundation was established the refusal of Turkish banks — except for state- tour operator based in Laleli, a district popular Sansaryan. Our research shows that the best- by Sansaryan, a Russian-Armenian philan - owned Halkbank — to process trade deals with Iranian tourists. “I’ve worked here for 30 preserved archival documents are located at the thropist. The police used the Sansaryan involving Iranian customers for fear of being years and I’ve never seen anything like this and Land Registry Cadastre,” Elbeyoglu said. Shopping Center during the period torture was frozen out of international markets by the new it has all to do with politics.” Elbeyoglu also dismissed suggestions indicat - widespread. sanctions regime. Iranian businessmen now pay — Ayla Albayrak contributed to this report. S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 Community Ne ws

Physician Assistant Sun ’s Demirjian Wins $168 Million Earns National Award In Harassment Suit For Congressional Reporting By Carol J. Williams WASHINGTON (Las Vegas Sun) — Karoun Demirjian, the Sun ’s Capitol Hill correspondent, was named by her peers, SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Los Angeles Times) — early last month, as the nation’s top Ani Chopourian lost track of how many com - regional correspondent covering plaints she filed during the two years she Congress. worked as a physician assistant at Sacramento’s The honor, the David Lynch Memorial Mercy General Hospital. Regional Reporting Award, is given by the There were at least 18, she recalled, many Washington Press Club Foundation to a having to do with the bullying surgeon who newspaper reporter whose work provides once stabbed her with a needle and broke the an understanding of the inner workings of ribs of an anesthetized heart patient in a fit of Congress and explains how its actions rage. Another surgeon, she said, would greet affect a local community. her each morning with “I’m horny” and slap Demirjian is the second Sun reporter in her bottom. Yet another called her “stupid four years to be honored. Then- Sun corre - chick” in the operating room and made dis - spondent Lisa Mascaro won the award in paraging remarks about her Armenian heritage, 2008. Mascaro now reports on Congress asking if she had joined al Qaeda. for the Los Angeles Times . Managers from Mercy General, a unit of Demirjian, who joined the Sun in Catholic Healthcare West, told a Sacramento August 2010, posted 473 stories from trial court that it was Chopourian who was Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) Washington during 2011 alone, ranging guilty of professional misconduct, which was from breaking-news blog posts to exten - why they fired her and tried to deny her unem - sive analyses on such topics as the politi - ployment benefits. cal fight over Yucca Mountain, Harry But in a stunning rebuke of the hospital’s Reid’s challenges and successes as the side of the story, a jury Wednesday awarded Senate majority leader, the posturing Chopourian $168 million in damages, believed Menendez and Kirk among politicians and gaming companies over Internet gambling, John Ensign’s fall from the Senate and how national politics Introduce Genocide affect the Silver State. The judges, appointed by an elected panel of congressional reporters, said Demirjian’s reporting decoded the some - Resolution times-impenetrable world of lawmakers with political profiles and “slice-of-Hill life” stories that “draw a straight line from WASHINGTON — On Monday, March 19, Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Washington to Nevada” and offer insights Mark Kirk (R-IL) officially introduced a new Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res. readers aren’t going to find anywhere else. Ani Chopourian 399) in the United States Senate, reported the Armenian Assembly of America. “Karoun’s coverage of Congress and Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Dianne Feinstein (D- how its decisions affect Nevada, has dis - CA), Carl Levin (D-MI), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon tinguished the Sun , and we are thrilled to be the largest judgment for a single victim of Whitehouse (D-RI) joined as original cosponsors. In addition, Sen. Charles that the other Capitol Hill journalists in workplace harassment in US history. Schumer (D-NY), chair of the Democratic Policy Committee, has also agreed to Washington recognize her as the best “They were just shocked by the whole work - cosponsor the bill. there is at what she does,” said Brian place environment,” said Lawrance Bohm, “It is time for the United States to join the 19 nations including Belgium, Canada, Greenspun, publisher and editor of the Chopourian’s attorney during the three-week France, Italy and the European Union that have formally recognized the actions car - Sun. “I can’t imagine a newspaper beat trial in which witness after witness depicted a ried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923 as genocide,” Menendez said. culture of vulgarity and arrogance they said “The Armenian Genocide is a historical fact and was one of the incidents upon which humiliated female employees and put patients the Genocide Convention was predicated. Only by accurately acknowledging the at risk. crimes of the past can we ever hope to move forward in a legitimate manner and pre - Chopourian, 45, worked at four other hospi - vent such human rights crimes from happening in the future.” tals in New England and California before join - “The Armenian Genocide is well-documented and formally recognized by 11 ing the cardiovascular surgical team at Mercy NATO allies and the European Union. This resolution accurately characterizes the General in August 2006. Two years later, she events of 1915-1923 as a was fired days after filing the last of her com - genocide, honors the plaints about patient care and the doctors’ memory of the victims demeaning behavior. and strengthens Preening cardiac surgeons and locker-room America’s moral leader - humor weren’t unique to the Sacramento hos - ship on human rights pital’s operating rooms or those at another and the prevention of Catholic Healthcare West facility where she mass atrocities around occasionally worked, Chopourian said in an the world,” said a interview. spokesman for Kirk. “But the environment at Mercy General, the As reported last week, Karoun Demirjian sexually-inappropriate conduct and the patient the new Senate resolu - care issues being ignored, the bullying and tion is similar to the that is more stressful and competitive intimidation and retaliation — I have never seen Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) House version, and adds than covering the nation’s capital, and sin - an environment so hostile and pervasive,” said a key finding from the gle-handedly, she’s doing it masterfully.” the Los Angeles native, who earned her physi - 1951 US filing before Demirjian came to the Sun from cian assistant credentials at the Yale School of the International Court of Justice concerning the Convention on the Prevention Jerusalem, where she reported on foreign Medicine in 1999. and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Specifically, the document highlighted and military policy in the Middle East and The jurors in US District Judge Kimberly J. the fact that “the Roman persecution of the Christians, the Turkish massacre of Afghanistan for the Associated Press. Mueller’s courtroom heard hospital administra - Armenians, the extermination of millions of Jews and Poles by the Nazis are out - Previously, she covered Washington for tors defend their management practices and standing examples of the crime of genocide.” the Chicago Tribune and Congressional attest to unwavering commitment to quality “We commend Senator Menendez and Senator Kirk for introducing this impor - Quarterly . patient care. tant human rights legislation,” stated the Assembly’s Executive Director Bryan More than 750 people attended the invi - But the litany of abuses detailed by current Ardouny. “We also recognize and appreciate the support of those Senators who tation-only event, where members of and former employees apparently swayed the joined as original cosponsors. We will continue our advocacy efforts to ensure Congress, elected officials and the diplo - jury to accept Chopourian’s allegations that additional cosponsors, and urge its timely adoption.” matic corps mix and mingle with members administrators put up with gross misbehavior in The first step for the bill is the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where of the press. Inaugurated by the Women’s the cardiac unit to stroke the surgeons’ outsize Menendez serves as a subcommittee chairman. The committee is chaired by Sen. National Press Club in the early 1940s, egos. John Kerry (D-MA), who has a long record in support of US affirmation of the the event is among the oldest of the year’s “Cardiac surgery brings in the most money Armenian Genocide. media galas. for any hospital facility, which is why they are see CHOPOURIAN, page 6 6 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Hye Pointe Church Hosts Saintly Women’s Day

Rhode Island. The program began with a wel - By Robert Serabian coming reception in the church hall followed by a worship service in the sanctuary of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church. HAVERHILL, Mass. — On Saturday March This year’s commemoration was in remem - 10, the Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye brance of Martha and Mary, Sisters of Pointe hosted the Saintly Women’s Day Lazarus. Clergy from the New England Program for more than100 attendees from regional parishes participated in the worship Armenian churches in Massachusetts and service.

Clergy from the different parishes participating in the Saintly Women’s Ceremony

Following the worship service, a tradition - ered by newly-appointed chairwoman, al Lenten meal was served to the many Melanee Naroian. guests in the church hall. Rev. Vart The New England Liaison of the Women’s Gyozalian, newly-appointed pastor to Hye Guild Central Council Nancy Kassabian deliv - Pointe, introduced the guest clergy and invit - ered messages from the Central Council. ed Very Rev. Ghevont Samoorian, who made Guest speaker, Susan Hriczo, therapeutic a special effort to attend the commemora - massage therapist from Whittier Attendees from the different parishes tion, to give the invocation. Rehabilitation Hospital of Bradford, delivered Sylvia Tavitian, outgoing Hye Pointe an enlightening message on the benefits of Women’s Guild chair, served as mistress of massage therapy as well as approaches to Paros Foundation Raises $25,000 for ceremonies. Welcoming remarks were deliv - pain management. Domestic Violence Victims in Armenia

SEAL BEACH, Calif. — More than 200 sup - women in immediate danger, we have an emer - porters of Paros Lighthouse Charitable gency hotline number, ‘20-80,’ which can be Foundation USA raised an impressive $25,000 called from anywhere in Armenia free of charge. GF UiNrEaRgAoL sHiaOMn E at a fundraising event on March 11, at Zov’s Our goal is to help young Armenian women James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC Bistro in Tustin. The event benefited Paros realize their full potential, despite the danger Mark J. Giragosian Lighthouse Foundation’s vital work assisting and adversity they face.” Funeral Counselors victims of domestic violence and other critical In addition to aiding victims of domestic 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 outreach services in Armenia. Guests enjoyed violence, Paros Lighthouse Foundation also www.giragosianfuneralhome.com appetizers and wines, all underwritten by Zov’s offers desperately needed services to the Bistro. Guest speaker at the event was attorney local community including vocational train - Mark Geragos. ing, psychological counseling and therapy, The event was a call to action for Armenian sewing and cooking classes, women’s health communities worldwide to take a stand against services with an on-site OBGYN physician, Telephone (617) 924-7400 domestic abuse. Speaking to the guests, dental health services with an on-site dentist, Geragos said that in the past 20 years he has feeding the poor and elderly, supporting a Aram Bedrosian observed an increase in spousal abuse cases in local kindergarten, weekly Bible study and California courts among Armenian families. He donations of essential goods to the needy in stated that violence against women anywhere is Armenia and Artsakh. Funeral Home, Inc. unacceptable. He encouraged everyone to Zuhrab and Seta Ghazarian have been Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 donate to Paros Lighthouse Foundation to help engaged in charity work and community out - women in crisis in Armenia. reach for underprivileged and underserved MARION BEDROSIAN Co-founder Seta Ghazarian stated, “We serve Armenians since 1999. The idea of Paros (mean - 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN pregnant and parenting young women in the ing lighthouse in Armenian) was established by WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN secure environment of our 13,000-sq.-ft. shel - friends and supporters of the Ghazarian family ter/women’s center in the village of Bdghounk. and grew out of their concern for Armenian Our core services focus on keeping both moth - women and children as well as the integrity of er and child healthy and safe, while teaching the Armenian family. the mothers important skills like child develop - For more information about Paros, visit ENNIS M. EVENEY & ONS ment, parenting and health and nutrition. For www.parosfoundation.org. D D S Cemetery Monuments Physician Assistant Wins $168-Million Harassment Suit Specializing in Armenian Designs and Lettering CHOPOURIAN, from page 5 Mercy General President Denny Powell said willing to turn a blind eye to illegal and inap - the hospital stood by its decision to fire 701 Moody St. Waltham, MA 02543 propriate behavior,” Chopourian said. “We Chopourian and would appeal the verdict. (781) 891-9876 www.NEMonuments.com had four very strong witnesses who were “We are disappointed by the jury’s decision. frightened to speak out but did so because We are committed to providing a safe working they felt it was important that someone put a environment, free from sexual harassment and stop to this.” inappropriate behavior,” Powell said in a state - Edward D. Jamakordzian, Jr. d/b/a Bohm conceded that the record judgment — ment issued Thursday, March 1. “Any complaint $125 million in punitive damages and $42.7 mil - is thoroughly investigated and prompt action is lion for lost wages and mental anguish — could taken. We do not believe that the facts support be reduced on appeal or in settlement talks to this verdict or judgment.” Edward D. Jamie, Jr. avoid what would probably be a protracted chal - Catholic Healthcare West, which recently lenge to the generous award. But he said he changed its name to Dignity Health, operates was confident the jury’s judgment against the 40 hospitals and care centers in California, LicensedFinuNneweYrorak landCNhewaJperseey l hospital chain would survive appellate review. Arizona and Nevada. 208-17 Northern Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361 Service any hour, any distance (718) 224-2390 or toll ADVERTISE IN THE MIRROR free (888) 224-6088 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS Historic Armenia Pilgrimage Presentations Given in Naples and Pinellas Park

NAPLES, Fla. — On March 1, at the Vineyards Church in Pinellas Park. The priest at St. Hagop Country Club, under the sponsorship of the is Rev. Hovnan Demerjian, son of Kenneth and Armenian American Cultural Society of Karen Demerjian of Waltham, Mass., who grew Southwest Florida, 70 members and guests up at St. James in Watertown. Fr. Hovnan enjoyed the presentation of the Edward and Demerjian, his wife, Anna, and 35 parishioners Mary Kazanjian’s first pilgrimage in 2009. enjoyed the presentation and asked many ques - Several “snowbirds” from Massachusetts were tions during the coffee which followed. St. in attendance, namely, Paul and Priscilla Hagop Armenian Church was constructed only DerAnanian (who traveled with the Kazanjians five years ago and at the base of the palm trees in 2009), Vartkes and Elissa Karaian and Jack that line the front driveway are plaques which and Audrey Pilibosian. Audrey Pilibosian e- list not only the ancestors’ names but the his - mailed the next day her delight in the program toric Armenian villages of those being memori - and she had already called some friends in St. alized, Palu, Yozgat, Govdun, Dickranagert, Petersburg to tell them to attend the presenta - Kharpert, etc., which became more meaningful tion being here there a week later. Greg to the attendees as the slides of those villages Najarian from Bronx, NY, was thrilled not only were presented. with the pictures of Chungush, his grandfa - Demerjian said, “I learned so much from your ther’s village, but of the promise to receive a presentation.” copy of a booklet on Chungush from the Parishioner Chuck Begian approached the Kazanjians when they returned home. Virginia Kazanjians to report that his great-grandfather Melidosian, originally from Detroit and whose was the priest at the Armenian Church in ancestors came from Kighi, presented Mary Govdun, which was shown in the presentation. Anna Kazanjian with a small gift, which said, “I He was excited that the Kazanjians could pro - give gifts to ‘roses’ that I meet…who touch my vide him the name and e-mail of one of their fel - life, which you did today with your pictures of low pilgrims, Harutiune Keossian from Kighi and our family’s village of Darvan.” California, whose ancestors were from Govdun. A week later, on March 7, the program was Mary Ann Kazanjian stated, “We gain so repeated at St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic much from the feedback we get at these pre -

From left, Fr. Hovnan Demirjian, Mary Ann Kazanjian, Demirjian’s wife, Anna, and Ed Kazanjian

sentations and look forward to continuing to this second program are being finalized for share our collective experience with those who September 2012, sponsored by the Women’s are so eager to learn more of their ancestral Guild at the Sahag Mesrob Armenian Church in homelands and villages.” Providence, RI and the Knights of Vartan at the A presentation of the Kazanjian’s second pil - Memorial Hall Library in Andover, Mass. Visit grimage in May 2010 has only been given once www.HyeTravelers.com for more information. in November 2010 at the Armenian Library and To contact the Kazanjians regarding a presen - Museum in Watertown. Arrangements to repeat tation, e-mail [email protected].

Ervin Staub to Deliver Lecture at Tufts Armenian Genocide Commemoration

MEDFORD, Mass. — , the dren to seminars/trainings and educational Darakjian-Jafarian Chair in Armenian History, radio projects in Rwanda, Burundi and the the Department of History and the National Congo to promote psychological recovery and Association for Armenian Studies and Research reconciliation, to training active bystanders in (NAASR), supported by the Ethel Jafarian schools to prevent harmful behavior by stu - Duffet Fund, will sponsor the annual commem - dents. He received awards for life-long contri - oration of the Armenian Genocide at Tufts on butions to peace psychology, for distinguished Wednesday, April 11, at 7 p.m. The Tufts event contributions to political psychology, for distin - will feature a lecture by Prof. Ervin Staub, titled guished scholarly “Overcoming Evil: Preventing Genocide and and practical contri - Creating Peaceful Societies.” butions to social Staub will be introduced by Ina Baghdiantz justice and for work McCabe, professor of history and Darakjian on international Jafarian chair of Armenian History at Tufts and intercultural University. relations. The commemoration and lecture will take Overcoming Evil place in Goddard Chapel on Tufts’ campus. A describes the ori - reception and book signing will follow in the gins or influences Coolidge Room in nearby . leading to genocide, Staub is professor emeritus and founding violent conflict and Prof. Ervin Staub director of the doctoral program in the psy - terrorism. It identi - chology of peace and violence at the University fies principles and of Massachusetts at Amherst. He received his practices of prevention and reconciliation PhD from Stanford and has taught at Harvard. between groups, after violence or as a preven - He has studied the roots of altruism, the origins tative measure. The book draws on the author’s of genocide, violent conflict, terrorism and their previous work on all these issues, as well as on prevention, psychological recovery and recon - research in genocide studies, the study of con - ciliation. His books include the two-volume flict and of terrorism, psychological research on Positive Social Behavior and Morality; The group relations and emphasizes early preven - Roots of Evil: the Origins of Genocide and tion, when violence-generating conditions are Other Group Violence; The Psychology of present and a psychological and social evolu - Good and Evil: Why Children, Adults and tion toward violence has begun, but there is not Groups Help and Harm Others and yet immediate danger of intense violence. It also Overcoming Evil: Genocide, Violent Conflict describes the work of the author and his asso - and Terrorism (2011). A forthcoming book is ciates in real world settings in Africa. The Roots of Goodness: The Development of Staub’s work aims to promote knowledge, Inclusive Caring, Moral Courage, Altruism understanding and “active bystandership” by Born of Suffering and Active Bystandership . leaders and government officials, members of Staub is past president of the International the media and citizens to prevent violence and Society for Political Psychology and of the create harmonious societies. Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict and More information about the lecture is avail - Violence. He has conducted many projects in able by e-mailing [email protected] or by contact - field settings, from promoting altruism in chil - ing McCabe at [email protected]. 8 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Cancer Patient, 10, Makes Tough Decision with Grace

SAN RAMON, Calif. (KTVU) — We all face Bochenek. ing and growing and growing,” challenges, but a brave 10-year-old cancer Chemotherapy started right away. In three said Debbie Bochenek. “It’s patient from San Ramon recently faced a life- months doctors would need to remove the been incredible. It’s been one changing decision that she met with a grace entire tumor. For her, that meant making a of the most touching things, I and optimism that can only be described as life-changing decision. think, of this whole journey.” inspirational. “One is limp salvage. That’s trying to be When the Bocheneks Brianne Bochenek — or Breezy as a lot of able to save the leg. The other is rotation plas - arrived back home, Brianne people like to call her — is just how one would ty and utilizing her ankle as her knee and the Bochenek was greeted with imagine most fourth graders to be. She loves other is full amputation,” said Stan well wishes from all her class - to swim, run and play soccer. Therefore, when Bochenek. mates at Coyote Creek her left knee started to hurt, her parents Rather than trying to save her leg and face Elementary. She said she has assumed it was just a sports injury. But it was years of follow up surgeries and a sedentary happy to be back home with something much worse. lifestyle, she chose to have doctors amputate her brothers and sisters and “The doctors said I had a tumor in my leg her left leg. Brianne Bochenek cancer survivor relieved to have the surgery and my parents started to cry,” remembered “I knew I couldn’t live the rest of my life not behind her. Bochenek. “I didn’t really know what was being able to walk. Because I love to swim “I know the cancer’s out going on.” and run and play soccer,” she said. tumor and managed to save a critical piece of and everything,” said Brianne Stan and Debbie Bochenek now had to The morning of the surgery came much too Bochenek’s bone. That will allow it to grow as Bochenek. “But I still have pain. A lot of share the devastating news with their other early. Nerves were kicking in as fears about she does. phantom pain, they call it.” children, Brianne Bochenek’s two older sis - the operation and the reality of leaving home “We brought healthy bone from her tibia — Sarah Reinertsen is a world class athlete ters and two older brothers. for the last time on two legs set in. her shin — turned it up backwards and who has competed in numerous road races, “Brianne was the one who said ‘I have can - “The surgery itself is technically challeng - attached it to her femur” said Avedian. “The triathlons and the Hawaii Ironman, all on a cer’ and we were sitting right here. And every - ing because the tumor has to be removed in growth center of that bone is still intact and prosthetic leg. She traveled from Southern body started to cry, especially our 18-year-old its entirety,” said Dr. Raffi S. Avedian at has a blood supply and it will continue to California to meet Bochenek and talk about boy who was holding Brianne at the time,” Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. grow.” what it is like to live life as an amputee. said Stan Bochenek. As the Bocheneks nervously waited for With medication helping to control the The Bocheneks said it was Reinersten’s Doctors diagnosed the tumor as updates from the doctors, they shared a spe - pain and her favorite stuffed animals by her story that inspired her decision to amputate. Osteosarcoma, an aggressive and rare form of cial moment about something Brianne did the side, Brianne Bochenek entered recovery. The Bochenek is doing well, but still has a long cancer affecting nearly 1,000 people a year in night before her surgery. Bocheneks said countless prayers and special road ahead. Right now, as part of her treat - this country. Of those, only about 400 of the “She wrote on her foot ‘Goodbye my friend. messages have been pouring in as she works ment, she is undergoing six more months of new cases are in children and teens. I’ll miss you.’ And she was smiling about it,” to sit and begin moving her left leg. chemotherapy. Doctors said she has to wait “I wasn’t super scared or anything. I kind said Stan. They said the overwhelming support has about three months before she can be fitted of just felt bad for like how the other peo - The operation took nearly eight hours but lifted her spirit. with her first prosthetic leg. Something, ple would be scared like my family,” said Avedian says they successfully removed the “It’s been really unwavering and it’s grow - Bochenek said, she is looking forward to. Atom Egoyan Receives Chlotrudis Hall of Fame Award

EGOYAN, from page 1 filmmaking and themes of heritage, family and Chlotrudis award for her “fascinating career” appeared in person at screenings of directors and actors to bring creative, quality storytelling experienced in his films. “Ararat” is and with this Cambridge appearance, she is the “Adoration” for a question-and-answer program films to the attention of audiences and film- “both epic and intimate at the same time,” and first Chlotrudis honoree to make a return visit. after the film on Saturday night, as well as an love “Chloe” had “astonishing visual style,” he Khanjian has appeared in dozens of film and introduction for “Calendar” in high definition “The award is the Chlotrudis Award, but we declared. A short clip from “The Sweet television appearances, beginning with on Sunday evening, after the awards ceremony. call it a Trudy for short,” said Michael Colford, Hereafter” was viewed and shortly after an Egoyan’s first film, “Next of Kin” and notably “You are looking at a Blue Ray high-defini - president of the society. The award was named excited Egoyan jumped onto the stage to as Ani in “Ararat.” During the ceremony, tion version,” he shared with the Cambridge in honor of two cats: Chloe and Gertrudis. receive his Trudy award. In accepting his Khanjian presented the Cat’s Meow Award to audience. Indeed, the ancient churches and col - “Chloe passed away some years ago, but award, a bubbling Egoyan said, “this award the Independent Film Festival of Boston; it was orful characters popped off the screen. Gertrudis, who was a kitten when we started, feels true…” He also expressed appreciation to accepted by Adam Roffman, Nancy Campbell Of their collaboration on “Calendar,” Egoyan is 18 years old and going strong.” the tribute made to Canadian filmmakers and and Brian Tamm. Khanjian said this festival said, “It was a wonderful and special event for Colford and Ivy Moylan, clerk, the affable co- their creative community. “rose like Athena” and noted the long line that the two of us…to go back to our ancestral hosts from the Chlotrudis Society, did a smash - Changes in technology for filmmaking, reaches through Seven Hills Park as guests homeland. It was a very personal film.” He ing job in keeping up the momentum of the including financial costs, have evolved over the wait to enter the Somerville Theatre. spoke of the barren land, the terrible econom - award program and explained that art-house years, and he said, “You can (now) make a After the program, admirers, including some ic crisis including no electricity that they found theatres were the theme for this year’s cere - beautiful work for nothing.” He praised the Armenians, gathered around to offer congratu - during filming there in 1992. mony. Reminiscent of the Academy Awards, Chlotrudis Society, “You have an incredible lations. “You are lucky to live here,” Egoyan Khanjian, co-producer of “Calendar,” spoke albeit with a fun, local twist, the late Sunday job…to discern and select films” among so shared, and noted that he wants to come back of a prize of one million rubles from Moscow afternoon program lasted more than two hours many films made nowadays. After holding his to visit the Armenian Library and Museum of that they won about 20 years ago “to shoot a and included amusing musical numbers, film Trudy award high in the air, he sweetly tapped America (ALMA) and Project SAVE Armenian film in any of the Soviet Republics.” It turned tributes and short film clips. Of particular note, another Trudy Award placed on the podium to Photograph Archives in Watertown. out to be worth about $500, hardly enough, was the splendid vocals and spirit of Andrew announce, “It’ll be beside Arsinée’s,” back A series of Egoyan films were presented over but with an award of $80,000 from ZDF (a Cincotta who received huge applause for his home in Toronto. the March 16-18 weekend at the Brattle German source) they were able to make singing of a piece related to a nominated film. In 2002, Khanjian was awarded a special Theatre. Both Egoyan and actress Khanjian “Calendar.” Interspersed throughout the program was the awarding of Trudy awards given in numer - ous categories including Best Actress (to Tracy Wright for “Trigger”), Best Actor (Michael Shannon for “Take Shelter”) and Best Movie Former Employee Sues Cafesjian for Back Pay (“The Artist”). Membership votes determine the winners of each year’s awards. CAFESJIAN, from page 1 sonal, business and philanthropic affairs. and unfounded” allegations against him as well In acknowledging the talents of honoree John Joseph Waters Jr., who started working Waters said he deeply admired Cafesjian but as other employees, but continued to rely on his Egoyan, the program booklet stated, “Atom for Cafesjian when he was an executive at West that he could be a difficult and demanding boss. services from until mid-2011. Egoyan has been exploring the hows and whys Publishing, also claims that Cafesjian has tried “Cafesjian was extremely self-centered, exhib - The suit says that Rick Ostrum, a former FBI of truth, identity, memory, fidelity and loss, to damage his reputation and avoid paying back ited what appeared to me to be narcissistic char - supervisor now working as a private investigator through the medium of film for over three wages and benefits by making unfounded alle - acteristics and regularly exhibited delusions of for Waypoint Inc., in White Bear Lake, told decades. After garnering several Chlotrudis gations that Waters siphoned away Cafesjian’s grandeur,” Waters says in the suit. “Cafesjian Waters in July that his firm had been hired to nominations, including a Best Movie and Best personal funds. also suffered intense paranoia and frequent, investigate allegations that Waters had diverted Director nod for ‘The Sweet Hereafter”’ in Neither Waters, 55, of Eden Prairie, nor almost daily, outbursts of anger.” cash from Cafesjian’s personal checking account. 1998, Atom was honored with a special direct - Cafesjian, 86, responded this week to messages Waters said he grew tired of the abuse and In December, Waters said, he was contacted ing award by the society. Often heralded for his seeking comment. Cafesjian now lives in Naples, quit in 2009, but continued doing odd tasks for by the FBI and told it had opened an investiga - unique visual style, his later films, ‘Where the Fla. Cafesjian until mid-2011. tion. Truth Lies’ and ‘Chloe,’ have received Waters filed the 47-page lawsuit without the Waters said he represented Cafesjian in business Waters alleges that Cafesjian has tried to Chlotrudis nods for Best Visual Design and help of an attorney. The suit, filed on Tuesday, deals in Armenia and elsewhere around the world. threaten and harass him by contacting the FBI, Best Cinematography respectively. Atom’s March 13, in St. Paul, says that in 1994 he went He said he served as Cafesjian’s point man on a pro - by terminating contracts with firms “deemed to films tackle difficult subjects, and ‘Ararat,’ one to work for Cafesjian, who at the time oversaw ject to build a museum about the Armenian be friendly to Waters,” by claiming to have his most epic films, showed up on several sales and marketing at West Publishing. Genocide. The museum, in Washington, DC, was Waters’ phone tapped and by threatening other Chlotrudis members’ top films of the year lists The suit says Cafesjian reaped about $300 stalled by litigation in 2008. Cafesjian employees and associates who were for 2002.” million from his shares in West when Thomson Waters said he learned in 2009 that Cafesjian planning to attend Waters’ wedding. In presenting the award and introducing Corp., now Thomson Reuters, bought the com - had hired accountants and lawyers to go over Waters also has requested a temporary Egoyan as a favorite filmmaker, Colford dis - pany in 1996. Waters said he then went to work the books of his various holdings. He said he restraining order barring Cafesjian from cussed the filmmaker’s achievements, creative for Cafesjian’s “family office” to manage his per - learned that Cafesjian had made “outrageous destroying documents and other data. S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS Herand Markarian: Will ‘Silence’ Be Golden?

was produced Off-Broadway in 1996 and later Circular Rainbow,” a play commissioned by the the play to a couple of readers, including my By Tom Vartabedian performed in California, London and North New York State Theater Institute which runs wife. A reading followed with professional Andover, Mass. May 4-20 at The Shell Theater (Times Square actors. They liked it. Two years later, on came “The Georgetown Arts Building). TV: How does this compare to “Mirrors” and NEW YORK — Dr. Herand Markarian remains Boys,” the story of 103 orphans who were It is the story of love, loss and relentless “The Georgetown Boys?” committed to his mission of bringing the story brought to Canada and trained as farmers, search of a woman for her son following the HM: Quite favorably, in fact. I look upon it as of the Armenian Genocide on stage, especially bringing a new life into the New World. This 1915 Genocide, starring Tony nominee a trilogy, each with its own dramatic character, to the outside world. show made the rounds as well, traveling from Lorraine Serabian, who has secured an Outer- structure and content. With “Mirrors,” he took us on a psychologi - New York and New Jersey to Canada, Critics’ Circle Award among other honors. TV: To whom might you dedicate this pro - cal journey through the emotions of three peo - Providence, RI, and again to North Andover. We have here a story of an Armenian woman duction and how has it hit home? ple in the aftermath of the Genocide. The play Now we have a gem called “Silence in a whose husband is a doctor, accused of treason HM: It is dedicated to all those who had loved and executed in Van on April 24, 1915. Her son, ones lost during the genocide and were able to along with 250 Armenian children, are burned have some closure. Losing a dear one is a inside a building. humanitarian theme, especially when you look A doctor friend helps her survive. She immi - at what’s happening in the world today. grates to the United States where she studies to TV: How was the cast assembled? become an ophthalmologist. Twelve years later, HM: First of all, we’re very excited that she returns to Van looking for her son and thus Lorraine Serabian, a Broadway star and Tony begins the odyssey. nominee, has agreed to play the lead role of the Markarian’s contributions to the performing heroine. The rest of the cast was assembled as arts are vast and prolific. His career as an actor, any other professional production would.

producer, director and playwright dates TOM VARTABEDIAN PHOTO back 50 years. He has directed more than 40 plays (a diasporan record) and authored 26 theatrical productions. He has been recognized with every conceivable award in the medium. Of equal merit to the New Yorker are the 50-plus roles he has performed, includ - ing that of Johan Lepsius in Toukhanian’s feature film, “Assignment Berlin.” A question-and-answer session with Markarian follows: Tom Vartabedian: What prompted you to write this? Herand Markarian: It started with a request I received from The Theater Institute of New York State. I was approached to write a play using The Armenian Genocide as a theme. Their institute targets the children’s educa - tional entertainment field and since the topic is not known in American circles, this would be an appropriate way of Dr. Herand Markarian, honored by the Armenian Relief bringing the genocide to the attention of Society for his contributions to the Armenian community, American audiences. is presented with an award by Muriel Parseghian. TV: Were there any strings attached? HM: Yes, a couple. The play should have a small cast with no more than five per - Auditions were followed by call-backs, then formers — the central character being a woman choosing actors who best portray the charac - — and should be no longer than 90 minutes. ters. A creative team which involves a director, The producer already had Broadway star production manager, set, lighting and costume Lorraine Serabian in mind for the main role. designers, music composer, make-up artist, TV: What was your reaction to these stipula - stage and rehearsal managers, along with a pub - tions? lic relations agent were all necessary compo - HM: I already had a play about the genocide. nents. “Mirrors” had been performed in the States and TV: What are the budgetary constraints? England. However, the producer wanted a new Your investment in the project? play. That was not a problem. I have so many HM: To stage a professional play in New York images in mind, so many stories embedded in is an expensive venture. Not having grants, my psyche, that pulling them out and giving which are scarce these days, makes it much them life is an artistic journey. The play is not more difficult. We basically depend upon only pivoted upon loss but rather the search for Armenian supporters to chip in. We’ve decided loss of the most precious kind — a son. to donate all profits toward the renovation of TV: How long did it take to write this and schools in border villages of Armenia. what were the obstacles if any? TV: What type of an audience do you hope to HM: My writing process goes something like attract? this. I think a lot. I get engulfed in the story HM: I’m hoping this production will stand on line. Lots of times, I write fragments of dia - its own artistic merits. With proper advertise - logues. Then I sit down and pour it on paper. ment, this may resonate with many nationalities The first working draft was completed in three who have been exposed to massacres. The weeks. Then comes the logic behind the events, Armenian Genocide is one in which the perpe - the refinements, the structural and language trator has not admitted its guilt, despite the fact concerns. Once the draft was completed, I gave many countries have supported our cause. The United States government is still hiding behind political maneuvers. Politics should not inter - fere with justice. Justice is a moral issue. Ignoring it is like lying to yourself. TV: Something about yourself that might sur - prise others? HM: I wrote my first dialogue at age 12 and my first poetic verses at 13. I built a slide pro - jector and called my movie theater “The Lux Cinema” with showings for neighborhood kids. I used to charge them bottle caps. My first stage appearance came at the age of 16 in Baronian’s “The Gentleman Beggars.” TV: How would you like to see the genocide centennial observed in 2015? HM: This is a major issue. Whatever we do, it should be done with the entire community together. We should dedicate the entire year for the 100th anniversary in all Armenian commu - nities throughout the world. 10 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Edward Avedisian Offers Hope to Poorest Children of Armenia

them a little more. The teacher needs to get the By Alin K. Gregorian child up to speed with no [extra] money,” he said. Mirror-Spectator Staff With the students from such impoverished backgrounds, the school tries to give them more than an education. For example, dental care in LEXINGTON, Mass. — For Edward Avedisian, Armenia, Avedisian said, is among the worst in education is the key to the future of Armenia and the world, with parents not able to spend money that is why he is helping children there. on toothbrushes or toothpaste, and frankly often Avedisian, who retired eight years ago as a clar - unaware of oral hygiene themselves. Students at inetist with the Boston Pops after 35 years and the Avedisian school get toothbrushes and are spent 43 seasons with the Boston Ballet taught how to brush their teeth with salt if they Orchestra, is focusing on the education of the don’t have toothpaste. poorest children in Armenia. He founded the Avedisian also is a trustee of the American Koren and University of Armenia (AUA), with close ties to Shooshanig its president, Dr. Bruce Boghosian. In fact, he Avedisian K-12 was the lead sponsor of the new Paramaz School in the Avedisian Building on the AUA campus, and was Malatia-Sebastia on the search committee for the AUA president portion of Yerevan, position. a neighborhood so Avedisian hopes that once the Avedisian poor that it is com - School reaches the 12th grade, the AUA will monly known as offer an undergraduate program, as Boghosian “Bangladesh.” Students in class hopes, so that children will be able to receive the Avedisian recalled best possible schooling from pre-school through Edward Avedisian his decision to delve graduate school, “all without paying a nickel.” into the world of grandmother, and thus, his mother was brought half-mile away to house students from pre-school “He is doing a wonderful job,” he said of music as a boy. “The up in the Protestant tradition and eventually to 12th grade. “The school is free for the kids Boghosian. “Bruce has gone out full blast. This credit — or blame — goes to Aram Chobanian when she arrived in the US, supported the work and we accept the poorest of kids. We investigate is not the same place it was two years ago.” who was our next-door neighbor,” he recalled in of the AMAA. to make sure that they are deserving.” In addition to the AUA, Avedisian said that the a recent interview. He was a few years older than The pre-school/kindergarten in Yerevan was The new building is going to be LEED school in Armenia has “synergy” with other orga - Avedisian and a contemporary of his older broth - in a building so decrepit that the city had closed [Leadership in Energy and Environment nizations such as the Armenia Tree Project and er. “Aram played the clarinet. He was like the it down. Avedisian, through the AMAA leased the Development] Certified and built up to every code the Armenian Eyecare Project (AECP). He pace car. My older brother followed him” and building for 99 years. Work started on the build - there. “You’re going to get the safest building in recalled the story of one little girl at the school then gave it up, only for the younger Avedisian ing to make it safer, as well as bigger. The first Armenia against earthquakes,” he said, and it will who was born cross-eyed. The child’s family is to pick it up. year that Avedisian started at the school, in Avedisian recalled working with many Pops 1999, the school had 75 students. conductors, including the late Arthur Fiedler, “Things in Armenia take more time,” he said. John Williams and Keith Lockhart, feeling espe - “Once everything was settled, we knew where we cially proud to do so on the traditional Armenian were going to be. There was no ‘cement’ in the Night at Pops every June. He said he felt the cement. Refurbishment was out of the realm of most kinship with Fiedler. possibility.” “I had a wonder - Still, he and his ful career,” he team worked with recalled, singling this unworkable out his delight in building, adding a performing with grade every year the late soprano, since 1999. “We’ve Dame Joan got all the way to Sutherland, and ninth grade now,” the late tenor, he noted, with 300 Luciano Pavarotti. students. In addition to Now, the performing, he has Avedisian School taught at Boston is not just func - University and tioning; it is one of Endicott College. the top schools in After leaving the Rendering of the New AMAA K&S Avedisian Junior the country. “The world of music, and Senior Schools. Grounding breaking and con - Education Ministry Avedisian took his struction begins in June 2012 with the opening slated [officials] came by Students of the K&S Avedisian Grade School on the steps of the American University of Armenia savings and his for September 2014 to check the school Baghramian Building proclaiming their future and in attendance for the AUA 2004 Graduation exer - pension and decid - out. They said this cises ed to invest them. is the best-run He read up on the market and invested carefully. school in Armenia and gave us a gold medal.” “I never went to formal business school, and The award, he said, is given every five years to a use solar and wind energy systems. In addition, impoverished, with the father having left for don’t have an MBA,” he said. The lack of a busi - deserving school. smart choices, such as making many of the class - Russia, ostensibly for work, but having never ness degree did not hamper his investment skills. In fact, students from the school have won rooms face the southwest and thus warmer, all will sent money. The girl, her mother, brother and “I did fairly well. I’m not complaining,” he said. national prizes in French and Russian for sever - save money. In addition, land will be dedicated to grandmother all lived on the miniscule pension Avedisian turned to Armenia when he started al years. “They came back with the first place farming so that the school can grow its own crops. of the grandmother. The family clearly had no looking for a project as a tribute to his mother. medal for two years and the French team won Avedisian wants to help reach the goal of $10 money to deal with this easily fixable yet expen - “My mother celebrated her 90th birthday in first price this year. The math and science levels million for the school, which will include not only sive condition. The principal approached 1994. It was the occasion for a party. She said, ‘I are also very, very high.” the construction of the state-of-the-art building, Avedisian for help and he in turn asked the don’t need a coat or a hat or a bag,’ the usual. “The principal, Melanie Geghamian, is unbe - but also an endowment. AECP people for help, which they offered readi - But we had to do something. We were having lievable,” Avedisian said. The drawings are complete and the ground - ly. The girl, who had an operation in June, has more than 100 people, people she hadn’t seen Now the school is growing out of the building breaking will take place in June and the building perfectly aligned eyes and is one the top students for 40-50 years.” and Avedisian is building a new school about a is expected to be complete by 2014. in her class. He praised Dr. Roger Ohanesian, the Instead of a hat, coat or bag, he and his then- With the blessing of Rakel founder of AECP, saying “he does great work. He fiancée (and now wife) Pamela decided on sup - Dink, the widow of slain jour - is a go-to guy.” porting a school in Armenia. The money they nalist Hrant Dink, the school He offered words of hope for the future of raised at the party became the seed money for will have a fully digitized library Armenia. “Our people are our best export,” he the Koren and Shooshanig Avedisian School, and research center dedicated said, unfortunately, noting that they have no which he is supporting through the Armenian to him. choice but to leave if they have no work. He Missionary Association of America (AMAA). He About $5 million remains of invited everyone to come to Armenia, see what recalled that his associates, who were scouting a the goal. each can do and help. “There are no reasons school for him to support, came back to him and Much of the credit for the and no excuses” for Armenia not to move said the only one they could find was in the poor - stellar results of the school, in ahead. est section of Yerevan, Malatia-Sepastia. “I said addition to Geghamian, goes to “We want to give the teachers and the stu - that’s exactly what we want,” Avedisian said. the teachers, he said. He dents a chance. Pay them a living wage and for He recalled that his mother had grown up in a praised their attitude and their the kids, this is their ticket out,” he said. German missionary orphanage in Kharpert. She dedication. Often in Armenia, “Armenian kids have got the genes for learning. had been found as a young girl and had been liv - students need to pay teachers There is no limit to what can happen there.” to get high marks, whether Anyone interested in making donations to the ing and studying there. As if a miracle, one day Avedisian School Principal Melanya Geghamian, third from left, her mother, almost beaten to death, came to the shares with the faculty the Schools’ Gold Medal Award from the they have earned them or not. school can send a check to the Armenian door of orphanage and was rescued. (The resi - Armenian Ministry of Education and the Letter of Commendation The teachers, he said, are paid Missionary Association of America, 31 W. dent doctor there, incidentally, was the father of for a new method of teaching Russian award from the Russian so poorly, that they view selling Century Road, Paramus, NJ 07652 or visit the late Genocide documentarian, Dr. J. Michael Government. grades as the only way to sup - http://www.amaa.org/together/avedisianschoo Hagopian.) He was able to save Avedisian’s plement their incomes. “We pay l.html. S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 Ne w York M E T R O Registration Open for St. Nersess Summer Conferences

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Applications for St. and Deacon Benjamian Rith-Najarian will co- Nersess Armenian Seminary’s Summer direct the post-high school conference on Conferences for young people, are now avail - August 10-17. able. These conferences have attracted thou - Clergy and lay church leaders instruct the sands of teenagers and college-age students participants in the fundamentals of the over the past five decades to explore their faith Armenian Church’s faith and traditions, and and heritage with friends in a safe and fun envi - encourage frank discussions about issues ronment. Each conference session makes daily important to young people. This year’s topics worship, Bible Study and Armenian language will include: How to Pray; God’s Plan for You instruction appealing and fun. and Me; Is Forgiveness Possible for Those who This summer, five conferences are scheduled, Commit Genocide?; Growing in Faith through including the High School Conference “A” ses - the Badarak; Loving as Christ Loved and Dating and Intimacy. Also, back by popular demand is “The Question Box.” Participants will be able to ask any question they have about the church, its teachings and traditions, Christian faith, the Bible and issues of concern to them, no matter how sensitive or controversial. Anonymously dropped into “The Question Box,” the ques - tions will be addressed by a panel of clergy. In addition, sports, day-trips, home-cooked Participants make lasting friendships through the St. Nersess Summer Conferences. meals and special St. Nersess traditions make for a well-rounded and innovative experience where young people form deep, lasting friend - Findikyan, the program is designed for young learn the deacons’ chants of the Divine Liturgy Sharing meals are just part of the overall St. ships and discover their place in the Armenian men who would like to learn to participate in and other services while better understanding Nersess Conference experience. Church. the liturgical services of the Armenian Church the rituals, music, symbols and chants. Also, a Deacons’ Training Program will kick as deacons and altar servers. Through practical To register for the conferences, contact the of the summer from June 25-July 3. Directed by workshops and interactive classes, participants Seminary at [email protected]. sion from July 6-14 directed Rev. Fr. Tavit Boyajian; and the High School Conference “B” session from July 30-August 7 directed by Rev. Fr. Hovnan Demerjian. These high school con - ferences are for teenagers entering ninth, 10th, Dadrian Presents Lecture on Significance of Ottoman Trials 11th or 12th grades in September . A junior high school program, taking place of the Ottoman Empire, but the Armenians party structure, not so much by the govern - from July 19-23, will be co-directed by Rev. Fr. By Florence Avakian were the stomach and the intestines,” he ment. The highest government officials had Diran Bohajian and Deacon Levon Special to the Mirror-Spectator related. “So the Armenian areas of Van, no real authority. And there were secret Altiparmakian. The Very Rev. Daniel Findikyan Erzerum, Bitlis, Kharpert and Diyarbekir means of communication between Talaat became an existential threat.” and the political party organizers. He TENAFLY, N.J. — Prof. Vahakn Dadrian, When the Armenians asked for reforms, revealed that the party secretaries made the renowned historian and scholar of the Turkey was afraid they would become part of province governors give orders for the Armenian Genocide, gave a much-awaited Armenia. However, the scholar said he killings and if they didn’t obey, the party offi - St. Vartan Camp lecture on the significance of the Ottoman blamed the Armenian revolutionary groups cials would install their own officials as gov - trials of the Genocide perpetrators, at the St. for “inadvertently inciting” the Turks. ernors. “When only one party controls the Alumni Establish Thomas Armenian Church, on Friday, March government, it is very dangerous,” he stated. 9. It also marked the publication of his new No Punishment for 1894-96 “The most important part of the Armenian book, the first book jointly written by an Massacres Led to 1915 Genocide Genocide is the savagery that was used New Group Armenian and a Turkish scholar, (Prof. “The 1894-1896 massacres of Abdul against the victims and the fact that the Taner Akçam is his collaborator), titled Hamid, done with impunity, remained Genocide remains unpunished,” Dadrian GREENVILLE, N.Y. — The Ararat Center Judgment at Istanbul: The Armenian unpunished. The West and the rest of the said, stressing each word. Advisory Committee announces the newly- Genocide Trials . world did not raise a finger because they had After World War I, the Allies were divided formed St. Vartan Camp Alumni Group — an An 11-year effort, the book is the first com - vested interests and were not interested in as to what each would grab. organization that will allow camp alumni to plete documentation of the trial proceedings getting involved militarily. Therefore, the Dadrian revealed that the French secretly connect with each other and to extend support in English, and is based on authentic docu - Ottomans were encouraged to do even more gave Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Young to the camp program throughout the year. mentation, including personal, eyewitness killing, since the Armenians remained virtu - Turk leader and the first president of the “St. Vartan Camp holds a special place in my testimony of high- ranking Ottoman officials, ally unprotected, helpless and vulnerable,” new Republic of Turkey weapons, which pre - heart,” said Alumni Group Chair Talene given under oath, which the Ottoman gov - he stated, adding that Armenians were not vented Armenia from extending to Van, Bitlis Metjian, whose father, the late Rev. Dr. Paree ernment was forced to release during the tri - allowed to have weapons, not even a knife. and Erzerum. Ataturk, he said, was not Metjian, was instrumental in founding the camp als which revealed the magnitude of the Armenians were used to submitting to the strong enough to take the east because the in 1979. “As a child, I looked forward to attend - crimes perpetrated against the Armenians. Turks. The fact that the Armenians had been Russians were there. “Today in Turkey, ing every summer, seeing old friends and meet - Tekeyan Cultural Association New unprotected for six centuries was their young intellectuals are becoming aware of ing new friends from other parts of the Eastern York/New Jersey Chairman Hagop Vartivarian doom, and they were easily sacrificed like their monstrous background. Turkey is most Diocese.” welcomed the more than 100 in attendance sheep. Ethnic cleansing was the major role afraid of the reparations question. Many In addition to taking part in the program as and discussed the background of Dadrian, of the Ottomans.” Turks say they will admit to the Armenian a camper, Metjian went on to serve as a coun - which includes numerous books, his fluency in The 1915 Genocide, which also was per - Genocide if there are no reparations. selor-in-training (CIT) and later, as a counselor. several languages, his many university degrees petrated for economic reasons with the However, for Turkey to join the European In her 10 years with St. Vartan Camp, from and the honors he has received, including the Turks taking the wealth of the Armenians, Union, it is central and primary that they 1983 to 1993, she said she made many friend - coveted gold medal from the president of the (resulting in the emergence of a new Turkish come to terms with the Genocide.” ships that continued into adulthood. Republic of Armenia. middle class), “went far beyond the cruelty of With pride, Dadrian stated that “today, “We shared many specials moments, and I Speaking in Armenian for an hour-and-a- World War I,” with most of the savagery Armenia with Russian help, is very strong still have great friendships that started at St. half, virtually without notes, Dadrian, a walk - planned by two Turkish doctors Nazim and militarily. A major part of Armenia’s budget Vartan Camp,” she said. “This new Alumni ing encyclopedia on the Genocide, began his Shakir, and carried out by the Kurds. is devoted to its army and advanced Group offers an excellent opportunity for all of talk by pointing out that the 1894 to 1896 “The Ottomans were not sure that the weapons.” However, he questioned that if us to reconnect.” massacres of 200,000 Armenians — mostly Turkish soldiers would do the savagery, so there ever was an emergency, would Russia Housed at the Ararat Center in upstate New men, in Anatolia and Istanbul — took place they released the most monstrous prisoners be faithful to Armenia. “We should not rely York, St. Vartan Camp offers children ages 8 to on Fridays after Muslim prayers and lasted to do the killing. “These savage acts were on anyone, especially with the kind of geo - 15 three two-week sessions of religious and cul - for three days, emphasizing that the Turkish unique, and had never happened before,” he graphical neighbors that Armenia has,” he tural instruction, as well as a variety of athletic people killed for Allah. “The Turkish people stated with some emotion. “The Nazis did said with emphasis. and social activities. Many of the campers who participated with pleasure in the Genocide, not do the same. There is a big difference Dadrian received a standing ovation last - graduate from the program go on to become whereas during the Nazi extermination, the between the Armenian and Jewish geno - ing several minutes at the conclusion of his CITs — a position for young leaders ages 16 to German people did not take part. “By killing cides.” fascinating talk. 17. CITs, in turn, become full-time counselors at Armenians, Turks would be eligible to go to The Genocide “was not a state crime as The event was sponsored by the Zoryan age 18 and continue to give back to the camp heaven. Armenians and Turks who had been the West has said, but a political party crime Institute, with the participation of the program through their college years. Some 500 friends for centuries became enemies in 24 perpetrated by the Young Turk Party with Armenian General Benevolent Union campers, CITs, counselors and volunteers take hours.” its Central Committee heads Enver Pasha, (AGBU), Constantinople Armenian Relief part in St. Vartan Camp each summer. He explained that Sultan Abdul Hamid Talaat Pasha and Jemal Pasha.” Society (CARS), Armenian-American The new Alumni Group aims to bring togeth - killed the Armenians at that time because Dadrian revealed that Talaat, “who was Support and Educational Center, Esayan- er former campers for fellowship and to brain - the Ottoman areas of Greece, Serbia and softer and milder,” ordered the crime, but it Getronagan Alumni, Hamazkayin Cultural storm ways the community can support the Bulgaria had already been emancipated from was the two doctors who fulfilled the mon - Association, Knights & Daughters of Vartan, future growth of St. Vartan Camp. the empire, and therefore only the strous acts. “Talaat had to submit to the doc - St. Thomas Armenian Church, Tibrevank To be added to the Alumni Group mailing list, Armenians remained as an entity. “Greece, tors,” he noted. Alumni and the Tekeyan Cultural contact Metjian at [email protected] or Serbia and Bulgaria were the hands and feet “It was mostly done by the Young Turk Association. visit the St. Vartan Camp Alumni Group on Facebook for more information. 12 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Arts & Living

100 Years of Harvard Professor Grandeur James R. Russell’s Opulent Neo-Gothic Hotel Was Home Reflects Once Home to Legendary Eclectic Mind, Photographer Yousuf Karsh Travels OTTAWA (Toronto Star) — Most people check into a hotel for a few days. Legendary photographer Yousuf Karsh and his wife, Estrellita, lived for 18 years in Fairmont’s By Victoria Fydrych posh Chateau Laurier, soon to celebrate its 100th anniversary. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Crimson) — On Slated to open on April 26, 1912, the official an especially rainy Wednesday night, Prof. launch was postponed until June after owner James R. Russell sits cross-legged on a and Grand Trunk Railway president, Charles Persian rug in his apartment building fac - Melville Hays, an American, died in the sinking ing the Charles. “I never sit on chairs,” of the Titanic. It was an inauspicious beginning, Russell says. “It’s less formal and I think but folks like Karsh have helped make it one of it’s better for you. That’s what carpets Canada’s best-known hotels. were designed for: sitting more than walk - With the Parliament Buildings close by, ing on.” Karsh enjoyed access to international celebri - Russell has lived in this historic apart - ties and world leaders, particularly after his ment, which is approaching 100 years old, reputation skyrocketed with the celebrated since 1993. Born to Jewish parents in 1941 photo of Winston Churchill, reportedly Brooklyn, NY, the Mashtots Professor of the most reproduced photograph in portrait Armenian Studies at Harvard has history. branched out far beyond that city in his “Two minutes were all that he would allow 58 years. Though he has called me,” Karsh wrote in Faces of Our Time . “He Cambridge home for the past 19 years, marched into the room scowling ... I removed much of Russell’s home is decorated with the cigar ... the scowl deepened, the head thrust the products of his visits to Armenia, forward belligerently and the hand placed on Israel, Turkey, Iran, Russia and India. the hip in an attitude of anger.” “Home is a bit like being in the Near Born in Armenia and aspiring to become a East,” he explains, pointing to an Afghan physician, Karsh arrived in Canada with his rug he purchased from a refugee during family at 16. His deft eye made him become the the war against the Soviet Union. His only Canadian in the 2000 International Who’s apartment holds a trove of ancient relics Who list of the 100 most notable people of the and newer acquisitions like these, all col - past century — 51 of whom he had pho - lected while he was lecturing throughout tographed. the world, each of them with a telling Karsh’s work was processed in his studio on Cover of the Turkish translation of German Foreign Office Archives story from Russell’s life. “Your work the Chateau’s sixth floor from 1973 to 1992, becomes indistinguishable from your life,” now a guest room. His photographic equipment Russell says, referencing the link between was donated to Ottawa’s Museum of Science Ragip Zarakolu, Zoryan Institute the objects within his apartment and his and Technology, and the National Archives pre - work outside of his home. serves more than 300,000 Karsh items, includ - Collaborate in Publication of The main sitting room is covered with ing negatives, prints and manuscripts. rugs from the various places he has trav - The couple moved to Boston in 2000, and eled, and painting supplies are tucked Karsh died there in 2002 at the age of 93. German Foreign Office Archives away in the corner, facing a large fire - With its eminent address at Sussex and place. As Russell relates stories of his TORONTO — Ragip Zarakolu, a publisher in Istanbul and a renowned champion Wellington, the Karsh Suite appeals to both world travels, he pours Iranian tea — sim - of human rights, has collaborated with the Zoryan Institute to lay one more build - diplomats and business travelers. A black-and- ilar to an Earl Grey — from a clay teapot, ing block on the foundation of a common body of knowledge for Turks and white private photo gallery (gifted by Estrellita, made by his Israeli cousin while working Armenians. Zarakolu, despite being in jail since October 2011 allegedly in connec - who also supplied the frames) includes por - under a traditional Living Master in tion with the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) trials, has not stopped his traits of Yousuf and Estrellita Karsh, Ernest Japan, into gold-rimmed Turkish glasses. efforts to bring out the historical truth about the “events of 1915” and thereafter. Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, George Bernard Underneath the teapot and glasses lies On January 12, Belge Yayinlari, Zarakolu’s publishing house, released Alman Shaw, Grey Owl and Karen Kain. a century-old metal bread tray from Belgeleri Ermeni Soykımı 1915- Delicate wood and plaster moldings accent Armenia. “I bought it in an outdoor mar - 16: Alman Dizileri Bakanligi each room and frame the living room fireplace. ket and just carried it home,” he explains. Siaysi Arsiv Belgeleri , the The kitchen maintains its original leather floor, “Quite a lot is stuff you find in a flea mar - Turkish edition of The 10-centimeter tiles of forest green and tan and ket,” he said. Armenian Genocide 1915-16: an antique refrigerator. A modern whirlpool tub The oldest objects he owns are both Documents from the Political dominates the bathroom with a marble-lined from Armenia, as well; one is the tooth of Archives of the German Foreign shower armed with three tiers of jets. a plow, which he found in a lake there, Office , compiled and edited by The Chateau’s design combines the French the other, a bronze sword hook engraved Wolfgang Gust and published Renaissance style with the neo-Gothic vertical with the swirling symbol for infinity. “I originally in Germany. The origi - lines of the Parliament Buildings. The builders can’t swear to it,” he says, “but I think it’s nal book was the product of used granite blocks, white Italian marble, light pretty damn old.” some 10 years of devoted buff Indiana limestone and a distinctive copper Though much of his home is decorated research, editing and translating roof. in relics, Russell attributes equal value to Ragip Zarakolu overseen by Wolfgang and Sigrid An art deco swimming pool with $500,000 in artifacts of more recent making. One of Gust. It is an extensive selection recent upgrades, now part of the Health Club, his favorite possessions, he says, is a pis - of some 218 telegrams, letters was the centerpiece of the spa, built with pale ton from an automobile company collo - and reports from German consular officials in the Ottoman Empire to the Foreign pink Tennessee marble walls and dark green quially known as Stanley Steamers. The Office in Berlin describing the unfolding genocide of the Armenians. marble pillars. With a Greek fountain at one piston, given to him by a colleague, was In December 1915, as a response to the criticism and outrage of German officials end, visitors relaxed on chaises lounges warmed manufactured in Watertown, Mass. in in the field over the inhuman treatment of the Armenians, German Chancellor and by overhead brass lamps. 1925. “It’s not worth a fortune,” he admit - Foreign Minister Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg wrote: “The proposed public Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier was an ted, “but to me it is.” reprimand of an ally in the course of a war would be an act which is unprecedent - early supporter of the hotel, seeing it as an Looking around his apartment, Russell ed in history. Our only aim is to keep Turkey on our side until the end of the war, opportunity to add prestige to Canada’s capital. places all of his belongings in the same no matter whether as a result Armenians do perish or not.” Imperial Germany was However, he threatened not to sign the guest category: “It’s all human artifice and inge - the political and military ally of the Ottoman Empire. The candor in these docu - registry for the hotel’s opening, unhappy with nuity.” ments was possible because they were marked “confidential,” “very confidential” or the nose on his bust, sculpted in France for the This ingenuity is displayed even on his “secret” and “very secret,” being intended only for in-house use and never for pub - occasion. It was repaired to his liking, and walls, adorned with hangings from the lic consumption. During World War I, only German diplomats and military officials remains impressively exhibited in the main Near East as well as various paintings: could enter areas in which the genocide took place relatively unhindered and were foyer. some that he purchased during his trav - able to send uncensored reports out of the country. Apart from the Americans, who Plans to celebrate the 100th anniversary els, some made by his partner of 32 years, see ZORYAN, page 13 include a memorabilia search, now underway, see RUSSELL, page 13 and public open doors events, June 2-3, with costumed guided tours. S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 ARTS & LIVING Denver’s Facing History and Ourselves Holds Workshop with Peter Balakian

DENVER, Col. — More than 70 educators and students spent the day learning how to bring the Armenian Genocide curriculum into schools across Colorado. The workshop was a collaboration between Facing History and Ourselves and Armenians of Colorado Inc., (AOC). “This has been in the works for over a year,” said Kim Christianian, chair of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration commit - tee for AOC. “We didn’t know what to expect and we were thrilled to see how enthusiastic the teachers were about teaching the subject in their history classes,” Christianian said. The workshop was overflowing with participants. “Professor Balakian really fed our teachers well,” said regional director of FHAO, Dave Fulton. “We’re anxious to have him back.” The workshop concluded with the showing of a 10-minute documentary, titled “The Armenian Genocide and the Treaty of Sevres,” made by Alik Christianian for the From left, Walter Logue, Anahid Katchian-Logue, Shoghig Vayedjian, Kim Christianian, Peter Balakian, Hasmik Nikoghosyan and Simon Maghakyan 2011 History Day, where she was awarded first place in the state of Colorado and com - peted in Washington DC in the middle school category. Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. sional delegation and believe that it is only a Genocide Memorial Plaque dedicated in 1982 The Saturday workshop, titled “Why “This will be the 11th year that we have had matter of time that the Armenian Genocide and located in the Armenian Garden at the Studying the Armenian Genocide Matters this resolution in place,” said Christianian, will get its proper recognition at the national State Capitol. Today,” was part of a series of educational who spearheaded the initiative with the help level,” she said. Alik Christianian’s History Day 2011 docu - events in Colorado. Balakian started the week - of committee members, Ken Allikian and Armenians of Colorado will host the annual mentary can be accessed at end at Colorado State University in Fort Simon Maghakyan. “We have seen the effect commemoration program on Sunday, April 22, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gyhu_Lo Collins, where he read from his latest book of of these grass root efforts on our congres - at 1:30 p.m., at the State Capitol’s Armenian _qp4. poems, Ziggurat , for the Creative Writing Program Reading Series. On Sunday, AOC hosted a talk and book sign - ing with Balakian, titled “Literary Memory and Catastrophe: From the Armenian Genocide to Ragip Zarakolu, Zoryan Institute Collaborate in 9/11.” The event drew a large crowd from both the Denver and Boulder areas. The weekend lectures are part of the Publication of German Foreign Office Archives Armenian Genocide Commemoration events organized by the Armenian Genocide ZORYAN, from page 12 charitable missions or from among the employees the German documents was challenging and took Commemoration committee for AOC. April of the Baghdad Railway were the most important seven years. Dealing with the diplomatic German events include the annual resolution desig - re mained neutral in the war until April 6, 1917, non-Armenian eyewitnesses of the Genocide. language and Sütterlin script of the World War I nating April 24 as Colorado Day of German diplomats and their informants from the It is ironic to read the report of February 24, era was particularly difficult, and the text of the 1913, from Ambassador in Constantinople forthcoming English language edition was help - (Wangenheim) to the Imperial Chancellor ful in clarifying many passages. (Bethmann-Hollweg) stating, “Here in Germany, Zarakolu has been persecuted by the Turkish we have become accustomed to viewing the peri - state for many years for his public positions on free - odically repeated Armenian massacres as being dom of speech, human rights and the rights of merely a natural reaction to the Armenian busi - Turkey’s minorities. Outside Turkey, he has given nessmen’s system of draining others dry. The lectures and participated in conferences, including Armenians were called the Jews of the Orient, in April 2010 in São Paulo, Brazil at a conference and people forgot that in Anatolia there is also a co-organized by Zoryan and is highly respected by strong tribe of Armenian farmers which has all academic and human rights organizations. Among the good characteristics of a healthy rural popu - his honors, he received the NOVIB/PEN Free lation and whose entire wrongdoing consists of Expression Award in 2003 and was nominated for doggedly defending its religion, its language and the Nobel Peace Prize by members of the Swedish its property against the foreign peoples sur - Parliament in February 2012. As a result of his per - rounding it.” secution and many court indictments, he has been This new book is part of the long-term project, officially adopted by PEN. “Creating a Common Body of Knowledge.” There Commenting on the philosophy behind the is a need in Turkey at this time for authoritative Common Body of Knowledge project, K.M. Greg information on its suppressed history. The Sarkissian, president of the Zoryan Institute stat - Zoryan Institute seeks to help provide informa - ed, “History is a stumbling block for peace and tion to fill this need through systematic scholarly stability in the region. True peace can be achieved FRACTURED HISTORY, RECONSTRUCTING IDENTITY: research, the publication of incontestable infor - only if the nations in the region can talk to each mation on the Armenian Genocide in Turkish and other openly about their past. Therefore, we see Degrees of Westernization in other languages and the distribution of it widely education through the Common Body of in Turkey and other countries. Other documen - Knowledge as one of the best ways to alleviate the Armenian Painting and Other Mediums tary and analytical publications commissioned by tension between Turks and Armenians, because it the Zoryan Institute as part of the “Common provides a basis of shared knowledge that can April 3 – April 26, 2012 Body of Knowledge” include Hitler and the counter generations of hostility and lead to mutu - Armenian Genocide (Belge Publishers) and al understanding and dialogue.” A Group Exhibition Curated by Vicki Hovanessian Judgment at Istanbul (Bilgi University Press). For information, contact The translation into Turkish and publication of [email protected] or visit

Opening Reception Gallery Bergen Tuesday, April 3 400 Paramus Road, West Hall, 3rd floor Paramus, N.J. 07652 James Russell’s Home Reflects Eclectic Mind, Travels 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. www2.bergen.edu/gallerybergen RUSSELL, from page 12 every time I go there, I look for menorahs,” he Closing Reception and Gallery Hours: Dennis, and others painted by Russell himself. says. Talk by Peter Balakian Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Russell had painted for most of his life, but Rooted in his Sephardic ancestry, Russell Thursday, April 26 Wednesdays, 12:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. following a severe motorcycle accident while on says he would love to live in Jerusalem, as he 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. his sabbatical in Israel, he became more serious grew accustomed to the “rhythm of Israeli life” Fridays, 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. about painting. Russell finds inspiration from while there on his sabbatical. “I don’t go to Talk in Pitkin Education Center, Directions: www.bergen.edu/directions Room A113 menorahs, which serve as muse for his many places because they’re beautiful,” he said. “I go artistic endeavors, including Hebrew calligra - because of the people.” phy and Hebrew prayer illuminations. “You can Each object in Russell’s brimming collection be infinitely creative with a candlestick,” exhibits the meeting point between another cul - Russell says. ture and his own: though each is only an object, He recounts his recent purchase of the can - every one is a reminder of the characters who dleholders from a large outdoor market in make his travels worthwhile and who he has Jerusalem, which sells fresh vegetables, other incorporated into his life. “You don’t think food and an infinite supply of other products. about these things; you just live among them “There’s a Georgian there who sells junk and and play with them.” 14 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING A Talk Back with ‘Deported/a dream play’

ting of the play’s last act. ficult for you to write this as for us to watch it?” to which By Nancy Kalajian One woman compared transformative imagery tech - Van Dyke responded, “Yes!” Special to the Mirror-Spectator niques used in the play with that of African-American In a follow up conversation, Tevanian remarked, “Having author Toni Morrison. Ken Baltin, one of the actors, spoke been to several Armenian Genocide plays and movies, we of the strong effects of different points of views, comparing can definitely say that Joyce Van Dyke and her play boldly BOSTON — A Talk Back was held after the Saturday, that to the shards of a broken urn. and successfully defines a new genre in playwriting on the March 10 performance with the Playwright Joyce Van Dyke, When I asked about the changes that may have hap - Armenian Genocide, a genre reminiscent of the multitude Director Judy Braha, the cast of “Deported/a dream play” pened to the actors during the five years of working on of nostalgic historical narrative books that have been pub - and Kate Snodgrass, artistic director of NANCY KALAJIAN PHOTO Boston Playwright’s Theatre. Most audi - ence members stayed for the question-and- answer session providing an opportunity for comments on aspects of that evening’s performance. The key players seated on the stage posed questions to the audience: Did the play tell you the truth? Did the play challenge you enough? Audience members poignantly shared their thoughts and emotions. One man had seen four staged readings of the play and was thrilled to now see it in a full- fledged performance. “It truly was a dream play,” he said. Then Paul Boghosian remarked, “I caught the reality of the play. The emotional resilience of Victoria, her strength of character, the arc of her jour - ney in the US was very truthful to me.” One woman appreciated all the remarks she had heard and noticed the smooth transitions in changing sets. “The dancers as stagehands brought coherence. Memories aren’t always linear,” she said. Dora Tevanian said, “Varter represented the possibility of redemption with love…We, as Armenians, are stuck, para - lyzed. My Grandmother never talked about the Genocide.” Though she “bristled” at Dr. Martin and Virginia Deranian pose in front of family photos in the Project SAVE exhibit in the lobby of the Modern Theatre with Ruth Thomasian, Project SAVE founder and executive director. first since the actress playing Varter was - n’t Armenian, Tevanian was soon won over with Jeanine Kane’s unconditionally-loving ways in the face of tragedy and in the consideration of for - their characters, Bobbie Steinbach spoke of the challenges lished the past 25 years.” giveness, likening her persona to the deceased actress, in her role, her own personal experiences with being of “To have an expose in the realm of theatre is revolution - Greer Garson. Jewish descent and how her feelings about forgiveness were ary, especially in the introduction of the novel concept of a Another woman remarked on the most important under - explored over the years. Baltin reflected on the mortality of ‘dream play,’ which allows the drama to waffle between lying thread and question in the play, the effects of the Harry and a sense of healing and said, “It’s an extraordi - past, present and future in an exhilarating puzzle,” contin - Genocide. She spoke of the first generation, those who sur - nary experience to be in such a rich play.” ued Tevanian. “Add to that the journaling of opening up vived the Genocide, with the effect being in dysfunctional For Bethel Charkoudian, the play was “an extremely emo - the survivor to verbalizing, emoting and reliving our trau - families and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. tional experience, not an intellectual experience. I’m shak - ma which had been heretofore unspeakable, and you have Referring to the last act of the play that projects ahead into ing. It shook me to the core.” Decades ago, Charkoudian a piece which finally tackles what we as Armenians have the future with hopes of Armenians and Turks in harmony, conducted oral history interviews with Genocide survivors; been frozen by for almost a century. A gold star to Joyce she felt the “Reconciliation” part of the play didn’t hold any some “Deported/a dream play” cast members listened to whose courageous leap and tedious effort to present some - appeal or seem realistic. With recent demonstrations in some of these interviews at the Armenian Library and thing new, intriguing, unique, and difficult has met with Turkey and threats made to Armenians, she felt reconcilia - Museum of America (ALMA) as the play was in develop - resounding success, attested to by the standing only tions are inappropriate at this time. Van Dyke responded ment to hear first-hand accounts from the survivors. After applause immediately after this Talk Back.” with, “It’s a dream,” referring to the title of the play and set - the Talk Back, Charkoudian asked Van Dyke, “Was it as dif - UC Merced Awards Spendlove Prize to Peter Balakian

MERCED, Calif. (Merced Sun-Star) — The 2012 recipient of the Alice and Clifford Foreign editions of his work have appeared in a and Arts, and includes a representative from the University of California at Merced announced Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy dozen languages including Arabic, French, Spendlove family, an undergraduate student, a on Monday that Peter Balakian, an award-win - and Tolerance. Dutch, Hebrew, Greek and Turkish. graduate student, a faculty member and repre - ning author and a leading voice of Armenian UC Merced will award the prize to Balakian The Spendlove Prize Selection Committee is sentatives from the UC Merced community. Genocide recognition, has been named the during an evening ceremony April 12. He will chaired by Mark Aldenderfer, dean of the UC The Spendlove Prize includes an $8,000 give a public speech the next day. Merced School of Social Sciences, Humanities award. The Spendlove Prize, established through a gift from Sherrie Spendlove in honor of her par - ents, lifelong Merced residents Alice and Mansurian Premiere to Highlight Dilijan Concert Clifford Spendlove, honors one person each year. Previous honorees have included former LOS ANGELES — The Dilijan Chamber Music Series will perform on Sunday, March 25 at President Jimmy Carter and Merced native Zipper Concert Hall, located at 200 S. Grand Ave. The program will feature Martinu’s Charles Ogletree, a professor of law and execu - Madrigals for violin and viola , Komitas’ Dances for solo piano, the world premiere of Canti tive director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Paralleli by Tigran Mansurian and a masterpiece of the chamber music repertoire, Bartok’s Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard String Quartet No. 5 . University. Performers include: violinists Varty Manouelian and Movses Pogossian; violist Richard Balakian is the author of the memoir Black O’Neill, cellist Kim Scholes, pianist Vicki Ray and soprano Shoushik Barsoumian. Dog of Fate , winner of the PEN/Albrand Prize Critically acclaimed for its innovative programming and artistic quality, the Dilijan Series for memoir and a New York Times Notable presents three world premieres this season and features renowned musicians including: vio - Book. A humanities professor at Colgate linists Ida Levin, Martin Chalifour and Guillaume Sutre; violists Paul Coletti and O’Neill; cel - University in New Jersey, Balakian is the recipi - lists Ronald Leonard and Antonio Lysy; clarinetist Michele Zukovsky and baritone Vladimir ent of many awards and prizes and civic cita - Chernov, among others. tions, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a At the end of the season, in June 2012, the Dilijan Series is embarking on their first week-long National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship festival in Armenia, in cooperation with the Perspectives XXI International Music Festival. and the Emily Clark Balch Prize for poetry Founded in 2005 by members of the Glendale-based Lark Musical Society, the Dilijan from the Virginia Quarterly Review . He has Chamber Music Series is dedicated to promoting Armenian chamber music and culture, as appeared widely on national television and well as showcasing masterpieces of Western classical music. Peter Balakian radio, including “60 Minutes,” “ABC World For more information contact [email protected]. News Tonight,” “Charlie Rose” and “Fresh Air.” S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 ARTS & LIVING

REVIEW: New Book Links Genocide Poet/Author Leonardo Alishan’s With Holocaust

Book Translation Published By Tavit Minassian

Hitler’s famous comment to his generals as GLENDALE, Calif. —- Azat Angum haps the same as the jeek jeek noises. Germany invaded Eastern Europe, “Who remem - by Gourgen Arzoumanian is the first However, the poet finds an audience who bers the Armenians?” might not be the only link translation into Armenian of Free would understand him — the community of between the Armenian Genocide and the Jewish Fall, Collected Short Stories , by the sparrows. Holocaust. In his new book, Hammer of the Leonrado P. Alishan. It is a fact that a new language and cul - Gods: Thule Society and the Birth of Nazism Fiction and truth are intermingled ture flourish in the diaspora where duality (published by Potomac Books), David Luhrssen harmoniously. The first story of the and, in some cases, triplication, is part of finds a plausible connection in the strange career book is an introductory story where daily life. Being an Iranian-Armenian, of Rudolf von Sebottendorf, a German expatriate the legendary bird, Simorgh, gives Alishan experienced both diasporas and this in the Ottoman Empire during the ascendance of magical seeds to the narrator that book is the reflection of that existence, the Young Turks. According to his research, bring forth the stories he writes. which many people can relate to themselves. Sebottendorf was a member of a Masonic lodge Meanwhile, the last story finds the Poet and writer Arzoumanian is author of in Bursa that served as the front for a secret narrator receiving rejection letters two Armenian books of poetry: Apricot cadre of the Committee for Union and Progress from publishers simply because no Shine (1980) and In the Intersections (CUP), prior to the group’s seizure of power in one was interested in his strange (1984). Between 1995 and 2000, he was the the 1908 coup. Armenian-Iranian-American poems. editor of Open Letter , a Glendale-based The focus of Hammer of the Gods is the In between the first and last sto - Armenian Literary journal; he founded and Thule Society, a secretive occult group ries, what comes of those seeds is organized the “Literary Corner,” a series of Sebottendorf established after returning to the fruit of exile and identity crises. literary gatherings sponsored by Glendale Germany shortly before the outbreak of World “The Curse,” a short story, portrays Public Library. He is also editor of War I. The Thule Society’s importance in found - the image of an Iranian poet in exile Birthmark , a bilingual anthology of ing the Nazi Party has been briefly noted by who loses his language and becomes Armenian-American Poetry published in historians in the past, but Hammer of the Gods isolated. On one occasion, when the 1999. is the first attempt to write a history of the poet tries to communicate with his Arzoumanian’s poetry, short stories, book book in English, covering its influences, its wife, she responds, “What are these critiques and translations have appeared in membership and the role its members played in jeek jeek [chirping] noises you’re numerous Armenian literary magazines. the Third Reich. making? Why don’t you talk?” For To order a copy of the book, email Luhrssen speculates that through his associ - some, the rejected poems are per - [email protected]. The cost is $25. ation with the CUP cadre, Sebottendorf, who earlier in life had numbered Jews among his mentors, “may have been infected by the more radical strains” of Young Turk ideology. Those officials responsible for conceiving the geno - cides against the Ottoman Empire’s Armenian, Greek and Assyrian subjects preached a doc - trine similar to the ideas the Thule Society bequeathed to the Nazi Party, including belief in a superior race, an invocation of that race’s mythic pagan past, the creation of a mono-cul - tural empire and the elimination of minority groups, not by acculturation but extermination. Sebottendorf would later return to Turkey in the 1930s after running afoul of Germany’s new Nazi rulers. He worked for German intelligence in Istanbul before disappearing at the end of World War II. Hammer of the Gods began as Luhrssen’s master’s thesis at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee and was expanded into a full-length book. Luhrssen has taught history at several Milwaukee colleges, edits the city’s weekly newspaper and is active in the local Armenian community through St. John the Baptist Armenian Church in Greenfield, Wis.

Prof. Dadrian to Speak About Judgment at Istanbul in Glendale

GLENDALE, Calif. — Glendale Public Library will host a lecture and book signing, featuring Vahakn N. Dadrian, a renowned expert on the Armenian Genocide, on Tuesday, April 3, at 7 p.m. at the Glendale Central Library Auditorium, 222 East Harvard St. Admission is free and seating is limited. Judgment at Istanbul: The Armenian Genocide Trials is a prime source of legal evi - dence and authentic Turkish eyewitness testimo - ny of the intent and the crime of genocide against the Armenians. These documents show that Wartime Cabinet ministers, Young Turk party leaders and a number of others incriminated in these crimes were court-martialed by the Turkish Military Tribunals in the years immediately fol - lowing World War I. Most were found guilty and received sentences ranging from prison with hard labor to death. In remarkable contrast to Nuremberg, the Turkish Military Tribunals were conducted solely on the basis of existing Ottoman domestic penal codes. This compilation is signifi - cantly enhanced by an extensive analysis of the historical background, political nature and legal implications of the criminal prosecution of the 20th century’s first state-sponsored crime of genocide against the Armenians. — Elizabeth Grigorian 16 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING Five Books that Can Shed Light on the Armenian Genocide

manageable steps. While intended for a senior 3. Taner Akçam, A Shameful Act: The regime of the Ottoman Empire and Imperial By Alan Whitehorn high school audience, this is a well-crafted and Armenian Genocide and the Question of Germany. The second section documents the balanced volume that would be an excellent Turkish Responsibility (New York, violent revolutionary goals and ideology of the introduction for any adult. I continue to use the Metropolitan Books, 2006; ISBN: 13:978- Young Turk and Nazi parties. The concluding As we approach the 100th anniversary of the book with high school classes. Particularly use - 09050-7932-6; 483 pages) section compares the similarities and differ - 1915 state-sponsored mass slaughter of ful for teachers, an electronic version can also Akçam is the leading Turkish scholar writing ences between the Armenian Genocide and the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, Armenians be downloaded from the Facing History web - on the Armenian Genocide. He is a remarkably Holocaust and explores the ruthlessly ambi - all over the world will be reflecting about the site: www.facinghistory.org. brave academic who has pioneered in the use of tious and violent nature of revolutionary geno - deadly fate of so many ancestors. As Armenians extensive Ottoman and German archival cidal regimes. Chapter eight is often reprinted continue to seek understanding for the causes 2. Peter Balakian, The Burning Tigris: The sources and offered innovative themes. As a justifiably in edited genocide collections. It is of the Genocide, non-Armenians will also Armenian Genocide and America’s Response professor of history, he currently occupies the one of the best comparative summaries in exis - become more aware it. With far less back - (New York, Harper Collins, 2003, ISBN: 0-06- Kaloosdian/Mugar Chair in Armenian tence of the two genocides. ground on the history and the region, many will 019840-0; 475 pages). Genocide Studies at Clark University. Most While the book is analytically comparative, inevitably ask their Armenian friends and col - Peter Balakian is a well-known Armenian- recently, he has co-authored with Dadrian the the format proceeds with one chapter on the leagues: “Which are the most helpful introduc - American poet, academic and political history pioneering volume, Judgment at Istanbul: The desperate plight of Armenians, followed by one tory books on the Armenian Genocide?” This is author. Known primarily for three books on the Armenian Genocide Trials . on the deadly fate of so many Jews. Due to the not always an easy question to answer, but as Armenian Genocide Black Dog of Fate (1997), The title A Shameful Act is taken from a crit - strong analytical framework employed, the we approach 2015, it becomes an increasingly The Burning Tigris (2003) and Armenian ical comment by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk about reader is successfully pulled along in the twin - pressing and germane question. This is not only Golgotha (2009), the latter by his great-uncle the treatment of the Armenians during WWI. ning of the case studies. The Holocaust is the so for non-Armenians, but even for a younger Grigoris Balakian, Peter Balakian is a high-pro - Akçam’s book commences with the challenges most known genocide and the comparison, generation of Diaspora Armenians. Five dis - file public figure who speaks eloquently on the facing the crumbling Ottoman Empire and the both of similarities and differences, with the tinctly different books come to mind as sugges - Genocide. bleak and bloody fate of its non-Muslim popu - Armenian Genocide is quite instructive, even tions: Reflecting his literary training, the writing lation as the multinational Empire is radically for an advanced reader. in The Burning Tigris is poignant and pro - transformed into a nationalist Turkish This is a book that I have often used as one 1. Facing History, Crimes Against Humanity foundly moving. Many American readers have Republic. The Empire’s loss of its Balkan lands of the core texts in my university classes on and Civilization: The Genocide of the been influenced by this volume. Balakian was a traumatic shock that unleashed a wave of genocide. Melson’s book was praised by my stu - Armenians (Brookline, Mass., 2004, ISBN: 0- divides the book into four major sections, com - desperate and angry Muslim refugees. Under dents. If I were to strongly recommend only one 9754125-0-7; 198 pages; also available in elec - mencing with the 1890s Hamidian Massacres the conditions of war, the Armenian question book for Armenians to read on the 1915 geno - tronic format at www.facinghistory.org.) and subsequent American humanitarian relief took on an urgent and dramatic turn. cide, this would probably be the volume I would Facing History, based in Brookline, Mass., is efforts. The next section describes the Young Akçam’s focus is on the centralized decision- select. Part of the reason for this is that I have the pre-eminent educational organization Turks violent revolutionary seizure of power making of the revolutionary Young Turk ruling found that too often Armenians lack a sufficient preparing high school instructors on how to and the impact of World War I which hastened elite and their draconian decision to commit theoretical understanding of the common fea - teach about difficult topics such as the the draconian sense of urgency, growing state genocide. The documentary evidence offered is tures and dynamics of genocide in general. And Holocaust, genocide, racism and intolerance secrecy and centralized coercive planning for impressive, with a great amount from Turkish too frequently they also display a woeful lack of and how to foster human rights and democracy. genocide. The heroic efforts of international primary sources. It is meticulous scholarship sufficient knowledge of other genocides. This is The book’s title reminds us of the birth in witnesses such as American Ambassador updated from a book Akçam originally pub - the book that can address such gaps and defi - May 1915 of the international legal concept of Henry Morgenthau, other diplomatic staff and lished in Turkish in Ankara in 1999. Despite the ciencies. It is also a powerfully effective volume “crimes against humanity.” The important new missionaries are described in the next section. enormous number of footnotes, this English for non-Armenians to learn about the terrible term was used to describe the Young Turk The final portion notes the seemingly doomed translation is well-written and is an important sequence of events of 1915. deportations and massacres of Armenians. This efforts of Woodrow Wilson for a more just volume on the Armenian Genocide. The book is used extensively in both Facing History post-war world and the precedent-setting, but Turkish language version has already had a 5. Peter Balakian, Black Dog of Fate: A teacher workshops and by high school classes largely ineffective Ottoman Courts-Martial in major impact in Turkey. Memoir (New York, Broadway, 1997, ISBN: 0- on genocide in Canada and the United States. Constantinople. The epilogue deals with the Given the focus on the Turkish political-mili - 7679-0254-8; 292 pages), (New York, Basic The book explores the psychological and his - problem of continued Turkish government tary decision-making elite and its genocidal Books, 2009, 13: 978-0-465-91019-6; 357 pages) torical factors that gave rise to genocide and its genocide denial and American complicity in decisions, there is at times less descriptive Balakian’s Black Dog of Fate is an earlier and devastating consequences. The book is quite this. The book is accompanied by a substantial account about the enormous suffering of the quite different volume than his political history effective and well tested in the classroom. It is collection of heart-wrenching black-and-white Armenians. That was not the primary purpose The Burning Tigris . Instead, Black Dog of Fate broken up into 47 smaller manageable sections, photographs. of this volume. The goal was to document is more a personal odyssey in which he discovers with good use of pictures, maps, posters, back - While other more detailed scholarly works by Turkish malevolent intent, planning and respon - insights into his family history. It begins with ground information boxes and, at the end of Vahakn Dadrian, Richard Hovannisian and sibility. This volume achieves that educational Balakian growing up seemingly as a typical each chapter, thoughtful discussion questions. Taner Akçam are available on the Armenian goal resoundingly. sports-devoted American teenager, but gradually The topic of genocide is an extremely difficult Genocide, The Burning Tigris offers a very That said, it does raise a question that often layers of the extended family history are pealed emotional and intellectual journey to travel in a readable narrative and can serve as an effective arises in books on genocide. To understand why back to reveal the horrific suffering of the single volume, hence, the attraction of breaking introductory volume for non-Armenian readers. such terrible events occur, we must look at the Armenian people and the need of the survivors down the complex subject matter into more It is readily available at many bookstores. causes. Hence we need to analyze the percep - to bear witness. The family autobiography tions, motives, plans and deeds of the people increasingly travels back in time to his family’s who commit genocide. However, above all we roots in the Ottoman Empire and the terrible tur - need to understand what the victims experi - moil of 1915. This personal memoir probes enced and the enormous impact of genocide, beneath the surface of a peaceful ordinary life in Lenten Recipes: both in the past and ongoing. To understand New Jersey suburbia to reveal the almost hidden, the cause of genocide we must study the per - but powerful memories of genocide. petrators, but to really comprehend what geno - Vast numbers like one and a half million are Rice Pilaf with Eggplant cide involves, we must first and foremost listen exceedingly difficult to comprehend and can be to the voices and words of the victims. As brave numbing for the outsider. But personal family and pioneering as Akçam is as a scholar, his vol - accounts can be profoundly moving and (Sumpoogov Prinzi Yeghintz) ume seems more suited as a second, more extremely effective in communicating to the advanced book to read, not as an introductory reader the emotional magnitude of the losses INGREDIENTS: account of the Armenian Genocide. That said, involved in genocide. Black Dog of Fate had a 1 eggplant, about 1 pound, unpeeled this is probably the best book for a Turkish major impact on many non-Armenians and 1/4 cup olive oil audience to read. young Diaspora Armenians. It received a glow - 1/2 cup coarsely chopped onion ing New York Times recommendation and was 2 cloves garlic, mashed 4. Robert Melson, Revolution and Genocide: reprinted in an expanded anniversary edition 1 teaspoon minced, fresh oregano (or basil) On the Origins of the Armenian Genocide just over a decade later. It remains a classic 1 cup crushed canned tomatoes and the Holocaust (Chicago, University of introductory paperback on the 1915 Genocide. 1/2 cup long grain rice Chicago Press, 1992; ISBN: 0-226-51990-2; 363 For a young teenage reader, it is an ideal book. 3/4 cup boiling water pages) For others, it can be a nostalgic and quite mov - Salt to taste Melson, a survivor of the Holocaust, is an ing account about an adolescent coming of age 1/2 teaspoon red pepper, or to taste illustrious, pioneering genocide scholar. He was and acquiring adult insight into one of the Freshly-ground black pepper a distinguished professor of political science major genocides of the 20th century. It is a and co-director of Jewish Studies Program at memoir about a land of immigrants, with so DIRECTIONS: Purdue University. many heart-wrenching stories of what their 1. Trim off eggplant ends. Cut eggplant into 3/4-inch chunks. Set aside. His book was an early major contribution to ancestors have endured. 2. Heat olive oil in a wide saucepan, add onion and sauté until wilted, about 5 minutes. the literature on the Armenian Genocide and is These five books can provide a helpful intro - Add garlic and remaining ingredients. Stir, then add eggplant and stir again. still highly cited in academic circles. It is an duction to this profoundly painful, but crucial 3. Bring to the boil, lower heat to simmer 10 minutes, taste to adjust seasonings, then impressive comparative volume, which looks in topic. If on April 24, each Armenian family gave cook additional 10 minutes, or until rice is done. depth at both the Holocaust of World War II a copy of one of these books to a colleague, 4. Remove from heat and let rest 5 to 10 minutes. Stir gently, and then serve. and the Armenian Genocide of World War I. friend, public or school library, more people Yields: 4 servings This is a remarkable volume with extensive doc - would have a chance to begin to understand Note: One 14-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes will yield 1 cup crushed tomatoes and umentation, a powerful analytical framework, how 1915 has defined so much of the 3/4 cup tomato juice, which can substitute for the water. Any leftovers can be served at and a wonderfully effective writing style, that is Armenian nation. room temperature. no doubt enhanced by his personal experiences (All the recipes run during Lent in the Mirror-Spectator are from Classic Armenian as a child having fled genocide. (Alan Whitehorn is author of a number of Recipes: Cooking Without Meat , by Alice Anteasian-Mariam Jebejian.) The book is divided into three major histori - books on the Armenian Genocide, including cal sections. The first explores the background Just Poems: Reflections on the Armenian and conditions in the pre-revolutionary ancient Genocide .) S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 17 ARTS & LIVING Vahakn Dadrian to Speak at Ararat- Lydia Peelle Is Winner of 2012 Eskijian Museum Anahid Literary Prize

On Role of Der Zor NEW YORK — Lydia Peelle is the 2012 Bogdasarian and Boghos and Haiganoosh winner of the Anahid Literary Prize given Taneian, all came to the United States from Gov. Zeki Bey by Columbia University’s Armenian Center the Ottoman Empire in the years before the for her book of short stories, Reasons for Genocide of 1915. MISSION HILLS, Calif. — Prof. Vahakn and Advantages of Breathing , which was a The Anahid Prize was founded by an Dadrian will present a lecture in honor of New York Times Editor’s Choice book and anonymous donor. The prize is now given Luther and Anne Eskijian, on Sunday, April a finalist for the Orion Book Award. The by the Armenian Center at Columbia 1, at 4 p.m. at the Ararat-Eskijian Museum, in book received an honorable mention for University and comes with an award of the Sheen (Geovkalayjian) Memorial Chapel, the Pen/Hemingway Award. $5,000. 15105 Mission Hills Road. The lecture is Peelle was the recipient of a Whiting The purpose of the Anahid Literary Prize sponsored by the Ararat-Eskijian Museum Award in 2010, recognized by the National is to recognize emerging Armenian- and the National Association for Armenian Book Foundation as a “5 under 35” hon - American writers for their achievement and Studies and Research (NAASR). There will be oree in 2009, and has received numerous their potential. There have been more than a musical program by Ani String Quartet and fellowships, including the Fine Arts Work a dozen winners in poetry, fiction, play - a reception and book signing to follow in the Center in Provincetown. writing and screenwriting since that time, Ararat-Eskijian Museum. She received an MFA from the University including Leslie Ayvasian, Peter Balakian, Lydia Peelle Salih Zeki, known as Zeki Bey, was born in of Virginia and now lives in Nashville, Tenn. Eric Bogosian, Diana Der Hovanessian, the city of Samsun on the Black Sea in 1879. Peelle is the daughter of Kenneth and Atom Egoyan, Nancy Kricorian, Patricia By the early 1900s he had entered the Rosemarie Peelle of North Andover, Mass., Sarafian Ward and Arthur Nercessian. Ottoman Civil Service and began to rise and the granddaughter of Alice and the The selection was approved by Columbia Committee composed of Peter Balakian, through the ranks: kaymakam (county exec - late John Bogdasarian of Binghamton, NY. Board of Directors on February 9, after Nancy Kricorian, Peter Sourian and Linda utive) of Tirebolu (1906), Vakfıkebir (1909), Her great-grandparents, Manoog and Aznif receiving the recommendation of the Prize Hamalian. Ünye (1910), Bafra (1911), Alasehir (1912), Incesu (1914) and Develi (1915). Serving in this last post, near Kayseri/Gesaria, at the outset of the Armenian Genocide, he earned a reputation for extreme cruelty and contin - ued to receive promotions for his work. In the summer of 1916, Zeki was appoint - ed mutasarrif (deputy governor) of Deir Zor CC AA LLEENNDDAARR and given the task that his predecessor, Ali Suat Bey, had refused: the liquidation of the vast number of Armenian refugees in the region. Zeki unleashed his genocidal fury against those deportee convoys that had arrived there as destitute survivors of the then-raging empire-wide deportations and MASSACHUSETTS massacres of the Armenian people. As such, Zeki is one of the principal perpetrators of MARCH 31 — AGBU New England District Presents: Per forming this “second phase” of the Armenian Artists in Concert, 8 p.m. Under the artistic direction of mezzo- Genocide. soprano Solange Merdinian and conductor Aram Demirjian, the inau - Dadrian is currently the director of gural program will feature young Armenian artists who are recipients research at the Zoryan Institute and a pio - of scholarships from AGBU in the performing arts. They will perform neer in the fields of genocide theory and the works of both Armenian and non-Armenian classical composers. comparative genocide. Dadrian is the author Details to follow. of several books, including The History of the MAY 24 — Celebrating 80 and Beyond, Benefit for the Armenian Armenian Genocide: Ethnic Conflict from Mirror-Spectator. Royal Sonesta Hotel. Details to follow. the Balkans to Anatolia to the Caucasus, Warrant for Genocide and the recently-pub - lished Judgment at Istanbul: The Armenian MICHIGAN Genocide Trials (co-authored with Taner APRIL 14 — Tekeyan Cultural Association and ADL present Akçam), as well as more than 70 articles in Annual Gourmet Dinner Dance and Program, celebrating 20 numerous languages around the world. He is years of Tekeyan’s cultural and educational mission in Armenia. the recipient of many honors and awards, Honoring Man of the Year Mihran Hoplamazian. Entertainment by including the Khorenatsi Medal, Armenia’s violinist Harry Hovkimian and his ensemble. 7 p.m. Open bar, mezza highest cultural award. He was inducted into and gourmet dinner, $75/person. For tickets, call: Ara Belian (248) the ranks of the Academy of Sciences of the 200-8030, Diana Alexanian (248) 334-3636 or Pam Coultis (248) On March 31, singer Sibil will perform, along Republic of Armenia in 1998 . 646-7847. At St. John’s Armenian Church Cultural Hall, 22001 with the Shushi Armenian Dance Ensemble, at Northwestern Highway, Southfield. To benefit Komitas Choir of St. 200 Hackensack Ave., Hackensack, NJ, present - John’s Armenian Church, Tekeyan Sponsor a Teacher Program and ed by CARS. For information, call Hilda (516) 496- the Orphans’ Higher Education Fund in Armenia. 0248, Margit (914) 686-0840, Adi (973) 761- 1544, Arpi (973) 907-2898, Lusin (718) 776-9513 NEW JERSEY or Linda (201) 560-0172.Tickets, depending on seats: $50, $35 and $25. MARCH 31 — CARS presents Armenian singer Sibil from Istanbul at 7 p.m. Special guest performance by Shushi Armenian Dance Ensemble. Bergen County Academics, 200 Hackensack Ave., Hackensack. For information, call Hilda (516) 496-0248, Margit (914) Association of America, Armenian Catholic Eparchy for US and 686-0840, Adi (973) 761-1544, Arpi (973) 907-2898, Lusin (718) Canada, ACYOA, AYF, Armenian youth organizations, Armenian uni - 776-9513 or Linda (201) 560-0172. Tickets, depending on seats: versity and college clubs. For free bus transportation to and from $50, $35 and $25. Times Square, call: Diocese (212) 686-0710; Prelacy (212) 689-7810, MAY 19, 2012 — HMADS Gala Dinner Dance. Details to follow, June NJ; Sona (551) 427-8763; Holy Martyrs, John, (718) 631-2247; St. 25. HMADS 30th Commencement Exercise at 8 p.m., Kalustyan Hall. Sarkis, Eddy, (917) 885-9729; St. Vartanantz, NJ, Kostan, (201) 741- OCTOBER 28 — Save the date. The Armenian American Support 9789; Paramus, Andy (201) 368-2791; Holy Cross, NJ, Very Rev. and Educational Center, Hye Doon, celebrates its 35th anniver- Vazken Karayan (201) 865-2790, Queens Armenian Center, Sako, sary. Felician College, Lodi. With the participation of Akh’tamar (516) 805-5816 and Brooklyn, Tigran, (374) 291-7765 or visit Dance Ensemble and other talented guest performances. Details to www.knightsofvartan.org, click April 24, http://april24nyc.com, follow. www.armenianradionj or www.theforgotten.org. APRIL 28 — Rebirth Concert: dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Entertainment Fridays NEW YORK both the Armenian National Military and Armenia’s membership to and Saturdays the United Nations. Organized by the Tekeyan Cultural Association of APRIL 22 — “Turkey is Guilty of Genocide, Denying the Undeniable is A NY/NJ. With the participation of renowned artists from Armenia and Crime,” Armenian Genocide Commemoration at Times Square. 2 the Philharmonic Symphonic Orchestra of Rhode Island, to take place p.m., 43rd and Broadway, New York City. Sponsored by Knights and at 8 p.m.; the Merkin Concert Hall of Kaufman center, 129 West Daughters of Vartan, Inc. Co-sponsored by AGBU, Armenian 67th St., New York City. Save the date. Details to follow. Assembly of America, Armenian National Committee of America, MAY 12 — Shushi hosts a Gala Dinner Dance for an evening of ADL-Ramgavars, Armenian Council of America with the participation “Celebration,” 20th anniversary of Shushi’s liberation, Mother’s Day. of: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), Prelacy of Anniversary of Shushi Dance Ensemble, Kavookjian Hall, 630 Second the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), Armenian Missionary Ave., New York City. Details to follow. 18 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

T HE A RMENIAN COMMENTARY Mirror- ‘Termites’ on a Dangerous Mission

and yet, some people are tempted to rank these denominations with By Edmond Y. Azadian sects like Jehovah’s Witnesses or other fanatical groups. Spectator The alien sects are there to undermine, in the first place, the Armenian Apostolic Church, which already faces many challenges: a Termites and carpenter ants are insects that feed on wood. They eat shortage of clergy, public apathy to faith and manipulations within the 24 hours a day. Drywood termites can build nests and dig tunnels in hierarchy of the church itself. These sects are armed with powerful buildings. These tunnels bring major damage and cause buildings to weapons, namely cash and promises of overseas education. They use fall. The damage in the US is estimated at $2 billion annually. mind-control tactics, destroying families and the very fabric of society. Established 1932 This column will not be dedicated to the study of insects nor the But Armenia has committed itself to European standards and is An ADL Publication damage they can cause. We will try only to use the analogy of the ter - under an obligation to sit back and only observe these groups. God mites with the alien sects, which have been dispatched to Armenia on forbid any Jehovah’s Witness is insulted or any congregation is dis - a similarly destructive mission. rupted; the alarms begin ringing and Freedom House or the State

EDITOR As if the war, the blockade, the economic hardships and the con - Department, armed with a report, rates Armenia among the “least Alin K. Gregorian tinuing ravages of the earthquake were not enough, Armenia has to free” countries. be armed to fight the invasion of alien sects, which have “freedom of In Georgia, however, no religious organization save for the Georgian ASSOCIATE EDITOR worship” as their cover to disrupt the social fabric of the country and Church enjoys legal status. Even the Armenian Church has been strug - Aram Arkun to inject demoralization within the armed forces. gling for a long time to attain that status there, despite its existence ART DIRECTOR After 70 years of atheistic rule, which has undermined the founda - on Georgian soil for centuries. Marc Mgrditchian tions of the Armenian Church, Armenia is ill-equipped to counter the Azerbaijan is no different; any group, outside the Muslim religion, is onslaught. There is certainly religious fervor developing — churches subject to persecution and even outright massacre, without any alarm PRODUCTION Dilani Yogaratnam are being built or renovated and the ranks of clergy have been swelling bells going off in the West. — but all those developments can hardly remedy the damage of yes - The most dangerous aspect in Armenia is the influence of these teryear, while new ones are invading the country with specific mis - sects within the ranks of the armed forces. A country which is still in SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: sions. a state of undeclared war needs every able-bodied man within its bor - Edmond Azadian No one believes that the Cold War is over and our homeland is ders to defend the homeland. Jehovah’s Witnesses, however, take cover caught in between the warring camps. The new Cold-War weapons are under the pretext of being conscientious objectors. They refuse to bear CONTRIBUTORS: more sophisticated; they are effectively used for regime changes, col - arms, never mind that some of their leaders have performed religious Florence Avakian, Elizabeth Aprahamian, orful revolutions, (rude) awakenings and causing havoc in target coun - services with concealed weapons on their bodies. Daphne Abeel, Dr. Haroutiune tries. To overcome this situation and to satisfy European watchdogs, the Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Prof. George Soros’ peaceful “angels” were trained and launched against Armenian Parliament adopted a law in 2004 to offer alternative ser - Vahakn N. Dadrian, Diana Der the Ukraine and Georgia, causing Orange and Rose revolutions, vices to conscientious objectors. They can enroll in services at old age Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, Kevork Keushkerian, Sonia Kailian-Placido , respectively. homes, hospitals and orphanages under the Ministry of Social Harut Sassounian, Mary Terzian, Hagop Another targeted mission is conducted through the invasion of reli - Services. However, that in itself presents a risk, since these groups can Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian gious sects, to teach Christianity to the first Christian nation of the prey on a vulnerable audience to convert them to their faith. Even world. Those sects are not only armed with lethal literature but also though the law has been adopted to offer the Jehovah’s Witnesses this CORRESPONDENTS: with cash and strategic skills. form of alternate national service, the Ministry of Defense reports that Armenia - Hagop Avedikian The depressed population of the country is an easy target for the no members of the sect have applied for it. They have all opted instead Boston - Nancy Kalajian leaders of these missionaries. to be taken to court where desertion is punishable with a four-year Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian Armenia is caught between a rock and a hard place; it is party to prison term. The courts have been lenient, giving instead a two-year Contributing Photographers: many European conventions, which dictate freedom of speech and sentence, with tolerable detention conditions. Jacob Demirdjian, Harry Koundakjian, Jirair freedom of religion. That is why it has officially registered many reli - Many people who wish to avoid the draft have joined the ranks of Hovsepian gious sects in order to satisfy the European observers. That also pro - Jehovah’s Witnesses because after serving two years, they qualify for vides a cover to those religious sects to commit their destructive activ - scholarships to travel overseas and present themselves as candidates ities and cry wolf when caught red-handed. for asylum, as members of a persecuted minority. The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published The issue, of course, is not with established denominations which The lawless state of some army barracks, sadly, contributes to the weekly, except two weeks in July, by: have demonstrated their allegiance to our Armenian identity. The decision by some young potential soldiers to take any way out rather Association, Inc. Armenian Congregational and Catholic churches, other than practic - than be in the army, the very same army that has prevented an Azeri ing an alternative rite, have contributed meaningfully to the culture invasion and earned a win in Karabagh. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 and education of the nation and the diaspora. Even today, Armenia Telephone: 617-924-4420 Unfortunately, the analogy of termites is very apt and it requires con - benefits tremendously from their educational and charitable missions, stant vigilance to spare Armenia from another assault. FAX: 617-924-2887 www.mir rorspectator.com E-Mail: editor@mirrorspectator .com For advertising: [email protected] kind from the general purport of the slogans The reaction of the world to this demon - The Khojali that drove Bekaroglu away. Looking at these stration by a crazed crowd is another matter. placards, hearing the yelling did not disturb These people are saying, “We killed, we can kill the minister. again.” Therefore they are admitting some - SUBSCRIPTION RATES : Demonstration I don’t know who conceived or planned the thing they reject by saying, “We did not do it! U.S.A. demonstration and financed the notices and It is all lies!” and treating it as if it is a reason - 2nd Class $75 a year 1st Class $120 a year the placards. I hope an investigation would able thing to do which they can do again at Canada reveal the person’s identity. It is important to any time. Of course it is futile and meaningless Air Mail $125 a year By Murat Belge know what is the purpose here, and more to try to explain it to them. What has hap - importantly, who is being addressed. pened has happened. But the government that All Other Countries Air Mail $190 a year Radikal newspaper had the best follow-up Are we trying to say something to the world has sent its minister of the interior to this Display advertising r at e: $7 per column inch and evaluation of the demonstration orga - or are we talking between ourselves, Turk to demonstration must have an answer. Is it by nized by the racists on the pretense of Khojali. Turk. Of course, I am not asking this to the joining these kind of demonstrations and It clearly spelled out that the demonstration holders of “You are bastards” signs. Nothing adopting these kind of slogans that they was not to express sorrow for those killed but can be asked of them. But a government that expect to join the “Human Family?” an excuse to express hatred of those they con - sends its minister of the interior to such a You may apologize for Dersim, of course this © 2011 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator sider to be the “enemy.” The writers of Radikal meeting must have some answers. is okay because you are not Kemalists. But Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA clearly articulated that this kind of nationalism More than 600 people were killed in Khojali; when the subject is Armenians, you become and additional mailing offices. made the participants identical to the murder - I heard what it had been like there from an tongue-tied. You attempt to establish a com - ISSN 0004-234X ers on the opposite side they were protesting American colleague who was an eyewitness. I mission of historians in 2012. As in the joke against and that before Khojali there had been know how vile it was. But let me repeat, let me about the Janissary and the Jew where the POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The Sumgait. write in numbers, we are calling genocide the Janissary sees a Jew on the street and slaps Armenian Mirror-Spectator, P.O. Box 302, Watertown, MA 02471-0302 I want to dwell on the presence of someone killing of more than 600 people (there are him. The Jew complains “what did I do wrong bearing the title of “The Minister of the other numbers), but 600 is a very small num - again?” The Janissary roars: “You betrayed Other than the editorial, views and opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily Interior” in a demonstration of this kind. I ber when we look at 1915. Jesus.” The Jew panics and says, “That was eflect the policies of the publisher. don’t recall anything like this in our recent his - We keep on trying to argue with people that 2,000 years ago.” The Janissary responds: tory. are involved with questions of genocide that “Well, I just heard about it.” This minister cannot possibly do something the French have killed the Algerians. Yes, they A commission is being formed to investigate. like this without the knowledge of the prime have. As we have killed the Serbian rebels, as However the minister of the interior has minister. Consequently, it cannot be wrong to we have killed the Bulgarian rebels, they also already declared that there have been no believe that there must have been a not entire - have killed and tortured (but they did not improprieties. Thereby he has clearly Copying for other than personal use or ly hidden support by the government for this make “mounds of heads” of the dead). expressed with what methods he wishes to internal reference is prohibited without express permission of the copyright demonstration. Bekaroglu (a Turkish human Generals, like Salan, were mainly responsible conquer the 21st and 22nd centuries in the owner. Address requests for reprints or rights activist) also attended the meeting, for these crimes, and they spent their old age name of the Turks. back issues to: because he also had been moved by the in jail even if for other reasons. Baikar Association, Inc. Khojali killings. Seeing the placards and hear - If we now tell the French “you committed (Murat Belge is a Turkish writer and a 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 ing the slogans, he left saying “This is no place genocide” and call all Armenians murderers of human rights activist. This article appeared in for me.” But the interior minister gave a Hodjali, it becomes difficult for us to argue the Taraf newspaper on February 28 and was speech there. What he said was not different in against things that are said about us. translated by Arutun Maranci.) S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 19 COMMENTARY

Sanasarian College was founded in 1881 by a major Congress by Kemal Ataturk in 1919. Currently, the endowment from Mgrdich Sanasarian, a wealthy business - Sanasarian College complex is a Turkish museum. man from Georgia, who had settled in St. Petersburg, Commenting on the lawsuit, Ali Elbeyoglu, the Armenian Russia. The generous benefactor donated additional prop - patriarchate’s lawyer, told Hurriyet newspaper: “The erties to the college in the late 1800s. Sanasarian Foundation was granted to the patriarchate by My Turn Prior to 1915, Sanasarian College played a prominent philanthropist Mgrdich Sanasarian in the 1800’s. The role as a modernizing force during the Armenian national administration and management of the Sanasarian By Harut Sassounian awakening. It was a European-style liberal arts school with Foundation legally belongs to the patriarchate…. We are the specific purpose of preparing teachers and profession - not going to content ourselves with the mere return of his - als in various fields to assist the rapid development of torical buildings. We are also going to demand compensa - Armenian Patriarchate’s Bold Western Armenia’s economy. During its brief existence, the tion from the government’s General Directorate of Move to Sue the Turkish college produced hundreds of graduates, including many Foundations for all material losses incurred by the patriar - who rose to prominent positions. Armen Garo, the chate since 1936.” Government Armenian Republic’s first ambassador to the United States Earlier this year, the Armenian patriarchate filed a sep - in 1918, was an alumnus of Sanasarian College. arate lawsuit against the Directorate General of We must commend acting Patriarch Aram Ateshian and Garin was an important base of operations for the Foundations seeking the return of the Sanasarian the Armenian patriarchate of Istanbul for making the bold Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnagtsoutyoun) Shopping Center (khan) in Istanbul. Even though the move of suing the Turkish government for the return of his - and its leaders who had taken residence there before 1915. court imposed a temporary injunction, freezing all trans - torically significant Armenian properties. One of the Armenian Revolutionary Fedearation’s (ARF) actions involving the building’s disposition, the Turkish officials normally view such legal actions with founders, Rostom, was appointed as superintendent of Directorate General of Foundations declared that it will hostility and exert great pressure on judges to reject prop - Garin’s school system, which included Sanasarian College. not abide by the court’s order. The patriarchate’s lawyer erty claims filed by minorities, making it extremely difficult Some meetings of the momentous ARF Eighth World Elbeyoglu reacted by declaring: “This runs counter to all if not impossible to win similar lawsuits. Nevertheless, this Congress were held in 1914 at Sanasarian College build - international legal [norms] as well as the Treaty of is a necessary first step in order to be able to appeal the ings. The Congress was interrupted by the start of World Lausanne. The patriarchate is still in possession of the Turkish court’s expected negative ruling to the European War I. The Young Turk government had dispatched to title deed,” Hurriyet reported. Court of Human Rights, where a plaintiff has a much bet - Garin a high-level delegation headed by Behaeddin Shakir, In the past, when I criticized the patriarchate for making ter chance of a fair hearing. one of the masterminds of the Armenian Genocide, to pres - public statements against Armenian national interests, I The lawsuit filed by the patriarchate on March 14 seeks sure the ARF into collaborating with the Turkish govern - was accused of not fully appreciating the special circum - the return of Armenian properties belonging to Sanasarian ment’s wartime efforts. The ARF Congress turned down stances under which Armenians live in Turkey, and was College in Garin (Erzeroum), which were confiscated by the the request. The college closed down in early 1915 and its told to show more sensitivity to the fact that they are basi - Turkish authorities following the Genocide of 1915. The entire faculty and many of its students were killed during cally hostages in the hands of the Turkish government. college’s extensive properties, now worth tens of millions the Genocide. Shakir was assassinated by Armenian Since this article commends the patriarchate’s bold legal of dollars, include nine plots of land in Garin, a garden avengers in 1922 in Berlin. action, I am concerned that my words of praise might make house and vast farmland in the village of Aghveren, two Ironically, a few years later, Garin was converted from a some Armenians in Turkey just as uncomfortable. I am sim - plots in the village of Gez and a large commercial property hotbed of Armenian activism to a center of Turkish nation - ply trying to be fair and even-handed, offering criticism or (khan) in the center of Constantinople (Istanbul). alism with the convening of the historic Erzeroum praise, as the occasion merits.

the quest to prove the Ottoman government’s friends, wanted the civilized world to do us jus - The Armenian case is the first of many such Of Turks and responsibility for planning and implementing the tice by helping us liberate Soviet Armenia and tragedies in the 20th century. My father’s Genocide preoccupied me, my Armenian friends forcing the Turkish government to admit to the anguish is not unique. I cannot forget the past — and, indeed, the Armenian Diasporas, the sur - crimes of the Ottoman government and make but have learned to refuse to be victimized by it. vivors of the Genocide and their progeny. reparations. Focusing all my energies to the task of forcing Armenians To underscore our value and contribution to However, there came a rude awakening for my the Turkish government to reverse its policy of society at large — and reaffirm our self-esteem — generation with the collapse of the Soviet Union denial is self-defeating and perpetuates my emo - we took pride in the successes of individuals of and the declaration of Armenia’s independence tional and intellectual self-incarceration. I have By Artin H. Arslanian Armenian heritage the world over. We never in 1991. Few of those in the Armenian diasporas shed the culture of victimhood and freed myself tired of reminding non-Armenian friends and who were preaching a crusade for the liberation from the oppressive weight of our history. acquaintances that the composer Aram of Armenia left their comfortable lives in the As Hrant Dink, the Armenian-Turkish reporter During my childhood in Lebanon, a recurring Khachaturian, the film director Rouben Middle East, Europe and the United States to go who was assassinated by a right-wing Turkish dream would wake up my father in the middle of Mamoulian, the world chess champion Tigran and live in the Republic of Armenia. Moreover, nationalist in January 2007 in Istanbul, stated a the night. Petrossian, the Soviet Politburo member Anastas more than 20 percent of the population of the few months before his death, the issue of the He dreamt of the day when American mission - Mikoyan, the French torch singer Charles new republic (most of them educated and skilled Armenian Genocide is not our problem — it is aries rescued him while he was walking in the Aznavour, the writer William Saroyan and a slew citizens) emigrated to Russia and a number of Turkey’s problem. Let the Turks come to terms Syrian desert as a 6-year-old, holding his younger of famous others were Armenians. Some of us other countries in search of a decent livelihood. with their history by freeing it from their self- brother by the hand. even insisted that a number of famous non- Over time I came to understand that the pur - manufactured myths, reassess their past and He and his brother were the only family sur - Armenians were indeed Armenians in disguise. suit of national and individual interests of politi - transform their state from an ethnically exclusive vivors from the deportation and massacre of This list included World War II German Gen. cal leaders is the driving force of international home for Turks alone into an inclusive one for Armenians by the Ottoman government during Heinz Guderian (his family name had the com - relations. Sure, in recent years several Western different ethnic and religious groups who con - World War I. Following a medical examination, mon Armenian “ian” ending ) and the American governments have officially recognized the sider themselves the citizens of Turkey. But the missionaries separated my father from his actor Gregory Peck (we claimed his real name Armenian Genocide. However, domestic political while Dink was mourned by Armenians all over brother, who had fallen ill. His brother had in was Krikor Ipekian). considerations or foreign policy objectives (like the world and even by a large number of Turks, vain struggled to stay with him. He was forcibly “Don’t speak Turkish! Remember the 1 mil - the goal of keeping Turkey out of the EU) rather his message — as far as the Armenian Diasporas taken away for medical treatment while yelling, lion!” proclaimed slogans on the walls of many than a commitment to rectifying an historical are concerned — has fallen on deaf ears. “Brother, don’t leave me!” until his voice faded in buildings in Bourdj-Hammoud — the Armenian injustice, appear to be the primary reasons for Dink’s was not a pipe dream. There are har - the distance. enclave in the suburb of Beirut where I grew up. these actions. After all, why had these govern - bingers of fundamental changes brewing in My father, who was placed in an orphanage in We addressed in Armenian the survivors who ments ignored the Armenian Genocide until Turkey at the popular level. Many Turks are Lebanon, never saw his brother again. But his spoke only Turkish. In the process of teaching now? questioning the ethnocentrism of their govern - brother’s parting cry haunted him the rest of his them Armenian we learned Turkish from them The desire to safeguard or enhance national ment and arguing for a genuinely open and life. He named me, my brother and sister after his before we learned Arabic — the language of our strategic interests explains why US presidents — democratic society, which is no longer defined by father, brother and mother. This was his way of host country — in school! Bush, Clinton and Obama — while promising to ethnicity and religion. Just this year a conference making his family whole again. His anguish left In Armenian elementary and secondary recognize the Armenian Genocide during their on the Armenian Genocide was held in Ankara. an indelible mark on me. schools we sang revolutionary songs and presidential campaigns have, once in office, suc - Public commemorations of the Genocide were I didn’t need my father’s nightmares to be pledged to die fighting for the liberation of the cessfully fought congressional legislation recog - held in Istanbul (one organized by the Human reminded of the tragic fate of my ancestors dur - historic Armenian provinces from Turkey and nizing the Armenian Genocide. The US govern - Rights Association of Turkey, another a candle - ing World War I. The Turkish government’s the Soviet Republic of Armenia from Russian ment doesn’t want to antagonize Turkey, an light vigil held by Turkish intellectuals). denial of the Armenian Genocide dominated the control. The hatred of Turks and all things important strategic ally against potential threats Moreover, a number of Turkish scholars are argu - lives of Armenian communities all around the Turkish dominated our lives. I, along with my from Russia, Iran and Afghanistan. ing against the official policy of denial of the world. A growing hatred of all things Turkish and Armenian Genocide and thousands have signed an apology on the Internet for the “great cata - strophe” that befell more than a million Armenians during World War I. The use of the point or larger). Submissions that do not con - Photos will be returned only if a self- Notice to Contributors form to these specifications will be assigned addressed and stamped envelope is includ - term “great catastrophe” rather than “genocide” lowest priority. ed. protects these people from government prosecu - — Articles sent by fax are acceptable, and e- — The will publish only one article tion — but in poor imitation of the bard, genocide The wel - mail submissions are encouraged. about aMn -uS pcoming organizational event. by any other name… is still genocide. comes aArrtimclens,i acno mMmeirnrotarr-iSeps eacntadt ocrommu - — All submissions should include the name For major special events, exceptions may I cannot forget my father’s nightmares. From nity news from our readers. In order to of a contact person and a daytime tele - be made only by special arrangement time to time I still hear the cry, “Brother, don’t assure the accurate and timely publication phone number. with the editors. leave me!” But I no longer harbor hatred against of articles submitted, please note the fol - — Deadline for submission of all articles and — Telephone numbers, ticket prices and other anyone. lowing policies: advertising is noon on the Monday of the details (at the discretion of the editors) will not — All articles submitted should be typed, dou - week of publication. be included in press releases, but should be (Artin H. Arslanian is a professor of history ble (or triple) spaced and printed in a type — Photos will be published without charge at reserved for calendar listings and advertise - and international relations at Marist College in size large enough to be clearly legible (10 the discretion of the editors and art director. ments. Poughkeepsie, NY. This commentary appeared in Today’s Zaman on July 18, 2010.) 20 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 24, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR