JANUARY 25, 2020 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXX, NO. 27, Issue 4620 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF Lavrov Happy with NKR Hrant Dink Negotiations Progress MOSCOW (Armenpress) — The Russian Foreign Remembered Ministry released a statement on January 17 about progress in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Tass reported. “There is progress in the implementation of Anniversary of Hrant Dink ‘small steps’ on which the foreign ministers had Assassination Commemorated agreed in April 2019 as a development to the agree- In Istanbul ments reached between the Azerbaijani president and the Armenian prime minister in Vienna in ISTANBUL (Bianet) — Thousands of pro- March 2019. The situation on the border and the testers marked the 13th anniversary of line of contact is relatively calm. There is an opera- aTurkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink’s tive communication between Yerevan and Baku,” murder on Sunday, January 19, as outrage the ministry said in the responses to the reporters’ continues to grow over a trial which failed questions during Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s to shed light on alleged official negligence press conference. or even collusion. Hrant Dink, the editor in chief of Agos newspaper and an advocate of reconcilia- Armenians Can Now tion between Turks and Armenians, was Visit China Visa-Free shot dead outside his office by then-teenag- er Ogün Samast who defines himself as Ashley Kutzer (l) and sister Haley Kutzer (r) at St. James Annual Bazaar selling Hokistrings YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Armenia and Turkish nationalist. More than 100,000 China have officially abolished visas from January people marched in the funeral procession Pretty, Powerful: Hokistrings Bracelets 19, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan said in a for Dink. Facebook post. “Hrant Dink was the symbol of brother- Raise Domestic Violence Awareness, Funds President Armen Sarkissian ratified the visa hood that our country needed most. I think waiver agreement with China a little more than a BOSTON — When is a bracelet not just a bracelet? When it helps a battered month ago. Holders of Armenian passports will be women’s shelter halfway around the world. able to enter, transit and stay in the territory of Ashley and Haley Kutzer, according to their China for a maximum of 90 days within a period of mother, Donna Partamian-Kutzer, are both 180 days. By Alin K. Gregorian artistic and generous. The agreement to sign the deal was reached dur- Mirror-Spectator Staff The two teen sisters started Hokistrings, a ing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to China line of beaded bracelets, last year. All the in May. money from the sale of the popular bracelets The deal is expected to boost trade, business and goes toward the Women’s Support Center (WSC), a shelter for women escaping tourism exchanges between the two countries. domestic violence in Yerevan. “My daughter Ashley has had a long-time hobby of making beaded jewelry. Last year she began a new design and her peers took an immediate liking to her Aleksanyan Comes in bracelets. What was a simple hobby suddenly began to take up much more of her 1st at French Tourney Marchers pay tribute to the late Hrant Dink time as she was taking orders from many of her friends from school and at work. on the anniversary of his death. Ashley decided that she could ask people for a few dollars for each bracelet and NICE, France (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Armenian then donate the money to a good cause. It was right around this time that Lenna wrestler, Olympic champion Artur Aleksanyan see BRACELET, page 14 defeated all his opponents in the 97-kilogram event that was the biggest reason why he was of the Henri Deglane Grand Prix de France. taken from us. Because the country’s dark- A Greco-Roman wrestler, Aleksanyan is an hearted ones need separation rather than Olympic Champion (2016) and bronze medalist unity,” Social Memory Platform lawyer endless struggle. We want people not to (2012), a three-time World Champion (2014, 2015, Sertaç Ekinci said. give rein to the normality of evil, bow to Canadian Armenian 2017), and a four-time European Champion (2012, Protesters and human rights activists power. We want them to struggle for their 2013, 2014, 2018). He is the second Olympic gold placed red carnations on the spot where rights,” human rights defender Sebnem Genocide Survivor medalist of Armenia since regaining independence Dink was gunned down in daylight by a Korur Financı said during her commemo- in 1991 and is the most decorated Olympian of teenage gunman in Istanbul, outside of his ration speech. Eugenie Papazian independent Armenia as well. In his final bout, minority Agos newspaper. Many carried black banners that read Aleksanyan beat Azerbaijan’s Orkhan Nuriyev 3-1 “As we could not manage to live togeth- “We are all Hrant, we are all Armenian” Dies at 104 to become the champion. er and respect other cultures, we have not and “We want justice”, as they did in the TORONTO (Horizon Weekly) — Armenians Rudik Mkrtchyan (55 kg) and been ashamed of the drought we have cre- previous twelve commemorations. Eugenie Papazian Korkorian- Karapet Chalyan (77kg), meanwhile, took the sec- ated. Ours is not hatred against evil. An see DINK, page 4 Yeranian, a Toronto woman believed ond spot in their respective categories, while to have been one of the last Gevorg Gharibyan (60 kg), Slavik Galstyan (67 kg), Canadians to have survived the Malkhas Amoyan (72 kg) and Ruben Gharibyan (82 Armenian Genocide, died on January kg) came in the third. Hrant Dink Remembered in Cologne, Frankfurt 14, four months shy of her 105th birthday. Although the young assailant was appre- Eugenie Papazian was born in Muriel Mirak-Weissbach hended, arrested and convicted, others Turkey, in the Ionia district of Samsun accused of complicity, as well as those who Special to the Mirror-Spectator by the Black Sea in 1915. She never INSIDE ordered the assassination, have still not knew her parents. Her father was been brought to justice. taken to the army in 1915 and did not COLOGNE, Germany — Thirteen years This year, Armenian, German and return home, while her mother died have passed since Hrant Dink was mur- Turkish intellectuals and civil society when she was still a newborn. What? No dered in front of the office of Agos, the activists joined again to commemorate the see SURVIVOR, page 20 newspaper he directed as editor in chief. man who fought for recognition of the Armenian genocide and to keep Passport? alive the spirit of reconciliation he embodied. On January 18 in Cologne and on January 19, the Page 13 anniversary of his death, in Frankfurt, events took place organized by several groups, including the Hrant Dink INDEX Forum, the German-Armenian Arts and Living ...... 13 Society (DAG), Kultur Forum Armenia ...... 2,3 Türkei Deutschland (KFTD), Community News...... 6 TÜDAY Human Rights Editorial ...... 17 Organization and medico inter- Eugenie Papazian (Kokorian-Yerganian) International ...... 4,5 Can Dundar and Aydin Ustunel national. see COLOGNE, page 4 2 S ATURDAY, JANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia

Parliament Attack Leader Hunanyan Sends Letter to Prime Minister YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The 1999 Armenian parliament attack ringleader Nairi Hunanyan has sent a letter addressed to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed on January 17. Nairi Hunanyan led the terror attack on the Armenian parliament on October 27, 1999 and is currently serving a life-sentence since being convict- ed in 2003. The Prime Minister’s office refused to disclose other details. Unconfirmed media reports earlier said Hunanyan has reportedly expressed his willingness in the letter to participate into a new investigation into the October 27 case. On October 27, 1999 a group of five armed gun- men led by Hunanyan stormed into the parliament President Armen Sarkissian at Davos (Photo courtesy of Armedia) while it was in session and assassinated Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, Speaker Karen Demirchyan, Deputy Speakers Yuri Bakhshyan and Ruben Miroyan, as well as three lawmakers and a President Sarkissian Attends Davos Forum Cabinet member. The gunmen held the remaining MPs in parliament hostage until surrendering to DAVOS, Switzerland — At the invita- Swiss town of Davos, under the theme gathering were the US President authorities the next day. tion of the founder and President of Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Donald Trump, German Chancellor The five perpetrators, who include Hunanyan’s the World Economic Forum Klaus Sustainable World. Angela Merkel, President of the younger brother and uncle, were sentenced to life in Schwab, President Armen Sarkissian Over 700 speakers from different European Central Bank Christine prison in 2003. participated in the 50th annual meet- countries and over 3000 participants Lagarde, activist on climate and ecolog- ing in Davos, Switzerland. discussed issues related to economy, ical issues Greta Thunberg, and others. EU Representative Happy “You were the first president of the technologies, ecology, and industry. Sarkissian spoke at the Davos World Global Agenda Council on Energy In fifty years of its existence the Economic Forum and made a state- With Judicial Reforms in Security of the World Economic annual meeting in Davos has become ment on rapid changes happening in Forum. The Forum is looking forward one of the most influential high-level the world, global risks, new quantum Armenia to hearing your vision regarding the global gatherings which every year technologies and systems, quantum YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Armenia is making forthcoming industrial revolution, new brings together representatives of behavior of politics, trends and efforts towards judicial reforms, and the European quantum technologies, quantum poli- states, governments, international avenues of development of the con- Union (EU) supports these efforts, the head of the tics as well as on directions and trends organizations, and business communi- temporary world. EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Andrea of development of the contemporary ty as well as reputable experts to dis- In the framework of the World Wiktorin, told reporters on January 17. world,” Klaus Schwab wrote to cuss global, regional, and industrial Economic Forum Sarkissian held Commenting on the current situation around the Sarkissian. agenda, to offer solutions to the exist- meetings with a number of heads of Constitutional Court (CC), as well as the criminal This year the World Economic ing problems and challenges. state and government, representatives case launched against CC President Hrayr Forum was held on January 20-24 in Among the speakers of this year’s of business community. Tovmasyan, Wiktorin said the European Union, like other international structures, is closely following the ongoing developments, but they will refuse to comment on the ongoing concrete cases. “I would be very surprised if there was an inter- Yerevan Mayor Demands Retraction Matenadaran ference on a concrete criminal case, but we see that efforts are made for judicial reforms, and we support Of Corruption Claims Digitization these efforts,” she said. Wiktorin said she has worked in Armenia for over YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Yerevan pal administration. Ongoing, New 10 years and has had a chance to work with the first Mayor Hayk Marutyan on Thursday, Khazhakyan claimed that the dona- Scanner Needed ombudsman. January 16, challenged two leading tions were made in return for con- “I just want to say that I now see that serious members of the opposition Bright struction permits given to them. YEREVAN (Panorama.am) — The efforts are being made to improve human rights, in Armenia Party (LHK) to substantiate Marutyan strongly denied such a quid Matenadaran, Armenia’s national particular to prevent torture and prohibited treat- their allegations that his administra- pro quo. repository of ancient manuscripts, dig- ment, and there is also cooperation with interna- tion has accepted dubious cash dona- The opposition politician subse- itized a total of 543 manuscripts in tional structures on this path,” she said. quently alleged 2019, Vahe Torosyan, Scientific that the municipal- Secretary of the Matenadaran, said on ity also accepted January 14. New High-Voltage Line cash from private He noted that mainly Armenian Between Iran and donors. manuscripts are digitized by the repos- M a r u t y a n ’ s itory. The Matenadaran is home to a Armenia to Finish by spokesman, Hakob total of 11,350 Armenian manu- Karapetyan, dis- scripts,the secretary said. End of 2020 missed that allega- Torosyan added a total of 6,598 tion as “disinfor- YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The third high-voltage manuscripts have been digitized to mation.” “After line between Armenia and Iran is scheduled to be fin- date, with the digitization of that statement the ished by the end of the year. The new line is being palimpsest manuscripts requiring municipality con- constructed along the sidelines of the “gas-electrici- extra efforts. Overall, 31 palimpsests ducted an addi- ty exchange project” between the two neighboring have been digitized so far, he says, tional inquiry and countries, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia adding the Matenadaran plans to did not find any Shavarsh Kocharyan said during the session of the acquire a new scanner which will Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan speaks to journalists, instances of cash National Assembly Standing Committee on Regional enable them to digitize difficult-to- January 16, 2019. donation,” he told and Eurasian Integration on January 21. open manuscripts. R F E / R L ’ s Kocharyan clarified that the pipeline between “There are manuscripts, the backs Armenian service. Armenia and Iran is underexploited, using just 20 of which are sewn in a way that if we tions from wealthy businesspeople. Karapetyan did not exclude that percent of its total capacity. “If this deal is profitable open then completely, they would In letters sent to the LHK’s Edmon the mayor will take the opposition fig- for both sides, why don’t we get more gas and give break. As a rule, we do not digitize Marukyan and Davit Khazhakyan, he ures to court if they ignore his more electricity? The reason is that the two existing them. We have to tear it down com- said they must retract those claims if demands. high-voltage lines do not have enough capacity,” pletely and sew the back again, or we they cannot come up with any evi- Khazhakyan insisted, meanwhile, Kocharyan said, adding that the construction of the can get a scanner that will scan them dence. that he does have evidence of the new line was delayed due to the sanctions imposed in a V-shape opening,” he said. Khazhakyan is a member of the alleged wrongdoing and has submit- on Iran, since Iran also must have a significant con- According to the data, in 2019 Yerevan city council who has repeat- ted it an ad hoc commission of the tribution to the construction works. 2,851 manuscripts and 705 archival edly accused Marutyan of corruption Armenian parliament which was “It is expected that by the end of the year it will be documents were served. 440 archival and mismanagement. He sparked a formed recently to investigate the done and the exchange volume will increase,” he said. documents were digitized last year. scandal in November by revealing controversial donations. He said The digitization of manuscripts that private firms have donated two Marutyan should cooperate with the started in 2007-2008. dozen garbage trucks to the munici- commission. S ATURDAY, JANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 ARMENIA Armenia Former Armenian Security Chief Easing Bank ‘Died in Apparent Suicide’ Secrecy YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenia’s par- liament was poised on Tuesday, January YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Georgi Kutoyan, a shock death, including murder. Committee, Artur Melikyan, said on Friday 21, to pass in the second and final reading former head of Armenia’s National Security Kutoyan’s body was discovered at a that his officers found dozens of bullets and a government bill that will make it easier Service (NSS) who was found shot dead on Yerevan apartment belonging to his family. spent cartridge cases in the apartment. for law-enforcement bodies to access bank Friday, January 17, most probably committed According to the Investigative Committee, he In a written statement released on account data. suicide, Prosecutor-General Artur Davtyan had a gunshot wound to his head. Saturday, the Investigative Committee said it Armenian banks have until now been said over the weekend. A spokeswoman for the law-enforcement has established that Kutoyan fired 35 gun- required to provide tax and law-enforce- Davtyan told reporters that investigators agency, Naira Harutiunyan, said on January 20 shots at an apartment wall after “consuming ment authorities with information about alcohol” there in late December. He was financial accounts of only those clients killed by a bullet fired from the same pistol who are accused or suspected of certain legally owned by him, said the statement. crimes. Kutoyan and his family did not live in the The bill passed by the parliament in the apartment in question. According to the first reading last month would allow inves- Investigative Committee, the former NSS tigators to also see what individuals linked chief went there the day before his death to criminal suspects have in their domestic after telling his loved ones that he wants to bank accounts. Prime Minister Nikol “rest there for two or three days.” The com- Pashinyan has said this will help the mittee statement also said that Kutoyan, who Armenian authorities fight against corrup- reportedly studied in Britain, “returned” to tion more effectively. Armenia on December 9. Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan like- A lawyer by education, Kutoyan had wise insisted on Tuesday that the existing worked as an assistant to President Serzh bank secrecy rules impede anti-corruption Sargsyan from 2011 until his surprise efforts as he spoke during a final parlia- appointment as director of Armenia’s most ment debate on the bill involving draft powerful security agency in February 2016. amendments to two Armenian laws. He was sacked by newly elected Prime Representatives of the pro-government Minister Nikol Pashinyan in May 2018 imme- majority in the National Assembly reaf- diately after the “Velvet Revolution” that top- firmed their support for the measure. pled Sargsyan. “All countries, at least those aligned in Sargsyan was reportedly shocked by the the Council of Europe, are now trying to unexpected death of his former aide. The 65- ensure a more transparent regulation of year-old ex-president attended the requiem the banking and financial sector,” said service and Kutoyan’s funeral on Monday as Vladimir Vartanian, the chairman of the did most of his top loyalists. He refused to parliament committee on legal affairs. Funeral of Georgi Kutoyan on January 20 talk to reporters. Opposition lawmakers continued to crit- Kutoyan is the second former senior secu- icize the bill, however, saying that it could rity official found shot to death in the last scare away investors. “With these changes have found “quite a bit of information testi- that investigators have found no “traces of vio- four months. Hayk Harutiunyan, a former what messages will we be sending to fying to a suicide” as he attended a requiem lence” on the body. She added that they are chief of the Armenian police, was found dead investors if our investment climate is service for Kutoyan held on Saturday. He cau- awaiting the results of several forensic tests in his country house in September. undermined as a result?” said Mane tioned, though, that they are continuing to that could shed more light on Kutoyan’s death. Investigators suggested that he committed Tandilyan of the opposition Bright consider other theories of the 38-year-old’s A deputy head of the Investigative suicide. Armenia Party. The Union of Armenian Banks called the government initiative a “step back” when Pashinyan’s cabinet unveiled it in September. Some economists warned of capital flight from the country. The Central Bank of Armenia sought to allay those fears at the time, insisting that the bill will not soften banking secrecy. It argued that investigators will continue to need permission from both prosecutors and courts to access information about bank accounts. Badasyan argued in this regard that the new rules also require law-enforcement officials to better substantiate their requests for such permission. Those will have to be approved by Armenia’s prose- cutor-general or one of his deputies before reaching courts, said the justice minister.

Pianist Eva Gevorgyan To perform in Yerevan

YEREVAN (Panorama.am) — Fifteen- year-old Russian-Armenian pianist Eva Gevorgyan will perform a joint concert with pianists Armen Babakhanian and Poom Prommachart (Thailand, Canada) on January 30 at Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall. The concert, entitled “Armenian Piano Music Part 3” will fea- The Armenian humanitarian mission in Aleppo with the donated medice and supplies. ture works of Armenian composers, Aram Khachaturian, Arno Babajanyan, Haro Stepanyan, Komitas, Sayat-Nova, Sheram and Jivani among them. The Humanitarian Delegation Takes Supplies to Aleppo event is organized by TM Production Gevorgyan is studying at the Moscow YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The Armenian humanitarian mission in Syria donated medicine and medical supplies to the Aleppo Hospital State Tchaikovsky Conservatory. She has on January 16, the group’s spokesperson Nazeli Elbakyan said. been playing piano since 3 years of age. The mission is being carried out by the Armenian Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise and includes medical and de-min- She has participated in numerous compe- ing activities. titions and festivals, and received the sec- In the period of February 8, 2019 until January 16, 2020, the Armenian medics treated 13,680 patients. The group’s de-miners have ond prize at the 2019 Cliburn cleared 126,000 square meters of territory. International Junior Piano Competition The Syrian side once again thanked for the donation and emphasized the importance of the ongoing mission. held in Dallas last year. She was granted Armenian citizenship in 2019. 4 S ATURDAY, JANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL International News

Serbia to Open its Embassy in Armenia at End of February YEREVAN (ARKA) — Serbia will open its embassy in Armenia at the end of February, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said during a conversation with Armenian President Armen Sarkissian in Abu Dhabi. In 2019 October Serbia lifted visas for citizens of Armenia, who can travel to Serbia as tourist and stay there for a period of 90 days. The agreement was reached during Sarkissian’s official visit to Serbia. In Abu Dhabi Sarkissian and Brnabic said the move is an important step in strengthening relations between the two countries. They also agreed that both countries can cooperate in environment protection and use of Marchers pay tribute to the late Hrant Dink on the anniversary of his death. green technologies. President Sarkissian spoke also about the ATOM (Advanced Tomorrow) presidential initiative, designed to give a boost to development of science and educa- tion. He noted that this multifaceted project calls for e Anniversary of Hrant Dink Assassination creation of the Museum of Future for kids and the first in Armenia Disneyland based on artificial intelligence. The meeting between the President of Armenia and Commemorated in Istanbul the Serbian Prime Minister took place on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Stability Week Forum. DINK, from page 1 becoming a champion of minority Since Dink’s murder, the movement Dink was outspoken about Armenian rights in a country where such causes called “We Want Justice,” which Iran Names New issues and he was prosecuted three are punishable. demands a fair trial for Dink’s murder times for violating Article 301 of the His murder instantly became a symbol case, has grown and become more com- Ambassador to Armenia Turkish penal code, which makes it a of the racism and ultranationalism plex, bringing together Turkish liberals, crime to insult Turkishness, the grinding at the core of Turkish society, Armenians, journalists, Kurds and TEHRAN (Panoram.am) — Abbas Zohouri has Turkish nation, or Turkish institu- a war against freedom of expression, Alevis, and women and members of the been appointed new Ambassador of the Islamic tions. He spent his career challenging and the complacency of Turkey’s intel- LGBTI community. Republic of Iran to Armenia. Zohouri along with 12 the intolerance behind such statutes, lectuals. (See related editorial on Page 17.) other new ambassadors met with the President of Iran on Tuesday. As President Hassan Rouhani tweeted the meeting came before the ambassadors leave on their coun- tries of mission. “The President stressed the importance of devel- Hrant Dink Remembered in Cologne, Frankfurt oping economic relations,” the Tweet said. COLOGNE, from page 1 In Cologne, representing the TUMO Center to Open in Armenian community were the Primas of the Armenian Church in Germany, Berlin in October Bishop Serovpé Isakhanyan, and DAG BERLIN — On January 21, a memorandum of President Dr. Raffi Kantian. Turkish- understanding was signed to establish a TUMO cen- German author Doan Akhanlı partici- ter in Berlin. The signing ceremony took place con- pated, and Dilan Yazıcıolu presented currently at the TUMO Yerevan and the Berlin head- selections from his monodrama quarters of KfW Development Bank. “Anna’s Silence.” Can Dündar, the for- TUMO Berlin will open its doors in mer chief editor of Cumhuriyet, has Charlottenburg, in western Berlin, providing tuition- free education to 1,200 students, in October 2020. The event was attended by government officials from Armenia and Germany as well as the heads of the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies and KfW Development Bank. Welcoming those in attendance, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan said, “Today’s event proves that a country’s geographic location or the richness of its natural resources does not deter- mine its future. Rather, it is a country’s human Nare Karoyan (piano) and Judith Hoffmann potential and the richness of its ideas, which have no boundary.” The establishment of a TUMO center in Berlin was collected texts by Dink and contrasted spearheaded by the TUMO Center for Creative them to materials form the court Technologies in tandem with KfW Development records of the trial against his murder- Bank. er. A critic of the Erdogan government, Dr. Ingrid Hengster of KfW’s executive board, stat- he is among the growing number of ed in her address, “Promoting education is one of journalists and intellectuals who have KfW’s central priorities. With TUMO, we are adopt- Raffi Kantian (l.) and Dilan Yazicioglu fled Turkey to escape persecution. (See ing an innovative project, from a country that KfW https://mirrorspectator.com/2018/05 also cooperates with in development, to promote the /03/journalist-can-dundar-in-german- digital education of children.” exile/) Two films were shown at the Students at TUMO Berlin will focus on program- meeting, the first by Osman Okkan, co- ming, animation, filmmaking, graphic design, 3D founder of the KFTD, and film maker, modeling, game development, music, drawing, pho- entitled, “Mordakte Hrant Dink” tography and robotics. (Hrant Dink Murder Files). The second TUMO CEO Marie Lou Papazian emphasized that, was “No Darkness Can Make Us “The educational program that KfW and TUMO are Forget” by Hüseyin Karabey. The launching in Berlin is an ambitious one. It will cover music program featured Nare Karoyan some of the fastest-growing fields in technology and on the piano, accompanying singer design such as artificial intelligence, computational Judith Hoffmann. Dogan Akhanli (l.) and Deutche Welle graphics, algorithmic music and include numerous The Frankfurt event also included journalist Aydin Ustunel opportunities to explore and prepare for future films, a round table discussion and con- careers.” cert. In addition to Okkam, Dündar TUMO Berlin will join TUMO Paris and Beirut. and Kantian, journalist Banu Güven about an Armenian chorus in Paris, Plans to establish new centers in Moscow, Tirana, and Green Party political figure Cem which depicts life in the diaspora. The Tokyo and other cities around the world are in Özdemir took part. The 2007 film “In music program offered Armenian, progress. the Swallows’ Nest” deals with the Turkish and Kurdish songs, performed Armenian orphanage outside Istanbul by the Lale Koçgün and Ensemble. Bishop Isakhanyan where Hrant Dink spent mart of his (All photos are by Krikor Manugian. youth, and “A Choir,” a 1996 film See related editorial on page 17.) S ATURDAY, JANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 INTERNATIONAL Armenia Officially Protests Cancellation Historic Armenian Church in Kayseri Of Soprano’s Participation at Azeri Damaged by Treasure Hunters

Tenor’s Request BAGPINAR, Turkey (Panorama.am) — The historic Surp Asdvadzadzin (Holy YEREVAN (Combined sources) — Armenian Mother of God) Armenian church in the vil- Members of Parliament will sent a letter of protest lage of Bagpinar in Turkey’s Kayseri to the German parliament regarding the controver- (Kesaria) Province has repeatedly been sial cancellation of Armenian soprano Ruzan attacked by treasure hunters, Ermenihaber Mantashyan’s performance in Dresden after of an reported on January 21. Azerbaijani singer’s xenophobic demand to do so. As a result of the attacks, the church has “The Semper Opernball festival cancelled suffered significant damage. The frescoes singer Ruzan Mantashyan’s performance due to have been damaged by holes dug into the the demand of Azerbaijani tenor Yusif Eyvazov, church walls. who is singer Anna Netrepko’s husband, In an interview with a Turkish media because of Ruzan Mantashyan’s Armenian outlet, Bagpinar Mayor Omer Nalbant nationality. We, the parliamentary standing expressed regret over the poor state of the committee on Science, Education, Culture and church, expressing hope that the authori- Youth Affairs, have drafted a letter and would ties will restore the church and turn it into like it to be signed by as many lawmakers as a tourist destination. possible. The letter is addressed to the According to Nalband, he repeatedly Budestag, in order to draw their attention on placed metal doors and locks on the the xenophobic manifestations taking place in church, but to no avail, as thieves would Dresden,” said Artur Manukyan, a lawmaker break them every time. representing the ruling My Step bloc. According to the Turkish source, repre- On January 13, media reports suggested sentatives of the Kayseri Provincial Eyvazov refused to perform with Mantashyan Department of Culture and Tourism said due to “political concerns.” The two singers all churches in the province have been reg- were scheduled to perform together on istered, adding restoration works are Some of the damaged frescos February 7 at Semper Opernball. planned but no dates have been set. Afterwards, the Azerbaijani singer claimed on his social media account that the reports are fake news. He published a news release by Semper Opernball which reportedly showed that the festival didn’t even have a contract Hasmik Papian was the first to break the news. with Mantashyan regarding her performance. “Dear Yusif, just in case you don’t know it, However, a December 2019 news Dresden had a very bright and very dark past release included Mantashyan in the list of per- and history and also a very glorious musical formers and the final contract wasn’t technical- one. The city is making its way again to be one ly yet signed because the negotiations weren’t of the greatest cities in Europe and in the yet completed. But organizers and Mantashyan world,” René Pape continued. had agreed around her performance. “To be invited to sing here and to make an The Armenian soprano then publicly said she audience happy is an honor and a privilege. You expects an apology from the organizers. should be proud and happy to be asked to be German opera singer René Pape has criti- part of it. You want to be remembered as an cized Azerbaijani tenor Yusif Eyvazov for forc- artist, not as a hater,” she added. ing Armenian soprano Ruzan Mantashyan out German bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff also of Dresden Opera Ball. took to Facebook to criticize the Azerbaijani singer. “Usually, I don’t comment on such things, “Mr. Eyvazov, be ashamed! Racism has no but as a Dresden native and as an ambassador place in our profession and in the world, in gen- of music, art and anti-racism, I have to tell my eral,” he said. esteemed colleague Yusuf not to bring hate into (In last week’s Armenian Mirror-Spectator, my town or somewhere else. To be able to make the Armenian soprano in question was named music means to be able to build bridges, not to as Papian. Indeed, Papian was the one who dis- destroy them,” Pape said in a statement shared seminated the targeting of her fellow Armenian Tenor Yusif Eyvazov Soprano Ruzan Mantashyan by Armenian opera diva Hasmik Papian. soprano.) Cyprus Brands Turkey ‘Pirate State’ in Gas Drilling Row

NICOSIA (Middle East Eye) — Cyprus environment conducive to dialogue in good added. November that any maritime accord between accused Turkey of being a “pirate state,” attack- faith are needed. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Libya and Turkey “ignores something that is ing Ankara’s exploratory oil and gas drilling off “The intention by Turkey to launch further had vowed that Turkey would start exploring blatantly obvious, which is that between those its coastal waters on January 19, a day after the exploration and drilling activities in the wider for gas in the eastern Mediterranean “as soon two countries there is the large geographical European Union (EU) issued its own warning. region goes, regrettably, in the opposite direc- as possible” this year, after signing a maritime land mass of Crete. Consequently such an “Turkey is turning into a pirate state in the tion,” he said. deal with Libya. attempt borders on the absurd.” eastern Mediterranean,” said the statement on Still, Turkey’s foreign ministry responded on Ankara angered neighboring countries in Sanctions may be discussed as early as Sunday from the Cypriot presidency. “Turkey Sunday: “The Turkish Cypriots have rights on the Mediterranean with the agreement Monday when the bloc’s foreign ministers meet insists on going down the path of international this field... as much as the Greek Cypriots. signed with the Tripoli government in in Brussels, officials said. illegality,” it added, according to AFP. November, which claimed extensive areas of Erdogan, in Berlin Sunday for a Libya peace The statement came a day after the Its ship Yavuz had arrived at the “G” license the sea for Turkey. conference, has rejected what he has called the European Union called on Turkey to drop its field for its first round of drilling, the statement Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said in “ultimatums” issued by the EU. plans to drill around Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean, arguing that such exploration was “illegal.” Cyprus’s internationally recognized govern- ment discovered offshore gas in 2011, but has Istanbul Mayor Rejects Criticism over Sales of Jailed Kurdish Politician’s Books been at loggerheads with Turkey over maritime ISTANBUL (Cumhurriyet) — Istanbul mayor Imamoglu said only the courts had the The media has also targeted the Istanbul’s zones around the island, where it has granted Ekrem Imamoglu on January 15 said books by authority to ban a book in Turkey and said that mayor’s wife, Dilek Imamoglu, for watching a licenses to multinational companies for oil and jailed Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas media reports accusing the municipality of ter- play last week based on a short story in gas research, Reuters said. could found in all book shops, after govern- rorist propaganda for selling the books aimed at Demirtas’s book, Devran, along with the Turkey, which does not have diplomatic rela- ment-affiliated media criticized the opposition- deepening hostility in society. Kurdish politician’s wife, Basak Demirtas. tions with Cyprus, says that some areas in run municipality for selling two short story col- Demirtas, the former co-chair of the pro- “My wife knows where to go. She is a Turkish which Nicosia has operations are either on the lections by the imprisoned former party leader Kurdish opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party woman who can interpret Turkey and the Turkish continental shelf or in areas where a via its online retailer. (HDP), has written two books of short stories world, and decides where to go accordingly,” breakaway Turkish Cypriot state has rights “Demirtas’s books are sold everywhere. since he was jailed in November 2016 on multi- Ekrem Imamoglu. over any finds. Including state institutions,” Imamoglu said, ple terrorism charges. The mayor said the women contributed to the Cyprus was divided in a Turkish invasion in adding that his first book was also available in The politician also does drawings and joined peace efforts in Turkey by watching the play. 1974 after a brief Greek-inspired coup. the Turkish parliament’s library. “It is also avail- the satirical cartoon magazine Leman last “I believe women will make the most impor- Earlier, EU foreign policy spokesman Peter able in bookstores close to the government,” month, while his first novel Leylan is expected tant contribution to this country’s unity, soli- Stano said: “Concrete steps towards creating an the mayor said. to be on the shelves on January 22. darity, and fellowship,” he said. 6 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Community News

A Journey into a Merciful Dr. Ari Sekeryan to World: Christmas at St. Give Three Lectures On ‘Armenians in Vartan Cathedral with The Ottoman Empire Sant’Egidio Community

After the Genocide’ By Ruth Bedevian At Fresno State Her face lit up with overwhelming emotion as FRESNO — “An Untold Story of she cried out, “Oh, I really needed this coat, as Survival: the Armenian Community in she put aside the wrapping paper and tried on Istanbul during the Armistice Years (1918- the navy-blue parka. It appeared to be an LL 1923)” will be the topic of Dr. Ari Bean or similar knock off, promising to keep its Sekeryan’s presentation on Friday, owner very warm through snow, sleet, wind and February 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the University icy weather. In that moment, I could not fath- Business Center, Alice Peters Auditorium, om who was happier, she or me! Her radiant Room 191 on the Fresno State campus. face is a glowing image that I will treasure from The presentation is part of the Spring this 2019 Christmas Day “Luncheon & Lecture Series of the Armenian Studies Fellowship” at Haik and Alice Kavookjian Program. Auditorium that was co-hosted by Sant’Egidio A welcoming reception will be held from Community and St. Vartan Cathedral. Students in Yerevan State University 6:30-7:30 p.m., immediately preceding the My son, daughter, granddaughter and I were lecture, in the University Business Center among the volunteers responding to an email Gallery. request for donors and/or volunteers sent from Sekeryan was appointed the 16th the office of the Vicar, Father Davit Karamyan. Henry S. Khanzadian Kazan Visiting Armenian Data Scientists to On Christmas morning, we delighted in our Professor in Armenian Studies for the granddaughter Ruby’s excitement with Santa’s Spring 2020 semester. This lecture series Continue Education at San Jose overnight visit and the stockings and gifts he will explore how the Armenian communi- had left under the tree. We satisfied our ty in the Ottoman Empire reorganized appetites with our Armenian breakfast which and protected its existence during the State’s Master’s Program every year includes choerag, tel banir (string Armistice period (1918-1923). Based on SAN JOSE/YEREVAN — The Data Science in Business master’s program cheese), basterma and olives and then we set off an untouched collection of Armenian and operated in Yerevan State University’s Faculty of Economics and Management to New York City, not knowing what to expect Ottoman Turkish press, lectures provide and San Jose State University’s Data Analytics (MS) program have announced as this was a deviation from past Christmas Day fresh research on a neglected period in the launch of a cooperation, initiated by the Enterprise Incubator Foundation, activities. the history of the late Ottoman Empire Innovative Solutions and Technologies Center (ISTC), Yerevan State University The day grew to be a divine journey into a and Ottoman Armenians. and San Jose State University with the support of PMI Science. merciful world where the words from the The Armistice of Mudros signed in Joint program will enable 2-4 selected students of YSU to continue studies at Gospel resounded more rewarding, more pro- October 1918 opened a new chapter in San Jose State University’s Data Analytics (MS) program. foundly into one’s heart: ... “in as much as ye the history of Ottoman Armenians. It was The students will be awarded a dual diploma from YSU and the San Jose have done it unto one of the least of these my a time of hope and rebirth for the State University, as well as the opportunity to pursue a paid internship at one brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew Armenian community. The beginning of of the many Silicon Valley institutions with which San Jose State University has 25:40) this new chapter was celebrated on the employment contracts. Upon completion of the program, the Armenian stu- Morning volunteers wrapped over 175 gifts very first day on the streets of Istanbul by dents will return to Armenia and be involved in joint research works of YSU of new clothing provided from in-kind dona- the Armenians, Greeks and Jews. Yet, the and San Jose State University. tions and donor dollars. The afternoon shift The cooperation between the two programs was announced on December served delicious warm Christmas fare to guests 24, 2019 in ISTC. who had been sought out in various parts of As one of the key contributors to technological advancement in Armenia, the the city shelters and streets and given a print- Enterprise Incubator Foundation has been actively involved throughout all ed invitation to join a Christmas Day Luncheon phases of project implementation, viewing it as a strengthening factor for celebration at St Vartan Cathedral, at 630 Armenia’s high-tech education through the establishment of close partnerships Second Ave. As in planning a banquet for visit- with international universities. ing dignitaries, over 80 volunteers from both According to Bagrat Yengibaryan, Director of Enterprise Incubator the Armenian and Sant’Egidio communities, Foundation, in the modern world, the management of economies and busi- gave attention to every detail to create a nesses undergo global changes, resulting in new, bold and literate approaches Christmas celebration where all could based on data collection and analysis. encounter the gift of God’s love to the world in “While researching the education programs of San Jose State University and the birth of His son. other leading universities, it can be seen that programs of modern economy When everyone was seated, Paola, a repre- solve completely different problems, while their successful solutions will con- sentative from Sant’Egidio Community tribute to the development of economy and business. The world’s leading uni- (https://www.santegidio.org/) welcomed the versities are also responsive towards changes in business sector programs by guests: “Everyone here has been invited… We Dr. Ari Sekeryan updating their educational curriculum. San Jose State University’s Data all have a season in life of being neglected or Analytics (MS) program is a bright example of it,” said Bagrat Yengibaryan. lonesome. Know that you are welcome here.” It has been three years since the Data Science in Business master’s program Another organizer from Sant’Egidio story of Armistice period has been mostly proved that it is possible to create an educational model which is not isolated Community, Andrea, took the microphone to absent in the existing academic literature. from the business environment and the labor market. catch everyone’s attention and asked individu- The lecture presents an overview of the The top 5 students and the program representatives of YSU Data Science in als to raise their hands to tell what other lan- political and social developments that hap- Business master’s program, as well as the representatives of Enterprise Incubator guages they spoke. Responses were varied — pened in the Ottoman Empire during the Foundation and ISTC visited San Jose State University in April, 2019. Spanish, Italian, Russian, some African native Armistice period and it explores how the tongues albeit every soul spoke one common Armenian community organized itself language — that of the human heart. while facing political turmoil. Fr. Davit Karamyan, vicar of St. Vartan Sekeryan will give two additional public Cathedral, offered the Lord’s Prayer in lectures during the Spring semester, on Armenian. There was no family-style service. March 5 and April 2. Each guest was served an individual plate and Sekeryan graduated from the seconds were in abundance. After a variety of Department of Oriental Studies at the desserts were served, each guest was presented University of Oxford, defending his disser- with a wrapped gift with his/her name tag. tation titled, “The Armenians in the I sat with a table of eight, both men and Ottoman Empire after the First World War women of varying ages. Perhaps like me, they (1918-1923).” In the 2018-2019 academic did not know what to expect, but to fill their year, he was an Honorary Fellow at the hunger with a warm meal. An elderly widow University of Wisconsin-Madison, Institute with no relatives sat next to me. She spoke for Research in the Humanities. He was a English and Portuguese. A homeless woman visiting lecturer in the Faculty of Oriental spoke intelligently about world issues, seeming- Studies at Yerevan State University (sum- ly well educated, yet unsettled. We were mer of 2018) and a research assistant in the Students at the Data Science in Business program strangers to one another and together we cre- Department of Sociology at the University ated a sense of inclusion akin to family. My of Oxford in 2016. granddaughter, donning a festive elf costume, see MERCIFUL, page 8 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS Bay Area Community Welcomes AUA President Dr. Karin Markides OAKLAND, Calif. — The American University public sphere, focusing on sustainability. of Armenia (AUA) kicked off the year 2020 with “This means that not only do you have to look a festive reception in the Bay Area hosted by Ani at the role of the university, as such, but you Vartanian and Razmig Boladian, both managing also have to take a systemic look at the chal- partners of Rubicon Point Partners. The event, lenges of sustainability. That requires considera- hosted in their Hillsborough residence, brought tion of three dynamics: integration, transforma- together many AUA pillars and supporters from tion, and universality. […] These are essential for the area to meet the president of the University, universities to deliberate in taking their posi- Dr. Karin Markides, and to reaffirm their com- tions in society as crucial actors and stakehold- mitment to the University. Attending the event ers,” observed Markides. were several members of the AUA Board of Expounding on her vision, she emphasized Trustees and other prominent individuals. the value of interaction and collaboration across Welcoming the AUA President and the guests, disciplines, bringing together government, Razmig Boladian and Ani Vartanian expressed industry, and universities at the meeting point, gratitude for being a part of the AUA communi- to build competence, and to treat everyone as ty of pillars placing emphasis on the important equal partners despite unequal possibilities in role AUA has played in Armenia in the realm of order to realize greater impact and sustained “youth and education” the key drivers of devel- development in Armenia. opment. Boladian then introduced Markides, Recounting her trips to various communities sketching her profile and notable accomplish- in Armenia and Artsakh, and meetings with ments in science and public service. regional and national government and business The gathering was a momentous occasion for leaders in the past months, she spoke about the Markides to greet and thank the guests for their importance of advancing rural communities by From left, Razmig Boladian, Dr. Karin Markides and Ani Vartanian belief in AUA and for their support to its sus- building upon existing strengths and competen- tained advancement. More importantly, the cies, furthering technological knowhow, and fos- event provided her with the opportunity to tering collaborative projects that enable discov- and intellectual exchanges by AUA faculty and who reflected on his years at AUA as “the share her personal observations and attain- ery and advancement through open education. students. “Bridging faculty with research else- source of light and life in the country” in those ments in the months since her appointment as Markides also spoke about the strategic signifi- where is essential to serving as a model univer- difficult times. He concluded adding that “AUA president of AUA in July 2019, and to present cance of building stronger international part- sity in the 21st century and realizing new break- still is the place where ideas are born,” particu- her vision for shaping a new role for the univer- nerships with universities in the US and else- throughs that increase visibility and capacity.” larly speaking about the thought process at sity in the development of Armenia. She spoke where across borders, to foster relationships Other guests speaking at the event included AUA, which makes it stand out among all oth- about the capacity to excel and influence in the that would advance collaboration in research AUA alumnus Petros Keshishian (MSc EE ‘93) ers, while underscoring the important role AUA alumni play in support of their alma mater. The formal part of the evening concluded with remarks by Dr. Larry Pitts, chairman of the AUA Board of Directors, who thanked Vartanian and Boladian for hosting the evening and the guests for their continued support. He then thanked the trustees for their immense and con- tinued support. “Your support has allowed AUA TH to have a need-blind admission,” Pitts noted.

Panel on Armenian- American Press at NAASR BELMONT, Mass. — The National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) 1 will host a panel discussion titled “The 9 Armenian-American Press in Perspective: Its Purposes, Challenges, and Future Prospects,” on Thursday, February 13, at 7:30 p.m., in Batmasian Hall on the third floor of the new NAASR Vartan Gregorian Building. SPONSOR A TEACHER This program is presented by the NAASR/Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Lecture Series on Contemporary Armenian IN ARMENIA AND ARTSAKH Issues and is co-sponsored by the AGBU Young Professionals of Boston, the Tekeyan Cultural Since its inception in 2001, Association and the AYF Greater Boston “Nejdeh” Chapter. It is free and open to the the TCA Sponsor A Teacher public. A reception will take place after the pro- Program has raised $709,500 gram in the Shahinian Solarium. Early Armenian immigrants created institu- and reached out to 6,427 tions in their new hometowns in America — among them churches, clubs, and political orga- teachers and school staff nizations which became focal points of in Armenia and Artsakh. Armenian-American life. Serving no less an important role were the newspapers they estab- lished which became a vital forum for the exchange of ideas, news from the old country, world events, community politics, and much more. The Armenian-American press has endured and evolved over the past 125 years and more, reflecting and shaping the community it serves. Today, as all print media struggle for their exis- R$200 R$400 R $600 R$Other______tence, Armenian-American outlets face the same challenges as well as others unique to their market. NAASR Board Member Stepan Piligian will serve as the moderator for the evening, which will touch on such questions as: What role does the Armenian-American press serve today? Whom does it serve? What does its future look like? The panel will consist of Leeza Arakelian (Assistant Editor, Armenian Weekly), Alin K. Gregorian (Editor, Armenian Mirror-Spectator), and Stephen Kurkjian (Pulitzer Prize winner, Boston Globe, and NAASR Board Member). For more information about this program, contact NAASR at [email protected]. 8 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Christmas at St. Vartan Cathedral with Sant’Egidio Community MERCIFUL, from page 6 work of small communities, giving assistance to “worked” the room, visiting the tables and offer- people in various needs -the terminally ill, the ing all the guests oranges. Her sociability, her physically and mentally handicapped, refugees curiosity, and her gentle spirit brought smiles to — the marginalized populations around the each person’s face. world. In 1982 the Christmas Day Luncheon A familiar adage applies: You learn something Celebrations were first organized, using the new every day. sanctuary of a church in Rome and now are cel- I learned the Community of Sant’Egidio is a ebrated across the world on December 25 in lay community of faithful with an ecumenical various available venues. It is estimated that approach and enjoys a long history with the membership numbers 50,000. Orthodox churches and in particular, friend- I learned how to pronounce Egidio (E -gee- ship with the Armenian Church and several of dee-o) l learned that Saint Egidio (St. Giles in its clergy, including our recently elected English) was a monk of Greek origin who lived Primate, Bishop Daniel Findikyan (Eastern in southern France in the 7th century. The Armenian Diocese) who has been a volunteer ancient Church of St. Egidio from which the in past events. The Diocese and Sant’Egidio Community of St Egidio takes its name and the have partnered for the last several years on iconography of the monk defending a doe from December 25. This is the first year, however, the arrow of the king is noteworthy as a sign of that the larger space of Kavookjian defending the poor. Auditorium was used to accommodate the I felt the joyful depth, refreshment and hope growing number of guests. in celebrating the birth of the Baby Jesus in the I learned the Community of Sant’Egidio was openness, the embrace, the inclusion of all Some of the many needy individuals having lunch at St. Vartan Cathedral on December 25. established in 1968 in Rome and has grown God’s people. To touch, to see, to feel is greater from small beginnings. Today it is a global net- than any words can express.

Reflections on the Baku and Sumgait Pogroms 30 Years Later TORONTO — On January 13, 1990, a rally beatings, rape and murder. Many civilians were promoting anti-Armenian sentiment was held in killed, injured and tortured; some managed to Baku, the capital of the Azerbaijani SSR, after escape and recount to the world the catastro- which the protesters were divided into groups phe they had survived. Baku’s population of and sent to designated addresses where the 250,000 Armenians — an ethnic minority — was Armenian population of the city lived. For six being expelled. days, under the initiative of the Azerbaijani These events were preceded by violence a People’s Front and the patronage of the local couple of years earlier. Since 1988, anti- authorities, the Armenian population of Baku Armenian propaganda had been disseminated was subjected to inexplicable mass violence — in Azerbaijan, both in print publications and in open rallies. This anti-Armenian sentiment eventually led to violent events. From February 27 to 29, 1988, the Armenian population of Sumgait, Azerbaijan, was subjected to unspeak- able massacres. For three days, the orchestrat- ed slaughter of the city’s Armenian population took place. Atrocities by eyewitness survivors were documented shortly after the massacres, and, with the initiative of the Zoryan Institute, these accounts were published in the 1990 book titled The Sumgait Tragedy. With the involvement and efforts of Samuel Protestors in the streets of Sumgait, Azerbaijan in 1988 Shahmuratian, a political figure, journalist, and then deputy of the Supreme Council of Armenia, the book was to document the Sumgait crimes. doing the same things.” preservation efforts of this kind pay homage to More than 150 testimonies of victims and eye- Thirty-two years have transpired since the those who have been directly and indirectly witnesses of the violence allow the reader an inti- Sumgait massacres and 30 years since the affected by the senseless violence. As is integral mate look at the first-hand horrors that Baku massacres. The horrors of those days are to the mission of the Zoryan Institute, these Armenians faced. In her foreword to the book, still fresh in the memories of those who sur- preservation efforts also serve to raise aware- Yelena Bonner, a prominent human rights vived. Through the eyewitness accounts, the ness, educate the public, and extend hope in activist in the former Soviet Union and wife of stories of these victims live on. As part of the the direction of the future such that history physicist and activist Andrei Sakharov, states mission of the Zoryan Institute, oral history does not repeat itself. that the foreword should have been written by accounts like those in The Sumgait Tragedy (The Zoryan Institute is a non-profit organi- the Azerbaijani woman featured in the book preserve the history of human rights abuses of zation that serves the cause of scholarship and Cover of Samuel Shahmuratian’s The Sumgait who, after saving an Armenian family from the the kind that took place in Baku and Sumgait. public awareness relating to issues of universal Tragedy attacks, said, “Look what’s happening out there, In the belief that a secure future for all is built human rights, genocide, and diaspora-home- my child is seeing all of this, tomorrow he’ll be on the unbiased evaluation of past events, land relations.) Giragosian F U N E R A L H O M E James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC Mark J. Giragosian Funeral Counselors 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 www.giragosianfuneralhome.com

Telephone (617) 924-7400 Nardolillo Funeral Home Aram Bedrosian Est. 1906 John K. Najarian, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. Rhode Island’s Only Licensed Armenian Funeral Director Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 1278 Park Ave. Cranston, RI 02910 (401) 942-1220 MARION BEDROSIAN 1111 Boston Neck Rd. Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 789-6300 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN www.nardolillo.com S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS

Christians in Need Foundation Lecture Tour in Baltics Discusses Genocide Scholarships GLENDALE — On December 8, Christians in Need Foundation (CINF) Vice-President Siobhan Nash-Marshall arrived in Lithuania to give a series of lectures across the Baltic countries. Taner Akçam was also invited as keynote speaker to present on his latest book, Available The Killing Orders of Talat Pasha and the Denial of Armenian Genocide. Nash- Marshall and Akçam’s were Armenian American Veterans officially invited by Tigran Mkrtchyan, the ambassador of of Greater Boston Armenia to the Republic of Formerly Lithuania, the Republic of The Paul S. Marsoubian Amvets Post 41 of Watertown, MA, Latvia, and the Republic of announces an academic scholarship program and selection process Estonia. Nash-Marshall’s lec- for its past, present and deceased members in good standing. tures would be part of a larger event, meant to commemorate Applicants must be members in good standing, for the Armenian Genocide and talk about the persisting at least three years, their children, grandchildren Turkish denialism. and great-grandchildren, including those of On December 9, Nash- deceased members who were in good standing at Marshall gave her first presen- tation, hosted by the the time of their demise. Lithuanian Embassy, at the Lithuanian Academy of Science. On December 10, she To be eligible for consideration, applications must traveled to Latvia and gave her be received by April 30 of any given year. next lecture on December 11th at Latvia University. The final lecture was in Estonia, Requests for AAVGB scholarship applications given on December 12 at the From left, Prof. Taner Akçam, Ambassador Tigran should be directed to and requested of: Tallinn Academy of Sciences. Mkrtchyan and Siobhan Nash-Marshall The final presentation was hosted by the Armenian- Harold R. Partamian Estonian Society and the Estonian Embassy. Scholarship Committee Chairman At every lecture a great number of Armenians, scholars, and students were in atten- dance. However, even before the arrival of Nash-Marshall and Akçam, some Turks and 6 Apache Trail Azeris were advocating for the cancelation of the event. Arlington, MA 02474 Recordings of Nash-Marshall and Akçam’s lectures can be found at the following links: Lithuanian Academy of Science https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC8OV56Q6Tg&t=19s 781-641-0002 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccEoTajBtkM Email: [email protected] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7GK-wHYgHo

The Tekeyan Cultural Association and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research / Calouste Gulbenkian Lecture Series on Contemporary Armenian Issues present “The Ruins of Ani: From Sacred Landscape to Political Soil”

Presentation by Peter Balakian, editor, and Aram Arkun, translator, of The Ruins of Ani by Krikor Balakian February 27 Batmasian Hall, NAASR, 395 Concord Avenue, Belmont, 7:30 p.m. Admission free. For more information, email [email protected] or [email protected] 10 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS

Santa and the children AMAA Shares the Joy of Christmas with over 11,000 Children Throughout Armenia and Artsakh

PARAMUS, N.J. and YEREVAN — On January 14 and 15, the Hall at the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) Center in Yerevan was crowded with children and their parents who gathered for special New Year’s and Christmas Programs. These programs, which took place four times each day, were not just visits from Santa Claus, cheerful songs, dances and Christmas presents. They also included the Christmas message, which was conveyed from the stage: Share God’s Love with One Another and Give Unselfish Joy to Others. Through this year’s Christmas play, “Three Baskets,” present- ed by AMAA-Armenia’s Hayasa theatrical group, the young actors successfully brought Divine Love to the audience. In the play, written by director/screenwriter Nune Abrahamyan, school- children tell about their cherished dreams on Christmas Eve and realize that even material dreams can come true if there is a desire and willingness to help others with an endless compas- sion. Before each presentation, the Evangelical Church of Armenia’s Christian Education Director Rev. Avetik Khachatryan and AMAA Armenia Representative Harout Nercessian greeted the audience and welcomed them to the Program. AMAA Armenia and the Evangelical Church of Armenia joint- ly organized these festive Christmas and New Year’s events in 45 towns and villages in Armenia and Artsakh. Over 11,000 children The cast of the play received presents and inspirational messages.

Children with their presents Children and parents watch the play S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 COMMUNITY NEWS A Rich History of Pre-Genocide Armenia Hides in Family Heirlooms and Handwritten Notes

(NATE BERG / FOR THE TIMES) ly’s land. “Sometimes it’s the last connection By Nate Berg for these families with their identity,” Tachjian said. For others who left before the genocide, par- ATHENS (Los Angeles Times) — When the ticularly those who went to the U.S. as migrant tightly knotted white and blue handkerchief workers in Massachusetts, Michigan or the was untied, it revealed a small handful of dirt farms of California’s Central Valley, the threads from a distant time. of history are thicker. Letters and photographs A soldier, rushing to gather whatever spare flowed back and forth between family members, belongings he could carry, was fleeing to board and sometimes this news from one’s home vil- a boat on the Gallipoli Peninsula. It was a boat lage would become the last documentation of a of survival, taking him and other Armenians place and a people wiped off the map. And away from the Ottoman Empire and the cam- because of the relative wealth in the U.S., more paign of genocide it was waging against them of the houshamadyan memoirs of these people and other ethnic minorities. As he left, he knelt were able to be published, further adding to the in the garden of his home and scooped up this historical record. “Geography is very impor- bit of dirt. Carried in his pocket, it was a literal tant,” Tachjian said. piece of the homeland to which he’d never He estimates that the Houshamadyan project return. has collected more than 30,000 photographs This was nearly a century ago. from across the diaspora, as well as a variety of The handkerchief has since been handed more quotidian documents such as recipes, down for three generations. On a bright school rolls and musically annotated hymns December day in Athens, it was one of several Vahé Tachjian records details and examines photos at a Houshamadyan workshop. that were sung in some of the first Christian hundred objects brought by members of the churches. These scattered relics have become a Armenian diaspora in Greece to be added to new kind of archive for an overlooked history. what, until recently, had been only a limited his- known as “houshamadyan,” handwritten and tone, Tachjian interviewed each person about In addition to publishing various manuscripts torical record of Armenians living in the self-published memory books that describe — their family’s history, the heirlooms they’d kept and photographs from family collections, affili- Ottoman Empire before and during the geno- sometimes simply, other times in great detail — and any memories that had been passed down ated academics have used the website to pub- cide. the villages and ancestral lands Armenians were about the Ottoman villages and towns from lish their own research on pre-genocide life, Taking place mostly between 1915 and 1923, forced to flee. In 2011, they began posting which their families fled. often pulling from Houshamadyan’s online the genocide killed an estimated 1.5 million information from these documents on their One woman, Vicky Khatchadurian, showed library. The website’s resources are even being Armenians and dispersed many more to adopt- website, which they named Houshamadyan. him silver utensils and a woven rug that her integrated into university classes in Turkey, ed homes around the world, from Lebanon to Almost as soon as the site launched, they grandmother brought from Constantinople where the genocide is officially denied. Syria to France to the United States. Turkey began receiving emails from around the world (now Istanbul) to the Greek island of Hartmann, the project’s co-founder and a says the death toll was much smaller and written by the descendants of Armenians offer- Cephalonia, items that would go on to serve as substitute professor of Turkish studies at the describes the violence as a civil war, not geno- ing their own records. Surprised by this out- her grandmother’s marriage dowry. She “was a University of Hamburg, says that for decades cide. pouring, Tachjian and Hartmann, both of lucky one,” Khatchadurian said. (NATE BERG / FOR THE TIMES) A Christian ethnic minority, Armenians lived whom have Armenian heritage, redirected their “She had the opportunity to sur- throughout the Ottoman Empire among focus from formal archives to the heirlooms of vive.” Muslim Turks and Kurds but were primarily the Armenian diaspora. Sitting on the tile floor nearby, concentrated in what is now eastern Turkey “There were so many treasures in family Arshaluis Sapritchian, an and western Armenia. Though many historical houses, family closets,” Tachjian said. Armenian language teacher at the records and items document the empire around To document these materials and the handed- school, was slowly turning through the turn of the century, little of it is told in the down history they carry, Tachjian, Hartmann a handwritten notebook as each language, or from the perspective, of the and a small team of part-time collaborators page was photographed. It was the Armenians. For Vahé Tachjian and Elke began staging workshops around the world autobiography of her grandfather, Hartmann, a married team of Ottoman scholars where people could bring their family heir- written in 1986 when he was 80 years old, beginning with his early (NATE BERG / FOR THE TIMES) years living in exile as the genocide started and much of his family was lost. He wrote how later he was unex- A handful of dirt, tied in a handkerchief by a soldier fleeing pectedly reunited with his mother his family home in the Ottoman Empire nearly a century ago, and they became refugees in has been passed down through generations. Greece, moving from temporary settlement to temporary settle- ment with other Armenians who’d fled. Ottoman history has been seen simply as Sapritchian compares it to the way the Greek Turkish history, erasing all other populations government is dealing with its more recent from the picture. “This is slowly, slowly chang- influx of refugees from places including Syria ing,” she said. “There’s an interest in seeing the and Afghanistan. Ottoman Empire in its multitude.” “Today when I see what’s happening with But at the same time, the connections to this refugees, it’s tearing my heart because it’s the pre-genocide history are fading as family mem- same thing that was happening with my grand- bers age. “Many things have already disap- father,” she said. It was a story he never told his peared,” Tachjian said. grandchildren until writing it down in this note- The Rev. Vicken Cholakian, head pastor of the book. “He wanted us to grow up in happiness. Armenian Evangelical Church of Greece, says He didn’t want us to bear all this burden he there’s a danger that younger generations will had,” Sapritchian said. “But at age 80, he decid- lose interest in understanding this part of their ed he needed to share this burden.” history. He worries that stories of the genocide Vicky Khatchadurian shows Vahé Tachjian silver utensils and a small cup passed down from her Later, Silva Avedisian unfolded a delicate and the struggles afterward have overtaken the grandparents. white embroidery and asked for help decipher- narrative of the Armenians and that younger ing the lettering stitched into its corners. The generations would rather look to the future than embroidery was made by her grandmother, who to what can seem a wholly dark past. “It has based in Berlin, this is problematic. looms and documents to be added to the col- escaped from a concentration camp at 18 with become too central,” Cholakian said. “We should “Armenian sources of course exist, and they lection. her dying mother during a storm and had to not repeat it so much to our young people that are very rich,” Tachjian said. But unlike formal Funded by private donors and foundations, bury her, alone, with her bare hands. The let- we don’t have anything else to say.” or official historical items, much of the story of these workshops have been held in Istanbul, tering, a translator explained, read, “God give Tachjian and Hartmann argue that the histo- Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire was Beirut, Paris, Los Angeles and Glendale, all des- you good health.” ry being retold through the Houshamadyan either destroyed in the chaos of the deporta- tinations for the Armenian diaspora, and By the end of the day, hundreds of items had project is representative of a broader spectrum tions and massacres or never properly recorded Tachjian says each place offers its own unique been shared and photographed, and Tachjian of Armenian history — a time before the dark- in the first place. What remains are the unin- angle on this history. had nearly filled his notepad with stories and ness. Not just what was lost but what existed, in tentional markers of history passed through The most recent workshop was in Athens, family histories. all its richness. generations: handwritten accounts of local vil- where a small minority of Armenians has lived People who were forced into exile or who fled Cholakian says this is the point of lages, photos mailed to family members abroad, since thousands arrived as refugees in the early on boats to places like Greece often carried very houshamadyan, the memoirs and histories that embroidered garments, a handful of dirt tied in 1920s. A mile south of the Acropolis, in the little with them, and the things they were able survivors wrote about their villages and lives. a handkerchief. back room of a primary school that doubles as to transport became, over time, vaunted relics — “They hoped the next generation would read “Our objective was to give another value to an Armenian cultural center, about a dozen the single earring one woman’s grandmother it,” he said. “Who will read it next?” these sources,” Tachjian said. descendants trickled in on a Saturday after- grabbed as she dashed out of a burning house, The project started in 2010. After scouring noon. Mostly in their 50s and 60s, they came a book of prayers that was read by a family (Nate Berg is a special correspondent of the libraries and archives for their limited carrying shopping bags of photos and carefully every night, the deed entrusted to a 6-year-old Los Angeles Times. This story originally Armenian-language resources, Tachjian and wrapped books, textiles and pieces of jewelry. boy fleeing Ankara with the hope that one day appeared in the January 17 edition of the Hartmann found a vein of material in what were Speaking fluent Armenian in his clipped bari- the Turkish government would return his fami- paper.) 12 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS GeneTx and Ultragenyx Announce Investigational New Drug for Patients with Angelman Syndrome SARASOTA, Fla. and NOVATO, Calif. — GeneTx Biotherapeutics LLC and Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: RARE), a biophar- maceutical company focused on the development of novel products for serious rare and ultra-rare dis- eases, on January 15 announced that GeneTx’s Investigational New Drug (IND) Application for GTX-102, an experimental antisense oligonu- cleotide being evaluated for the treatment of Angelman syndrome (AS), filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now active. Enrollment in the Phase 1/2 study is expected to begin in the first half of 2020. “The FDA’s clearance of the IND to evaluate GTX-102 in patients with Angelman syndrome rep- resents a significant milestone for the Angelman community,” said Paula Evans, chief executive offi- cer at GeneTx. “Assessing an investigational thera- py that aims to address the underlying cause of this devastating disorder has the potential to meaning- fully alter the clinical course of patients’ lives.” The new tractor in Navur “Based on preclinical data, we believe that GTX- 102 offers tremendous promise and may one day provide patients with a potentially transformative therapeutic option,” said Camille L. Bedrosian, MD, AMAA-Armenia Obtains Tractor For chief medical officer of Ultragenyx. “We look for- ward to continuing our partnership with GeneTx to address this devastating disorder for which there Village in Tavush Region of Armenia are currently no approved treatments.” “The FDA cleared the IND which allows GTX-102 PARAMUS, N.J. — As part of the “One Village” Consortium, AMAA-Armenia was instrumental in obtaining a Belarus trac- to enter the clinic,” said Scott Stromatt, MD, chief tor for the Navur Village (Tavush Region) near the Azeri border in December 2019. The tractor, donated by the Director of medical officer, GeneTx. “GeneTx’s Phase 1/2 North Hills LLC Arshavir Gevorgyan and benefactors George and Khachik Titizian of Los Angeles, was a much-needed item study, named KIK-AS (Knockdown of UBE3A-anti- for the community. sense in Kids with AS, is expected to enroll 20 Mher Nikoyan, director of the cooperative, expressed his gratitude to the AMAA and the North Hills LLC, as well as to patients at multiple trial sites, beginning in the first George and Khachik Titizian for this donation which will greatly help the Navur community. half of 2020. The goal of this multiple dose, dose Established in 2014, the non-profit “Navur Community Agricultural Consumers Cooperative,” which is governed by its mem- escalating, open-label study is to examine the safety, bers, provides low cost agricultural services to the community. tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of GTX-102 in AMAA-Armenia is one of eleven organizations forming the Consortium: The Armenian Missionary Association of America- pediatric patients with Angelman syndrome. On Armenia (AMAA-Armenia), “Shen: Charity NGO, Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), Development Principles NGO, Fund for February 15, 2020 we will open a website with Armenian Relief, World Vision Armenia, Teach For Armenia (TA), World Council of Churches Armenia Round Table more information on the KIK-AS study and provide Foundation, Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Armenian Caritas Benevolent NGO and “Diaconia” Charitable Fund. a toll free number for parents and caregivers to obtain information on enrolling into the clinical study.” About Angelman Syndrome Angelman syndrome is a rare, neurogenetic dis- order caused by loss-of-function of the maternally inherited allele of the UBE3A gene. The maternal- Arts Commons Announces Alex specific inheritance pattern of Angelman syndrome is due to genomic imprinting of UBE3A in neurons of the central nervous system, a naturally occurring phenomenon in which the maternal UBE3A allele Sarian as New President and CEO is expressed and the paternal UBE3A is not. Silencing of the paternal UBE3A allele is regulated CALGARY (CBC) — Arts Commons has the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, ing philanthropic and arts funding ecosys- by the UBE3A antisense transcript (UBE3A-AS), chosen a new president and CEO after a Theatre Calgary, Alberta Theatre Projects tem in the city. the intended target of GTX-102. In almost all cases year-long search. and One Yellow Rabbit. “How can we keep that promise alive in a of Angelman syndrome, the maternal UBE3A allele Alex Sarian, who has held a variety of The first phase of the transformation, city that has continued to evolve? And how is either missing or mutated, resulting in limited to leadership roles at New York City’s Lincoln which would see three new theatres built, is do we make sure that we are responsive to no protein expression. This condition is typically not Center for the Performing Arts, will official- pegged to cost $240 million, and the city is those demands? I think to be able to reposi- inherited but instead occurs spontaneously. ly take over the role in May 2020, the tion the arts in the lives of all Calgarians Individuals with Angelman syndrome have Calgary organization announced on and to have a building embody that ethos, developmental delay, balance issues, motor Monday, January 20. there’s no greater opportunity than that.” impairment, and debilitating seizures. Some indi- Until then, CFO Colleen Dickson and Scott Hutcheson, the chair of Arts viduals with Angelman syndrome are unable to CDO Greg Epton will continue to act as co- Commons’ board of directors, said several walk and most do not speak. Anxiety and dis- interim CEOs, as they have since the orga- dozen candidates from six countries applied turbed sleep can be serious challenges in individ- nization’s previous president and CEO, for the position. uals with Angelman syndrome. While individuals Johann Zietsman, left in December 2018 to “Arts Commons has a very good reputa- with Angelman syndrome have a normal lifespan, join the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. tion, not just in Canada but throughout they require continuous care and are unable to Sarian said he’s thrilled to have been cho- North America,” he said. live independently. Angelman syndrome is not a sen to lead the third-largest performing arts Before his time at Lincoln Center, which is degenerative disorder, but the loss of the UBE3A centre in Canada and one that’s on the home to the New York Philharmonic, the protein expression in neurons results in abnormal verge of new growth. Metropolitan Opera and the New York communications between neurons. Angelman “It is a job whose responsibility requires Ballet, Sarian directed the Off-Broadway syndrome is often misdiagnosed as autism or caring for an ecosystem of institutions. It’s MCC Theatre, where he worked with cerebral palsy. There are no currently approved not one institution, it’s a collective. Coming Theatre Calgary artistic director Stafford therapies for Angelman syndrome; however, sev- from the Lincoln Center in New York, I Arima. eral symptoms of this disorder can be reversed in understand what that means,” he said. He is also a trustee of The New Group, an adult animal models of Angelman syndrome sug- “The opportunities, the challenges, the award winning theatre company, and an gesting that improvement of symptoms can complexities. And, it’s not an easy role to Alex Sarian advisor for SXSW. potentially be achieved at any age. occupy but one that has immense power and GeneTx Biotherapeutics LLC is a startup biotech- impact.” Sarian, who is originally from Toronto, nology company singularly focused on developing Sarian said he plans to reach out to the still seeking additional funding. The second said the move will be a homecoming of sorts and commercializing a safe and effective antisense previous president to ask for his blessings phase would see a significant upgrade and as his mom was born in Calgary. He lived in therapeutic for the treatment of Angelman syn- and advice. expansion of the 35-year-old, 560,000- Argentina for 15 years before moving to drome. GeneTx was launched by FAST, a patient Sarian joins Arts Commons as the arts square-foot Resident House (the facility’s New York City in 2002 to pursue his career advocacy organization and the largest non-govern- hub is facing some big changes. main building). in arts management. mental funder of Angelman syndrome research. Last year, city council approved $22.5 mil- “A world-class city like Calgary deserves He currently lives in Brooklyn with his GeneTx licensed the rights to antisense technology lion in funding for the first phase of a major world-class venues and world-class institu- wife, Aliza, a teacher and specialist in arts intellectual property from The Texas A&M expansion to the complex, which is located tions,” Sarian said, adding that another education, and their two rescue dogs, Olive University System in December 2017. just south of Olympic Plaza and is home to challenge will be understanding the evolv- and Pickle. S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 Arts & Living

A Christmas REVIEW: Holiday Tradition: Knoxville Symphony Erevan Choral Orchestra Delivers a Society Memorable ‘Mozart And Mahler’ CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Erevan Choral Society and Orchestra of Greater Boston annual Christmas Concert, a gift to the Boston-area community, has become a tradi- By Alan Sherrod tion, marking the start of the holiday season. The concert took place on Sunday, December KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Arts Knoxville) — 15, in the sanctuary of the Holy Trinity Mah•ler•i•an: noun – an admirer of the Armenian Church of Greater Boston. Austrian composer and conductor Gustav This year’s concert was dedicated to the Mahler, or his work 150th anniversary of the births of the In a preface to the orchestra’s performance of Gomidas Vartabed and writer Hovannes Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 (Titan) this Toumanian. weekend, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra mae- The students of the Armenian School of stro Aram Demirjian asked the audience for a Holy Trinity Church opened the program with show of hands of who considered themselves to a number of recitations dedicated to the two. be a lover of the music of Mahler. Some hands Then, under the traditional song of O Come, Chef Alissa Asmarian, owner of upscale Armenian restaurant Heritage Eatery in L.A., shot into the air enthusiastically, while others All Ye Faithful, played by the orchestra and teaches Chef Marcus Samuelsson how to prepare ghaparma. (Wonho Frank Lee) wavered and appeared a bit more tentative. conducted by Composer Konstantin Despite the obvious informality of such a poll, it Petrossian, choral members walked to the was at that moment that I realized that maybe altar and commenced the concert, presenting “Mahlerian” really is a thing that involves pride a rich mix of traditional American and L.A.’s Little Armenia Kicks off in membership — or trepidation among those Armenian Christmas Carols. not sure about joining up. The program also was enhanced by two Season 2 of ‘No Passport Required’ “This stunningly articulate performance of impressive soloists. Soprano Knarik the Titan clearly won over any potential skeptics Nerkarayan’s beautiful voice and singular per- with its strong point of view…” formance of Ave Maria by J.S. Bach/Gounod, With Marcus Samuelsson on PBS For the maestro, his apprehension was per- charmed those present. Tenor Giovanni haps understandable. Successful Mahler perfor- Famzanoji was a pleasant surprise of the con- LOS ANGELES (Los Angeles Weekly) — “No Passport Required” with Marcus cert, who with his beautiful voice and unique Samuelsson, which explores the food and communities of America’s immigrant neighborhoods, kicked off season 2 on PBS January 20 with the premiere episode featuring LA’s Armenian community and cuisine. The Ethiopian-born chef, who was raised in Sweden, journeys from East Hollywood to Glendale, visiting Phoenicia Restaurant, Mideast Tacos, Papillon International Bakery and Sahag’s Basturma among others meeting By Michele Stueven Armenians from Russia, Lebanon, Syria, Ethiopia and Egypt. From lule kabob (ground meat patties) to ghapama (pump- kin stuffed with apricots, rice and Aleppo peppers) Samuelsson explores the rich Armenian history passed down from generations in LA’s foothills in the series co- produced with Eater. “I discovered how extremely diverse the community is, whether it’s Persian Armenian or Turkish Armenian,” the New York-based Samuelsson said. “It has so many geographically different entry points — which also means bringing a lot of dif- ferent traditions together and says a lot about the strength of the community and Conductor Aram Demirjian their commitment to holding on to these traditions. I had some of the most deli- cious food and best conversations and saw how deeply proud these people are to be both Angelenos and Armenian.” mances require a focus, plan, and strong point of The premiere highlights the combination of younger chefs born in Los Angeles, view from conductors. In addition, all of the blending new ingredients and techniques with traditional Armenian rituals. Mahler symphonies have heavy instrumental “You have the young caterer who is walking a walk between traditional Armenian requirements in woodwinds, brass and percus- food and ingredients you might find in French restaurants, balancing between rit- sion, forcing orchestras to consider the extra uals and spices and traditions,” says Samuelsson. “Some are using foie gras in their costs and logistics. And, this would be the sausage, for example. Then you see things like how pumpkin is used, yogurt and KSO’s first foray into a complete Mahler sym- different dairy products combined with spice blends that have been used for hun- phony in the Demirjian era — the last being the dreds of years. There’s a fine line between holding on to your rituals, which start- Mahler Second Symphony in 2012. On the ed as cab driver food, and create new versions of that for the Smorgasburg crowd.” other hand, the Mahler One is the composer’s Soloist Knarik Nerkararyan An immigrant himself, Samuelsson’s inspiration for the series came from least esoteric and most accessible symphony, Jonathan Gold opening our eyes and our minds to immigrant communities. Los given his later reputation for journeys into an see COOKING, page 16 often complex and sprawling territory of tone interpretation of traditional Christmas songs, and texture. made a great impression on the audience. As it turned out, Demirjian and the orchestra A special tribute was paid to Gomidas; a as well as the audience, had nothing to fear and medley of his songs, arranged by Petrossian, everything to rejoice about. This stunningly was presented for the first time and was articulate performance of the Titan clearly won warmly received by those present. Needless to over any potential skeptics with its strong point say, the famous Yegeghetzin Haygagan (The of view in which the expansiveness was modu- Armenian Church) song, which was dedicated lated with thematic intrigues and clever punc- to the loving memory of the Very Reverend tuations in texture, cadence, and dynamics. The Fr. Oshagan Minassian, the founder of the symphony’s themes, drawn in large part from Erevan Choral Society, has become very pop- folk songs and the composer’s own Songs of a ular in the community. Wayfarer, are also responsible for the work’s The high quality and professional perfor- accessibility, keeping the work tethered to earth mance of both the Chorale and the Orchestra, and gently, but firmly, guiding the listener. creating a constellation of sounds and har- Assisting Demirjian in the delivery of this mony, were all visible throughout the concert. Mahlerian masterpiece were some superb indi- At the conclusion of the concert, pastor of vidual and ensemble performances in the the Church, Fr. Vasken Kouzouian, expanded ranks of the orchestra. The delight- announced to the audience the awarding of fully melancholy round that is Frère Jacques, the Gold Medal to the Choral Society from Chef Marcus Samuelsson serves ghaparma to guests at Heritage Eatery in L.A. but turned to a mournful minor, was begun by Yerevan City Council. The award was given by (Wonho Frank Lee) double bassist Dan Thompson, then carried on order of Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan in by the ensemble. The expanded section of seven see CHRISTMAS, page 16 see KNOXVILLE, page 16 14 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING Hokistrings Bracelets Raise Domestic Violence Awareness, Funds

BRACELET, from page 1 Haley, 15, is in the 10th to get back their equilibrium and function bet- Garibian spoke about WSC at an event at Holy grade and said she is thrilled ter.” Translators Church in Framingham. Ashley about how popular the They usually stay in the shelter for 3 months. learned of the work that Maro was doing in bracelets are. During that time, she said, they have to write Yerevan for the Women’s Support Center and “I would like to grow it into down three goals they want to achieve. The she felt that this was a wonderful cause to sup- a non-profit especially because shelter helps them with finding employment, port,” she said. of the international sales,” she renting apartments, vocational training and get- So far, they have donated $2,000 to the WSC. said. ting their children to school and dealing with Ashley Kutzer, 17, is a high school senior. And international sales are health issues. Ashley said that her sister, Haley, 15, will take happening, thanks to a fortu- She stressed that they address the emotional over in the fall, once she goes off to college. itous meeting with Canadian and mental scars. “We try to restore their self- According to their mother they have since actor David Alpay, a Canadian- esteem, everything the perpetrator took away received public and private notes of gratitude Armenian actor, and frequent from them, give them the right to make deci- both on social media and handwritten from collaborator of director Atom sions, the right to express emotions and offer women in Armenia who have suffered from Egoyan. them community interaction. We try to make domestic violence thanking them for their gen- Ashley said that they met them understand that they don’t deserve a life erosity, and also from others who are simply him over the summer and gave of abuse.” inspired by their story. him a bracelet and told him And then there are the children. “We pay spe- Their mother beams with pride about the about their project. He put the cial attention to children who are very much girls’ efforts. “It has been amazing to witness picture on Instagram and “we affected by violence. According to the CDC the passion that has gone into this project. The started getting random orders [Centers for Disease Control], there is a high amount of time Ashley and Haley have spent on from various places, like rate of suicide, health disorders that happen to every tiny detail has been observed with plea- Germany, Italy and Myanmar,” children, as well as low performance. Domestic sure. It warms my heart to see them work so Ashley said. violence is learned behavior. The majority of diligently with the sole intent to help empower Her sister added, “I am real- boys become perpetrators and the girls enter less fortunate women and children to get them ly excited how this affect’s the this type of relationships,” Matosian said. to a place where they can live a much happier Women’s Support Center and life,” she said. “I have never had any association how it will impact them.” The bracelets featuring the Armenian tricolor Visitors from Massachusetts with the WSC and only learned of it through It takes many people to Nancy Barsamian, Carolyn Mugar and Laura Lenna’s introduction at an event at Holy help. People like Nancy Purutyan went to Armenia last year and visited Barsamian, Laura Purutyan and Lenna transitional residence for the women ready to the WSC shelter. Garibian have been “pivotal” with spreading the leave. Matosian said, “They presented me with infor- world about the WSC. “There is a 30-percent increase every year. mation about the two girls and offered This is a story of old and new. Using both There are both more cases and more victims are bracelets to the women in the shelter. They told social media and traditional Armenian Church able to talk about it,” she said. me about these teenagers who wanted to help bazaars, the young ladies are raising awareness and funds. The girls reached out to St. James Armenian Church bazaar organizers this fall to see if they could set up a table to sell their bracelets and raise awareness about the WSC. The church agreed and they set up a table to sell Hokistrings bracelets, while also distributing printed material about the WSC.

Women’s Support Shelter Maro Matosian, the executive director of the WSC in Yerevan, and its founder in 2010, was in the Boston area recently, and spoke about the organization as well as its network of sup- porters. Trustee of Tufenkian Foundation Antranig The topic of domestic abuse is one that is not Kasbarian and Ashley Kutzer at Tufenkian addressed freely in Armenia. In addition, police fundraiser. are only recently getting training about how to deal with an abuser and a victim. Matosian said that the WSC has a three- pronged set of goals: •Providing service to victims of domestic vio- lence, including legal, psychological and hous- ing •Community education to train service providers, police, educators and reach out to the community, including youth to teach them about healthy relationships •Advocacy, working with universities, state Ashley and Haley Kutzer present their check to Maro Matosian of the Women’s Support Center. agencies to address response from an International point of view, advocating about laws, helping put in place a mechanism for Those from the outside looking at Armenia the women.” police and social services. might assume that the country is egalitarian, She was delighted. “It is very much empow- “We are continuing to work with the Ministry but that is not the case, she said. “There is a lot ering. When they offered the women bracelets, of Social Affairs,” Matosian said. of misinformation” about the work of organiza- they said it is in solidarity with their plight. “We annually deal with more than 300 tions like her, which is “politically motivated.” They [the women in the shelter] were very cases,” Matosian added. There is hope, though. much moved by it.” Laws were adopted in December 2017 to Now, with the new government in power, “I was telling Lenna [Garibian] how much I punish those guilty of domestic abuse and there is support for efforts like hers. those were implemented in 2018. “[Prime Minister Nikol] Pashinyan, Women are still somewhat outside the sys- the Minister of Justice and Health and tem, she noted. Social Services, I’ve never seen such “Women’s rights organizations are targeted political will to promote women’s James Tufenkian and Ashley Kutzer at Tufenkian in Armenia,” she said. “We want to penetrate rights in Armenia, especially among Foundation fundraiser on December 7 at the system. They accuse [the organizations] of the newer members of parliament,” Michael and Susan Guzelian’s home where breaking up families, bringing in ideas from the Matosian said. Ashley was invited to speak and share her West and they want to maintain traditional val- Matosian stressed that the method- Hokistrings story and present her second check ues.” ology they use is in line with the best to the foundation. Their shelter in Yerevan, she said, accommo- practices suggested by the United dates 74 women and children. Nations, European Union and other The group has an annual budget of $220,000, International organizations. Translators [Armenian Church of Framingham] the majority of which comes from fundraising “With the people who come to our in May of 2019.” in diaspora, and primarily the US. center, we have to administer a risk “Really so far everything has been so posi- Matosian’s shelter has a staff of 14 based in assessment for lethality. If it is high, tive,” Ashley said. Yerevan who serve throughout the city. we recommend they stay at the shel- In fact, the girls are planning to visit Armenia The center uses and needs everything from ter,” she said. “The majority come this summer and meet with Matosian. needle and thread to baby formula. The biggest referred by the police. All of them suf- Of course the goals are serious for the girls, expense for the center comprises food and fer from trauma. They have difficulty but the bracelets are the star of the show. “We hygienic products, such as detergent, diapers, sleeping, concentrating, remembering. try to add new colors each season, like school toothpaste and cleaning supplies. Their entire system is out of balance. Satisfied customer and Hokistring fan actor David Alpay colors and offer special deals,” Ashley said. In addition to the shelter, the WSC has a Within a week or 10 days, they begin S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 ARTS & LIVING admire their initiative even more now. They are because she and her team are addressing what from an affluent family, living in a bubble, in the it takes to cultivate healthy families, by pro- comforts of suburbia, sheltered from the ills of moting whole relationships and enabling society. They live a life of harmony and plenty. women to be safe and develop their strength as It is rare to see such young people think about creative leaders as well as nurturers,” Purutyan the needs of others and the plight of women,” added. Matosian said. “To think about the plight of Purutyan noted that efforts to raise funds abused women, not many adults even think will take place in Massachusetts again. about that.” “Members of the Greater Boston community The generosity seems to be infectious, accord- plan to host similar projects to raise awareness ing to Matosian. “More and more people hear about domestic violence and it’s impact in about it and are motivated to come to support.” Armenia, and to raise funds that help sustain Lucine Kapreilian, another supporter of the WSC,” she said. “Churches in Greater Boston WSC, offered praise for the girls and the volun- work together to reach out, encourage, and teers. “This group of women and young ladies serve others in their neighborhood, in Armenia will continue to brainstorm ways to spread and elsewhere in the diaspora. (supporting the awareness about the issue of domestic violence ill and elderly in nursing homes and shut-ins, in Armenia. We will help raise funds to support promoting education, providing guidance and Maro’s incredible work at WSC and support the comfort to individuals and families.) Socially need to serve more women with the ultimate aware projects are undertaken by Women’s hope and goal that in years to come the need Guilds, Men’s Clubs, youth organizations, for such resources will subside.” Sunday Schools and groups of concerned com- Nancy Barsamian is excited about the girls’ munity members. “ efforts. “I completely support their project and their desire to learn more about issues effecting How to Help and Where to Buy women and children in Armenia. The WSC Action Committee: From l to r. Bottom Row: Haley Kutzer, Ashley Kutzer. Top Row l to r: To buy Hokistrings, visit Hokistrings project has made the adults Donna Partamian-Kutzer, Maro Matosian, Lucine Kapreilian, Nancy Barsamian, Lenna Garibian and https://www.etsy.com/shop/Hokistrings involved motivated and optimistic about how Laura Purutyan Prices are reasonable and go down propor- this project will make an impact on domestic tionally with bigger orders, i.e., $8 for one, $14 violence in Armenia. On our trip in October for two and $20 for three. All are colorful. Ashley and Haley gave us bracelets to hand legislative and policy changes that will support For Purutyan, as well, the Kutzer girls’ initia- The girls offer a variety of styles, but they can deliver to the clients in the Women’s Support eliminating gender-based violence. These are tive was heartening. also fulfill custom orders. Customers can Center. They were so appreciative and happy to efforts that we in the diaspora should not only “Many girls growing up in the diaspora are choose their colors. know that others care about them and support applaud, but also support.” exposed to issues of woman’s empowerment at They are also in the process of creating a web- them. I am amazed by the maturity, dedication Garibian also expressed her support for the home, at school and in the workplace. It’s excel- site for Hokistrings so that they can explain the and professionalism of these young ladies and I girls. “Haley and Ashley’s efforts are so impres- lent to know that young people care about the story behind the bracelets as well as offer infor- view this project as a perfect opportunity to sive, especially when you consider all the everyday lives of others who live across world. mation about where the profits go. mentor these young women in our church com- demands placed on young people today — And it’s heartening to see them use their cre- To make a donation to the WSC, visit munity. There are very few leadership roles for between their studies and extra-curricular activ- ative agency to learn and tackle a critical chal- https://www.womensupportcenter.org/. All adolescents, especially girls, in our church com- ities. Clearly these young women are setting lenge. Ashely and Haley are humble, hard-work- donations for the center can be made to the munity it seemed like a natural fit. “ aside their own fun to do work that is mean- ing, social entrepreneurs with much to con- Tufenkian Foundation, 20 Capitol Drive, Barsamian has been familiar with the WSC ingful to them. It’s a testament to their com- tribute,” Purutyan said. Moonachie, NJ 07074. Put WSC in the memo and its efforts for a few years. “I had read about passion and their commitment,” she said. “It is important to support WSC and Maro section. All donations are tax deductible. the WSC a few years ago when there was a crowd-funding campaign for the Safe House sponsored by OneArmenia and had been fol- lowing the Tufenkian Foundation news about the growth and of the problem.” She added, “This past May I was a co-chair of a Ladies Tea at the Armenian Church of Holy Translators and the committee insisted that half the proceeds go to a women’s organization Recipe in Armenia. After doing some research we decided upon the WSC. We contacted Maro and she put us in touch with Lenna Garibian who attended the tea and presented informa- tion about the WSC. From that event we donat- Guest Recipe ed $3,000 to the WSC. Following the tea I had Corner planned to visit the WSC in October, and it was at this point we met Maro, toured the facility, and met some families.” Seeing the center first-hand made the mis- sion even more important to Barsamian. by Christine Vartanian Datian “As a nurse and public health professional I saw firsthand how Maro is completely devoted to ensuring the safety of women who are in Grape Salad with Pecans and Roquefort Cheese extreme cases of domestic violence. She is an By David Vartanian innovator and trail blazer for the rights of women while assisting women to maintain their INGREDIENTS: dignity and stability as a mother, women and 3/4 cup pecan halves, more to taste skills to gain employment. Her work is extreme- 1 egg white, beaten ly difficult and cuts through many issues con- 1/4 cup brown sugar fronting Armenian society today. “ 1 shallot, diced Garibian, who is on the advisory committee 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar of the WSC, said, “We are working hard to raise 3/4 cup olive oil awareness for the WSC’s work in the diaspora. 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil Within the context of these efforts, we’ve typi- Salt and freshly ground pepper cally had a very small handful of young women 6 cups assorted baby greens helping out. We need to work harder at engag- 2 cups seedless grapes ing all young people. It’s especially important, 4 ounces Roquefort cheese, crumbled because gender-based violence is not only a 1/2 cup sliced sun-dried tomatoes problem in Armenia, but also in the US. It 6 thin slices prosciutto affects all of us.” She added, “Unfortunately, domestic violence PREPARATION can be a divisive issue, but it shouldn’t be. It is Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat pecans with beaten egg white; toss about protecting the safety and dignity of with brown sugar. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven and let cool. women and children in their own homes. The Whisk together the shallots and vinegar. Slowly whisk in olive oil. Add basil, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Combine greens, WSC’s work has and continues to shift the con- grapes, Roquefort cheese and tomatoes in a salad bowl. Add the dressing to lightly coat the greens. Place on chilled plates, and top each versation on domestic violence in Armenia. serving with a slice of prosciutto and pecans. Gender inequality and violence against women Serves 6. have for so long been tolerated, if not con- doned. Over the past 9-plus years, the WSC’s Chef and owner David Vartanian prepares a dish during a recent cooking class in the main dining room at The broad-based counseling services, advocacy Vintage Press Restaurante in Visalia. (http://www.thevintagepress.com/index.html) work, and training efforts have fueled a cultur- al mind-shift.” Wine Spectator writes The Vintage Press has “one of the best wine lists in the world,” while Fodor’s raves it She concurred with Matosian that now the is “the best restaurant in the Central Valley,” and the L.A. Times applauds it as “a bastion of culinary merit.” culture is more open to hearing the message *Best Chefs America features premier chefs that have been nominated and recommended by their peers in the about domestic violence. “The survivor com- culinary field. munity is feeling empowered to speak out against violence, building more awareness. And now, post-revolution the government is making 16 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING CC AA LL EE NN DD AA RR

and Stephen Kurkjian, Pulitzer Prize winner reporter MAY 28 — Friends of Armenian Culture Society (FACS) FLORIDA retired from the Boston Globe, and NAASR Board presents the 69th annual Armenian Night at the Member. Moderated by NAASR Board Member and Pops, featuring the young and talented violinist Diana FEBRUARY 2 — Banquet Celebration welcoming our Armenian Weekly columnist Stepan Piligian. Thursday, Adamyan as soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra. newly consecrated Primate Bishop Daniel Findikyan 7.30 to 9.30 p.m. Batmasian Hall, NAASR Vartan Symphony Hall, Boston. 8 p.m. For tickets and informa- for his first pastoral visit, in conjunction with the 32nd Gregorian Building, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont. A tion, please visit FACSBoston.org Anniversary of consecration of St. David Armenian reception will follow in the Shahinian Solarium. Apostolic Church on Sunday following the Holy Badarak Contact NAASR at 617-489-1610 or [email protected]. NEW JERSEY at the Mardigian Hall – 12:30pm. For further informa- FEBRUARY 22 – Poon Paregentan Dinner Dance - tion, please call St. David Church office – Christine 561- Family Kef Night, Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church, FEBRUARY 8 — Valentine’s Dinner Dance. Sponsored 994-2335 Or Sonig Kradjian 607-727-8786“ 180 Old Westford Rd., Chelmsford, MA. Featuring the by the Tekeyan Cultural Association – Greater New Fabulous Ani Ensemble: Art Chingris - Dumbeg, Ara York Chapter and the Hovnanian School PTO. 7 pm. MASSACHUSETTS Jeknavorian – Clarinet, Dave Anisbigian – Vocals/Guitar, Magic show for children to begin at 7.30 pm. Mezze and and Brian Anisbigian – Oud. Surprise DJ for modern dinner included. Cash bar. $60 adults, $30 kids under 13. FEBRUARY 9 — A cappella concert by Boston Jazz Armenian and non-Armenian music. Complimentary RSVP to Nanor at [email protected]. Payment Voices to Benefit the Armenia Tree Project. 5 pm at Armenian Dance Class - 5:00 pm. Dinner and Dancing at required upon reservation. $75 at the door. Hovnanian the Jenks Center, 109 Skillings Road, Winchester, MA. 6:00 pm. Paid in advance tickets must be received by School, 817 River Road, New Milford. The venue has plenty of free parking. Event will feature February 15: Adults $25, Students $10, and 5 & under an a cappella performance, refreshments, raffle, and Free. At the door: Adults $35 and Students $15. For RHODE ISLAND silent auction. Tickets are $30 each and a family four- reservations, please contact Maria Kazanjian (617) 240- pack of tickets is available for $100. Tickets available via 3686 or [email protected]. Tables of 8 can be reserved JANUARY 26 — The Armenian Historical Association of Eventbrite at www.armeniatree.org/acappella in advance with full payment Checks made payable to: Rhode Island presents “Not in Our Backyard,” The FEBRUARY 13 — The National Association for Sts Vartanantz Armenian Church. amazing clean-up and restoration project at Oakland Armenian Studies and Research/Calouste Feb. 27: “The Ruins of Ani: From Sacred Landscape to Cemetery, a roundtable discussion by the Sts. Vartanantz Gulbenkian Foundation Lecture Series on Political Soil”: Presented by Peter Balakian and Aram Men’s Club, Sunday, 1 p.m. Learn why the Men’s Club Contemporary Armenian Issues presents a public Arkun, translators of The Ruins of Ani by Krikor Balakian. took on the task of cleaning up an abandoned cemetery. forum on “The Armenian-American Press in Sponsored by the Tekeyan Cultural Association (TCA) and 245 Waterman St., fifth floor conference room, Perspective: Its Purposes, Challenges, and Future the National Association for Armenian Studies and Providence. Refreshments at 12.30 p.m. Prospects.” Lively discussion on issues of immigration, Research (NAASR)/Calouste Gulbenkian Lecture Series history, and the 125-year-old history of the Armenian- on Contemporary Armenian Issues at the Batmasian Calendar items are free. Entries should not be longer than 5 American press. Panel featuring Leeza Arakelian, assis- Auditorium at NAASR, 395 Concord Avenue, Belmont, lines. Listings should include contact information. Items will tant editor of the Armenian Weekly, Alin K. 7:30 p.m. Free admission. For more information, email be edited to fit the space, if need be. A photo may be sent Gregorian, editor of the Armenian Mirror-Spectator [email protected] or [email protected]. with the listing no later than Mondays at noon.

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Delivers Memorable Mozart and Mahler A Christmas Holiday Tradition: KNOXVILLE, from page 13 Sham possessed and horns, led by principal horn Jeffery Whaley, haddisplayed with an a big and impressive evening that included unostentatious mas- Erevan Choral euphoric “whoops” as well as beautiful and tery. powerful ensemble playing. The four trumpets While Sham’s Society (principal Phillip Chase Hawkins) provided a body language did perfectly balanced offstage passage in the first not betray underly- CHRISTMAS, from page 13 movement. Also contributing to this strong ing emotions, his recognition of the outstanding work that the showing were interim principal flute Jessica checkerboard socks Choral Society and the Orchestra have car- Petrasek, interim principal bassoon Jessica against black attire ried out to promote Armenian culture and Findley Yang, principal clarinet Gary Sperl, and were perhaps a visu- Pianist Aristo Sham music in Diaspora. This is an honorable principal oboe Claire Chenette. Concertmaster al hint to the award, and the first time a musical ensemble Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, Armenian William Shaub and associate Gordon Tsai led a pianist’s intriguing actively performing outside the Homeland, Patriarch of Jerusalem, officially presented violin section that was called upon for both musical personality. His playing bubbled with has been recognized and awarded. the Yerevan City Council Gold Medal to the silky ensemble playing and percussiveness. energy, revealing a remarkably finessed point of The award was officially presented by Choral Society. While the audience left the Tennessee view in which the articulation of passages was Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, Theatre consumed by the Mahler performance, decisive, as well as natural and clean. The piano Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, who was the evening’s feast was begun by young pianist opens the adagio movement with a soft melan- present at the concert. Manougian high- Trinity Armenian Church, on the 25th Aristo Sham who joined Demirjian and the choly that Sham rendered with a beautiful lighted the important work that Erevan anniversary of his Ordination and Ministry. orchestra for Mozart’s flowing stream-like deliberation and clarity. The contrasting finale Choral Society has carried out in the Many public officials and clergymen Piano Concerto No. 23 in A, K. 488. Mozart’s movement, Allegro assai, was a cheerful con- Diaspora for many years to promote were present at the concert, which has concertos deceptively require both control and versational balance between the babbling-brook Armenian Art at the highest level. become an annual and traditional cultural clarity from their pianists, characteristics that ebullience from Sham’s piano and happy sup- He also warmly congratulated Father event in the Armenian Community of Vasken Kouzouian, the Pastor of Holy Greater Boston.

L.A.’s Little Armenia Kicks off Season 2 of ‘No Passport Required’ with Marcus Samuelsson on PBS COOKING, from page 13 Other upcoming episodes will journey to Angeles offers what his adopted hometown of Houston for West African food, the Italian New York doesn’t — it is vast and big and it’s not American community in Philadelphia and the one thing. Chinese community of Las Vegas. Samuelsson “Restaurants are not the only way to express will also venture to the greater Boston area to being a food town, and LA is an incredible food learn more about the Portuguese, Brazilian, city,” he says. “It can be food trucks or markets. and Cape Verdean diasporas. And especially in the Armenian community, “Americans in general are always curious which keeps it in the home as a meeting point about their neighbors in their cities and com- for people young and old to get together to munities and eager to learn,” says the James hold on to traditions. Restaurants might not be Beard Award-winning Top Chef Master. “The where all the food is. Some of the best meals best way to learn about culture is through food are kept at home. You find that a lot in immi- and I’m proud that this show highlights that.” From left, conductor and composer Konstantin Petrossian, Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, grant communities, rituals being kept. And To see the episode, visit Rev. Vasken Kouzouian and Rev. Mampre Kouzouian that’s what we really dive into in this episode — https://www.pbs.org/food/features/no-pass- great food, tradition and conversation.” port-required-season-2-los-angeles/ S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 17 COMMENTARY

COMMENTARY Mirror Hrant Dink: Human Rights Trailblazer

hit the motherlode when he discovered that Sabiha Gokçen, the By Edmond Y. Azadian adopted daughter of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, whom the Turks had Spectator sanctified as the first female fighter pilot and in whose honor an airport was named, was an Armenian orphan. This bit of reporting The behavior of the Armenian community in Turkey has been led to him receiving death threats. defined by fear; fear of expression and action as well as fear of His advocacy of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide fur- showing their real identities in a society where the dark forces of ther aggravated government circles and fanatical nationalists. He hatred continue to fester. And there is good reason which justifies was very outspoken about Armenian issues and that is why he was EstablishedEstablished 1932 1932 those fears: the memory of the Genocide has been transmitted prosecuted three times under the country’s medieval penal code, AnAn ADL ADL Publication Publication from one generation to the other, even if spoken about only in whose Article 301 is meant to punish any citizen who dares insult muted voices. “Turkishness.” Children of Armenian descent have been taught at school that Hrant Dink had a messianic mission which required him to think they are the progeny of a treacherous race called Armenian and outside the box and defy traditional views which Armenians and thus they are helped to develop self-hatred. Turks had about each other. For the Turks, Armenians were EDITOR Alin K. Gregorian The Genocide and its historic impact has continued to be ampli- traitors that deserved the punishment they received. For the fied by the continuing persecution of minorities through the Armenians, the Turks were unrepentant and unscrupulous killing ASSISTANT EDITOR September 5, 1955 pogroms in Istanbul and through the rigorous machines. Aram Arkun application of the wealth tax on Armenians, Greeks and the Jews Dink saw educating the Turks as a way to reconcile the two. and subsequent deportations to labor camps in Askale in the While Turkey’s accession to the European Union was considered ART DIRECTOR Marc Mgrditchian 1940s. dangerous for many Armenians, Dink believed otherwise. He As if that were not enough, Turkish government leaders have thought that Turkey’s emancipation from its inward-looking mind- continually intimidated Armenians. One such example was the set and learning the true facts of history would pave the way for statement of President Turgut Ozal, who in 1993 warned that if mutual understating and reconciliation down the road. the lessons of 1915 have not been learned “When you attempt to implement SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: well by Armenians, then they deserve [recognition] in societies where knowl- Edmond Y. Azadian more. Subsequent Turkish leaders, includ- edge is not free, the real paradox appears ing Prime Minister Tansu Çiller and of its own accord,” he said. And he con- CONTRIBUTORS: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have not cluded, “In the end, it is not that Turkish Florence Avakian, Dr. Haroutiun missed opportunities to threaten to expel society knows the truth but still denies it; Arzoumanian, Philippe Raffi Kalfayan, migrant Armenians in Istanbul. it is defending what it knows to be true.” Philip Ketchian, Kevork Keushkerian, The Armenian community was condi- Dink’s concept of recognition differed Harut Sassounian, Hagop Vartivarian, tioned to live and survive in this kind of from traditional views. Some eyebrows Naomi Zeytoonian intimidating atmosphere, when a different were raised among the Armenians when CORRESPONDENTS: voice was heard — a defiant one. The voice he laid down his philosophy by stating: Armenia - Hagop Avedikian belonged to Hrant Dink; it sent a shiver “Real success can only be achieved not Boston - Nancy Kalajian down the collective spine of the communi- with court decisions or restrictive laws, Los Angeles - Taleen Babayan ty. (See related stories on page 1.) but with the establishment of an environ- Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach Leaders and citizens alike were stunned ment of debate that will create change in Contributing Photographers: that an ethnic Armenian could be rash mentality. … Denial or recognition with- Jirair Hovsepian enough to try to shake off the chains of out comprehension will benefit no one.” slavery which had been encircling the obe- At one point, Dink’s message appealed dient minority for so long. to broad segments of Turkish society. Before delivering his message to Erdogan’s earlier policies emanated from The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published Turkey’s general public, he shocked the that atmosphere. Many believed then that weekly, except two weeks in July and the first Armenian community with his choice in democracy was laying its foundations in week of the year, by: the delivery of that message. He began Turkey. “Turkey has changed,” many Baikar Association, Inc. publishing Agos weekly in the Turkish lan- would gleefully say to Hrant during his 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 guage, allowing only one page for trips abroad, until Erdogan showed his Telephone: 617-924-4420 Armenian. While his choice of language made practical sense, true colors. He showed that he wanted to resort to fundamentalist FAX: 617-924-2887 many characterized his actions as a betrayal of the Armenian lan- Islam as the central tenet of his policies, which delivered one vic- www.mirrorspectator.com guage. tory after another, until he seemed to have achieved invincibility in E-Mail: [email protected] Armenians in Turkey have many publications but in particular Turkey and beyond. For advertising: [email protected] two newspapers are considered standard-bearers of Armenianism: To comply with the standards of the European Union, Turkey Marmara and Jamanak dailies, which continue to be published at officially abolished the death penalty. But on the other hand, it set- the expense of great sacrifices yet always losing subscribers as the tled bloody scores through assassinations and mass slaughter of community shrinks. the Kurds through the activities of the “deep state,” which turned Over many decades, restrictions placed on the instruction of the out to be cooperating with the MIT, the Turkish secret service. Armenian language in community schools have eroded proficiency The “deep state” had used Ahmed Ali Agca to assassinate a SUBSCRIPTION RATES : in that language. Instead, Turkish has become the lingua franca for prominent journalist, Abdi Ipekçi, in 1979 and he was set free only all minorities to communicate with each other. to try to assassinate Pope John Paul II in 1981. As the community dwindled on the one side as a result of emi- The “deep state” had targeted Dink for a long time. However, he U.S.A. $80 a year gration, younger generations of Armenians from the provinces felt safe because he was so well-known and so popular. In his last came to fill the ranks. editorial, he wrote that he felt like a fearful dove and added, “In Canada $125 a year Most spoke Turkish only and were able to attain prominence and Turkey, people don’t hurt doves.” Other Countries $190 a year affluence in the community. Hrant’s initiative met their needs For once, he was mistaken. He was gunned down in front of the exactly, particularly that generation, who although did not speak editorial offices of Agos on January 19, 2007 by a teenager, Ogun Armenian, it did not lack patriotism nor love for its Armenian lega- Samast, who claimed to be a Turkish nationalist. Police arrested the cy. assassin and treated him like a hero, posing for pictures with him. © 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator Hrant did not claim to be speaking on behalf of the community, Hundreds of thousands of people marched at his funeral with Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA but the conservative circles within the Armenian community were the calls “We are all Armenians,” and “We are all Hrant.” and additional mailing offices. afraid that he would endanger the Armenians’ safety. They greeted Although the murderer was charged and sentenced to 13 years ISSN 0004-234X him with hostility, particularly when he did not mince his words, crit- in prison, the real masterminds of the crime have evaded true jus- icizing cronyism and corruption within the Armenian community. tice. Hrant Dink’s message touched a sensitive chord among the At the commemorations marking the 13th anniversary of POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The youth, but it extended beyond the Armenian community to find Armenian Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount Auburn Hrant’s assassination’s, demonstrations were held at his grave- St., Watertown, MA 02472 resonance among the Kurds, since Dink’s message perfectly side in Balikli Armenian Cemetery and in front of Agos’ former Other than the editorial, views and opinions matched their liberation aspirations. office in Osmaniye district, where he was murdered. Many polit- expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily In addition, Dink also became a spokesperson for the liberal and ical figures and journalists spoke. Of particular importance was reflect the policies of the publisher. educated class of Turks. Many prominent Turkish writers, such as Garo Paylan’s participation and eulogy during the service. Baskin Oran, became regular contributors to Agos, raising its pro- Paylan is carrying on Dink’s legacy and courageously advocat- file within Turkish intellectual and political circles. ing for his cause. Hrant stood for democracy and human rights. He had an The Turkish government demonstrated its true position vis-à-vis unflinching stance in promoting minority rights. While the Turkish Dink’s memory, by blocking traffic leading to Harbiye, where a Copying for other than personal use or authorities were exerting every effort to erase the traces of any commemoration was being held. In addition, the subway station at internal reference is prohibited without Armenian identity within the current borders of the Republic of that location was closed for three hours. express permission of the copyright Turkey, Hrant Dink, in defiance of that policy, defined his own Today, a dead Hrant Dink is more dangerous than when the for- owner. Address requests for reprints or identity. “I am the bearer of two identities,” he said. “First, I live in mer living Hrant, as his mission and ideals have caught the imagi- back issues to: Turkey, I am a citizen of the Republic of Turkey…Second, I am an nation of millions of Turkish citizens. The Turkish government can Armenian.” no longer prosecute him or incarcerate him; he is still alive through Baikar Association, Inc. He began unearthing and publicizing the contribution of the his message, now more than ever. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472- Armenians to Turkish history, language, culture and economy. He He remains a human rights trailblazer for Turkey and beyond. 1509 18 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

duct effective air operations in the Libyan airspace. be at their forefront,” Ayesha Gadhafi said January 2, Turkey’s hopes to use neighboring countries as logistical declaring her support for Hifter. routes and bases were also dashed by the staunchly neu- Moscow invited Ankara to the negotiating table to pre- Turkey’s tral positions of Tunis and Algeria. vent a possible Turkish military intervention, while main- Erdogan has been particularly disappointed by the taining its support for Hifter through private Russian mil- Ennahda movement, when Tunisian parliament itary company Wagner Group. Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, leader of Ennahda and a As a result, Erdogan backpedaled and brought up the close friend of Erdogan in the Muslim Brotherhood net- idea of recruiting mercenaries from Syria for Libya to work, said that Tunisia will not be part of the Libyan con- limit the Turkish army’s role with coordination and train- Libya flict. Tunisian President Kais Saied denied Turkey’s ing. Ankara’s plan was to boost air defense in and around claims that Tunis was supporting the Sarraj-led GNA. the airspace of Tripoli, which Ankara designated as a Algeria also has adopted a similar position by announc- “red line.” So far, the number of Turkish troops dis- ing that the country will maintain its distance with the patched to Libya have reached 80. warring Libyan parties after some news reports claimed However, Turkey’s efforts to recruit Syrian fighters two Turkish frigates were en route to Algerian ports. appears to have caused rifts in the Syrian opposition Strategy: Egypt, as one of the critical allies of Hifter, has chal- ranks. Hence, Turkey didn’t have any choice but to sit at lenged Turkey’s plans more openly than ever. Egyptian the table in Moscow. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced that Cairo is The initial plan was to launch an initiative similar to determined to take the necessary actions against any Astana, but the Libyan equation does not allow such an Turkish intervention. initiative. In Astana, Turkey talks on behalf of the oppo- Cure Has The announcement has raised the prospect of turning sition while Russia and Iran talk on behalf of Damascus. Libya into a direct confrontation scene between Turkey In the Libyan conflict, on the other hand, Turkey has lost and the Egypt-UAE bloc that has been at odds with its leverage for mediation, while Russia retains its poten- Become Worse Ankara’s foreign policy goals since 2013. tial to act as a mediator. Furthermore, the counter Egypt’s military exercise called “Qader 2020” coincided front against Turkey is steadily expanding with new mem- with the Moscow meeting leading many to consider the bers and none of them were present during the Moscow Than Disease exercise as a show of force against Turkey. negotiations. Turkey’s Libyan venture also increased the tension in “We would like to join the efforts by the Europeans, the competition over eastern Mediterranean hydrocarbon including the Germans, the French and the Italians, as resources. Erdogan has argued that the deal Turkey well as Libya’s neighbors — Algeria and Egypt — and the By Fehim Tastekin signed with the GNA government to demarcate maritime UAE, Turkey, Qatar and the Russian Federation to chan- borders would eliminate the Cyprus, Greece, Israel and nel them in one direction in order to urge the Libyan par- Egypt bloc’s efforts to link eastern Mediterranean gas ties to the conflict to reach an agreement through nego- URKEY’S LIBYA STRATEGY seems to have fields with European markets bypassing Turkey. In tiations, rather than to continue to sort things out by produced many side effects with the situa- response, the bloc has stepped up these efforts by sign- using force,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov tion on the ground rapidly escalating. ing an energy cooperation deal between Greece, Israel said during a January 14 news conference. Turkey’s hard power tactics on Libya per- and Cyprus. Lavrov’s remarks affirm Russia perhaps managed to haps paved the way for the Berlin summit by On January 8, foreign ministers of Greece, Egypt and block Turkey’s military involvement, but there is more to provoking the international community to Cyprus met in Cairo to declare the deals Turkey signed be done. take action against Turkey’s unilateral with the GNA “void,” in a move that further deepens According to Sky News Arabia, Hifter laid down seven T moves, but the final communique that the Turkey’s isolation in the international arena. conditions before signing the truce, including the LNA foreign powers agreed on during the confer- Turkey’s pro-government circles’ overoptimistic expec- will be deployed in Tripoli; Syrian fighters will withdraw ence are conflicting with Ankara’s interests and military tations about Turkey’s “pivotal role in Libya” ignores the from the country; Turkey will be excluded from the inter- plans. The provision that envisages sanctions on parties change of wind in Libya. Turkey-backed Islamist forces national force that will be deployed for peacekeeping; that break the United Nations arms embargo is effective- under siege between Tripoli and Misrata were hoping to some armed factions in Tripoli will be abolished; and a ly blocking Turkey’s military venture. The communique push back the Hifter-led forces with the help of Turkey’s new unity government recognized by the Tobruk-based also calls for a formation of a unity government that is military support, but in the end lost Sirte. The joint parliament will be set up. recognized by the war-torn country’s Tobruk-based par- Turkish-Russian calls for a cease-fire came just as the None of these are in line with Turkey’s interests in liament that strongly opposes the military cooperation Hifter-led forces were advancing toward Sirte. Libya and Erdogan’s self-contradicting remarks are not and maritime boundary agreements that Turkey signed The LNA seized the city without much conflict when a helping the cause. with the Fayez al-Sarraj-led Government of National Salafist jihadist faction defected from the GNA and joined Last month, Erdogan asked Russia to end its support Accord (GNA). to Hifter while announcing Russia, Egypt and the his intention to deploy United Arab Emirates troops in Libya. On January (UAE) have boosted their 5, Erdogan denied to recog- support for Libyan National nize Hifter as a legitimate Army (LNA) leader Khalifa actor in the Libyan war Hifter who announced when opposition parties January 18 that he would criticized Turkey’s one- block oil exports from the Ankara’s road map with Libya sided Libya policy. country’s main ports in “There is a putschist on retaliation for Turkey’s derailed when several deterrent one side and a legitimate actions. The disruption in government on the other. the oil production can have factors came into play preventing How come one can be a “devastating conse- mediator between quences first and foremost President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to a putschist and a legitimate for the Libyan people,” government,” Erdogan said warned the United Nations only to be denied by Putin Libya mission. realize his plans to dispatch three days later. Ankara’s road map with On January 8, Putin said Libya derailed when several military troops to the war-torn Russia and Turkey were act- deterrent factors came into ing as “mediators” in the play preventing President country despite the parliamentary conflict and called for a Recep Tayyip Erdogan to cease-fire, no objections realize his plans to dispatch approval he obtained January 2. were raised by Ankara. military troops to the war- On January 13, Erdogan torn country despite dispatched Turkey’s defense the parliamentary and foreign ministers and approval he obtained spy chief to Moscow to sit at January 2. the same table with the Erdogan had to agree to Hifter whom he had labeled work with Russia, but jointly brokered cease-fire the ranks of the Hifter-led forces. The defection indicates a putschist. talks between the GNA led by Fayez al-Sarraj and the the volatile nature of the conflict. Although Tripoli-based Another flip-flop came after Hifter refused to sign the Hifter-led delegation have not produced the desired Salafists supporting the GNA are quite powerful, in the truce and left Moscow. results. climate of war one should always keep in mind reality: “We will not hesitate to go after Hifter,” Erdogan said. Turkey was about to register the summit as a success- Tribes or clans tend to favor the powerful party, similar The only positive outcome of Turkey’s “tension strate- ful outcome of its hard power tactics, but Hifter left the to the scenario that has transpired in Syria. gy” was paving the way for the Berlin meeting on January negotiating table without signing the truce agreement Indeed, some 1,000 people from various tribes from 19. Turkey’s most important objective is to make the mar- leading everyone back to square one. several cities, including Benghazi, Tobruk, Bayda, Zintan itime deal permanent, yet the result of the Berlin summit Why has Turkey’s “tension strategy” not yielded the and Ghat, gathered in Benghazi to pledge support to actually has made it more difficult. results Erdogan has promised? Hifter and the Tobruk-based parliament in early January. Several factors have surfaced disrupting Turkey’s Apparently, some elements of the ousted regime also (Fehim Tastekin is a Turkish journalist and a colum- plans. Apart from international objections, Libya’s neigh- back Hifter, including the daughter of late Libyan leader nist for Turkey Pulse who previously wrote for Radikal bors have been particularly annoyed by Turkey’s inter- Moammar Gadhafi. and Hurriyet. He has also been the host of the weekly ventionism. “When Turkish soldiers’ boots desecrate our homeland program “SINIRSIZ,” on IMC TV. As an analyst, The capacity problems Turkey’s air force is facing after soil, which was watered by the blood of our martyrs, if Tastekin specializes in Turkish foreign policy and the 2016 botched coup attempt aside, the distance there is no one among you to repel this aggression, then Caucasus, Middle East and EU affairs. This analysis orig- between the two countries is preventing Turkey to con- leave the battlefield to the free women of Libya and I will inally appeared in Al-Monitor.) S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 19 COMMENTARY

nations which were given as answers for a particular ques- regarding Armenian issues that are satisfactory to all sides. It tion. That style was the choice of the editor. Without consid- is never acceptable to any of the sides to take a rejectionist ering the questions, when only answers are provided, a and disregarding position. Each person must first understand change in the meaning takes place, which is placed succes- correctly, what in reality has been expressed in the uttered sively, one after another. In this case, they become unclear words and then criticize.” My Turn expressions and failed statements, which make the transmit- Some in the Diaspora may agree with the Patriarch’s ted idea meaningless.” words, emphasizing the dire conditions that he and the By Harut Sassounian The Patriarch then stated that he had given the following Turkish community are in. Any Armenian who is familiar with answer to the question about Turkish Armenians: those repressive conditions can be somewhat sympathetic to “Armenians of Turkey, unlike Armenians in the Diaspora and the Patriarch’s situation. Newly-Elected Patriarch of Turkey Armenia, form a third segment. From the point of view of Our intent was never to urge the Patriarch to antagonize the Lashes out at His Armenian Critics administration and economy, the Armenian Diaspora has no authorities in Turkey. After all, he is responsible for the safety ties with us; we are self-sufficient.” of his community. All we ask from the Patriarch is to be cau- After giving a series of interviews to the Turkish press since When his Beatitude was asked about the irreconcilable atti- tious in his words, not to alienate his followers in Turkey and his election on December 11, 2019, the new Armenian tude of Diaspora Armenians toward Turkey and the reasons not insult the memory of 1.5 million Armenian martyrs by Patriarch of Turkey, Sahak II Mashalyan, responded to his for its negative position, he claimed that the given answer engaging in outright denialism. Whenever possible, the Armenian critics on January 15, by issuing an official does not belong to him, but is a simple sociological correction Patriarch should avoid giving interviews to the Turkish press. “Clarification” to Turkish-Armenian newspapers. — familiar to all — expressed as such: ‘One hundred years ago, He should appoint a press spokesman who is capable of avoid- It is important to point out that the Patriarch’s critics were the people who left these lands with a great tragedy have ing difficult and sensitive questions, particularly on political not simply those who live outside Turkey, unjustly accused of transmitted the trauma they lived to future generations and issues. If the spokesman makes a mistake, it is less consequen- being unaware of the repressive treatment of Istanbul realized that for the Armenian identity and its preservation it tial than if the Patriarch himself makes a mistake. Spokesmen Armenians by the Turkish government. In addition to criti- is beneficial and necessary to form a consciousness of the can be fired, but the Patriarch’s position is life-long. cism from Armenians in Armenia and the Diaspora, the Genocide. They continued to live for more than a hundred Finally, it is unacceptable for the Patriarch to blame the Patriarch was attacked by Armenians living in Turkey as well years in a status quo away from Turkey and Turks. But, we — Turkish newspaper for allegedly misinterpreting his words. as the Turkish-Armenian newspaper Agos. Armenians who have remained in Turkey — continued to First of all, we do not know what exactly the Patriarch told The Patriarch’s interview with the Turkish newspaper share our lives with Turks in these lands and gained the expe- the Turkish newspaper and if it was really misinterpreted. For Aksham generated the most controversy as he not only dis- rience of living together. In that sense, we are distinct example, in his above “Clarification,” the Patriarch claims tanced Istanbul Armenians from Diaspora Armenians, but Armenians in the Armenian world.” that he had used the word “Genocide” in his interview with also belittled the massive tragedy of the Armenian Genocide. The Patriarch continued: “In such super sensitive subjects, the Turkish newspaper. This is not credible! His Beatitude complained that a few of the sentences in his the priority of the people has been that they listen to what Secondly, the Patriarch is someone who is born and raised interview with Aksham, drawing the most negative interpre- they want, and not what the Patriarchs of Turkish Armenians in Istanbul. He knows the Turkish media well. He should have tations and exceeding the limits of understanding, reached a say and under what conditions. The fate of the Armenian known that the Turkish press often distorts the words of campaign of tarnishing his name. Patriarchs of Turkey is like the captain of a ship that is being those they interview. Therefore, giving an interview to the The Patriarch made the excuse that in his 40-minute inter- crushed between two non-melting icebergs. In that circum- Turkish press and then complaining that his words were dis- view, he “had provided lengthy explanations and details stance, it is not always possible to secure harmony and errors torted is not sincere. The Patriarch should have known that which naturally were not included in the article. The words appear to occur according to one of the sides. Sahak in advance. Complaining about Turkish media distortions appearing in the newspaper were filtered from those expla- Patriarch too, like his predecessors, has tried to give answers after the interview is published is foolish!

A Pledge of Service me deeply and inspired me in my own vocation to be a priest. Findikyan Reflects There followed a long series of greetings by all of the hier- “Patriarch Hayr, your new ministry begins among the good archs in attendance. At the end His Beatitude Patriarch Sahak people of this historic city. But your flock also extends far II delivered his message: a very personal and heartfelt expres- beyond the geographical limits of this city. May our Lord bless On Patriarchal sion of humility and faith, in which he reflected on the long you abundantly so that you may be a ‘Good Shepherd’ for your path of his life and ministry that has brought him to this excep- community and for the entire Armenian Church, for the eter- Enthronement in tionally important office. He pledged to serve the Lord and the nal welfare of our people and for the glory of Jesus Christ.” Holy See of Constantinople. Echoes of Our History Patriarch Sahak said (my translation): “My journey leading Istanbul to the Lord Jesus Christ has now brought me to this During a private visit with His Beatitude, I pledged the full Enthronement, and I will not rest in my new position until I and enthusiastic support of our Diocese in assisting the see Him face to face.” He expressed his thanks to the people, Patriarch in his holy ministry. We discussed a number of By Bishop Daniel Findikyan the clergy present, for their part in this ceremony and in his prospects for cooperation, including pilgrimages by our people life. With special affection he remembered his spiritual fathers: to Constantinople, historical Armenia, and other sacred and I was in Bolis [Istanbul] for five days, accompanied by Fr. his late predecessors in the office, Patriarch Shnork biblical sites in Turkey; cooperation in the training of semi- Armash Baghdasarian, assistant pastor of the St. John Kaloustian and Patriarch Mesrob Moutafyan. narians, deacons, and priests in Istanbul and at St. Nersess Armenian Church (Southfield, MI), who was born and raised The enthronement ceremony concluded with His Beatitude Seminary; and assisting in raising needed funds for the in Istanbul, and served the church there diligently and loving- being escorted to his throne and taking his place—whereupon Patriarchate. ly from the time of his childhood. all of the hierarchs, one by one, approached him to kiss his This was my first visit to Istanbul. I had the opportunity to The enthronement took place in the Sourp Asdvadzadzin hand and receive his blessing. A joyous public reception fol- visit my father’s old neighborhood, the churches in which he (Holy Mother-of-God) Cathedral across from the Patriarchate lowed. prayed, as well as the Church of the Apparition of the Holy in the Kumkapi district of Istanbul. I was one of nine bishops The next day His Beatitude celebrated his first Badarak as Cross (YerevmanSourp Khatch) in the Kruçeshme neighbor- and several priests who had traveled to Istanbul for the occa- Patriarch. It was a wonderful, uplifting celebration with the hood, where my grandfather directed the Gomidas Choir, sion, representing each of the Armenian Church’s hierarchical participation of all of the Armenian clergy of Istanbul, a joint founded by Gomidas Vartabed himself. sees and several dioceses. Bishop Apgar [Hovakimyan], choir comprising dozens of singers, dozens of deacons and As a teacher and scholar, I have read a great deal about the Primate of Canada, was also in attendance. altar servers, as well as all of the visiting dignitaries. centrality of Constantinople in world history, in the history of A number of ecumenical hierarchs also participated, notably At the end of the Badarak, the Patriarch called Fr. Armash the universal Church, and of course in the history of our peo- His Holiness Bartholomew, the (Orthodox) Ecumenical Baghdasarian up to the bema and gave him a beautiful ple and the Armenian Church. But to see with my eyes the Patriarch of Constantinople; a delegation from the Vatican; Armenian pectoral cross in appreciation for his dedicated ser- places where this history happened; to pray in and around the His Eminence Archbishop Levon Zekiyan, Archbishop of the vice to the Patriarchate and to the Armenian Church as a holy places that became so influential in the development of Armenian Catholic Church of Constantinople; and Archbishop whole. our liturgy, theology, spirituality and Christian culture was Khajag Barsamian. The cathedral was completely full, with simply awe-inspiring. One day last week while driving, the many more people standing outside — easily totaling over one An Emotional Personal Experience senior priest in Constantinople, Der Krikor Damadyan, point- thousand people. In the evening a formal congratulatory banquet was held ed to a distant island in the Sea of Marmara and said, “That is The long ceremony began with a procession from the for the clergy, visiting hierarchs, ecumenical guests, and promi- where St. Nersess was imprisoned.” I said, “Which St. Patriarchate across the street to the cathedral. There followed nent members of the community. I rose and said the following: Nersess?” He replied, “St. Nersess the Great,” the fourth-cen- a festive “Giragamdits” (Saturday Evening) vespers service. At “Your Beatitude, Brother Clergy, and Dear People. My par- tury saint and Catholicos of our Church. Fourth century! Talk the end of the service, all of the bishops were vested, and with ticipation in the enthronement ceremonies these days has about history… hand cross and bishop’s staff we ascended the holy altar to sur- been particularly emotional for me. Emotional first of all As I return from Istanbul, I recognize with greater clarity round the Patriarch-elect. because my family’s roots are deeply embedded in the sacred the importance of the Patriarchate of Constantinople for our During the ceremony, the Patriarch-elect knelt down and soil of this historical See of Constantinople. And emotional as church as a whole, and for the vitality of our Diocese. The city, read an oath, whereupon Khajag Srpazan, as the senior bish- well because I represent the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian the Holy See, and its new and ardent Patriarch are a great op in attendance, read the long prayer of blessing on the new Church of America, which, more than 100 years ago, was orig- blessing for all of us. As we are blessed again and again by the Patriarch. After that all of the bishops approached the still- inally placed under the authority of the Holy See of clergy, the holy places, the holy traditions, and holy work of kneeling Patriarch, and together blessed him with their hand Constantinople by decision of Catholicos Khrimian Hayrig. the Holy Mother See of Echmiadzin, and by the Holy See of crosses. From those days until now, our Bolsetsis, the faithful people Jerusalem, we stand to be blessed as well by re-engaging with A Patriarchal Encyclical (Gontag) of His Holiness Karekin II, who hail from this city, are among the most ardent, church-lov- the Holy See of Constantinople. I pledge as Bishop of this the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, was ing, faithful members of our Diocese. Diocese, to work closely with His Beatitude Patriarch Sahak read by Archbishop Yeznik Petrossyan of the Mother See of “I have known Patriarch Sahag for more than 30 years. We and our people to do just that, with God’s help. Holy Echmiadzin. Representatives of the Great House of first met in Jerusalem, when I was there doing manuscript Cilicia read His Holiness Catholicos Aram I’s letter of congrat- research for my doctoral thesis and, providentially, a young, ulation; and the Very Rev. Baret Yeretzian read the letter of newly-ordained apegha named Hayr Sahak was on pilgrimage His Beatitude Nourhan Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of in the Holy City, having come from Istanbul. It was Great Lent. (Bishop Daniel Findikyan is the Primate of the Eastern Jerusalem. Many people observed how significant it was that I shall never forget how deeply impressed and inspired I was Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. The above is a all of the holy sees of the Armenian Church were represented. to hear Hayr Sahak preach in the Church of the Holy personal account of his trip to Istanbul on January 11-12, for This was the first time that I have participated as a bishop in Archangels one evening. His passion, his obvious faith, and his the enthronement and Antranig Badarak of Sahak II, the such a grand ceremony, and I was deeply honored and uplifted. deep love for Jesus Christ and the Armenian Church impressed 85th Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople.) 20 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Armenia, Artsakh MPs Call to Condemn Baku Pogroms

YEREVAN (Public Radio of Armenia) — The Armenian population in Baku and in other set- the Crime of Genocide (9 December 1948), the for preventing the reoccurrence of such crimes Armenia-Artsakh Inter-Parliamentary tlements of the Azerbaijani SSR. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (10 in the future; Committee has adopted a statement on the Stating that despite the facts recorded by the December 1948), the International Convention Calls on parliaments and parliamentary 30th anniversary of Baku Pogroms. The state- international community and human rights on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial assemblies, international organizations, and ment reads: organizations, the Azerbaijani authorities until Discrimination (21 December 1965), the human rights organizations: On 13-19 January, 1990, coordinated mass now conceal their genocidal actions, distort the International Covenant on Civil and Political to condemn the crimes committed by pogroms of the Armenian population were com- reality, and escape the responsibility; Rights (16 December 1966), and other interna- Azerbaijan against the Armenian population of mitted in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, under Emphasizing that the continuous official poli- tional instruments relating to the protection of Baku and the violations of international the watchful eye of the state authorities. cy of Armenophobia in Azerbaijan and these and human rights and fundamental freedoms, humanitarian law, which constitute a threat not Hundreds of Armenians became victims of vio- other crimes committed on that ground (the which are also entrenched in the domestic leg- only to the Armenian people but also to the lence because of their ethnic origin; their prop- pogroms in Sumgait and Kirovabad, massacre of islation of all democratic states, security, stability, and development of the entire erty was looted and confiscated. More than 250 the Armenian population of the Artsakh’s the Armenia-Artsakh Inter-Parliamentary region; thousand Armenians living in Baku fled under Maragha village, which fell under Azerbaijan’s Committee in the result of the joint meeting to take effective measures for their preven- the direct threat of physical extermination and occupation, war crimes committed by the held on January 18, 2020 tion. found a refuge in various countries of the world. Azerbaijani armed forces against the civilian pop- Pays tribute to the memory of our compatri- Reconfirms that the Republic of Armenia and The mass pogroms of Armenians in Baku ulation of Artsakh and prisoners of war during ots who were killed 30 years ago in Baku and the Republic of Artsakh, as guarantors of the were the result of largescale policy of discrimi- its aggression in April, 2016), the consistent states that fair compensation for the losses of peaceful life of the Armenian people in their nation against Armenians, unleashed by the destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage, as the Armenian population is legal and relevant; homeland, demand the condemnation of atroc- Caucasian Tartar extremist forces at the begin- well as the ethnic cleansing of the Armenians in Condemns the consistent policy of ities against the Armenians and fair compensa- ning of the 20th century and continued by the the territories of Artsakh remaining under the Armenophobia in the Republic of Azerbaijan; tion for the victims and their assignees. authorities of Azerbaijan up until now. This pol- Azerbaijani occupation up until now, attest to Considers unacceptable any manifestation of On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of icy led to a drastic reduction of the Armenian the Azerbaijani authorities’ intend to wipe out xenophobia, extremism, and terrorism; the Baku pogroms, a special sitting of the Inter- population in territories under the control of the Armenians and all traces of their existence in Confirms that there is no statutory limitation Parliamentary Committee on Cooperation Azerbaijan. By gaining new impetus in the end the territories under their control; for the crimes against humanity and empha- between the National Assemblies of the of 1980s, that policy and the existential threat Based on the principles enshrined in the sizes that the condemnation of crimes commit- Republic of Armenia and the Republic of it imposed led to the extermination of the Convention on Prevention and Punishment of ted in the past is the most important guarantee Artsakh was held in Yerevan.

until April 1,” he told reporters. “We will Canadian Armenian Genocide Survivor Government Won’t Rule have clearer ideas then.” Out Gas Price Rise Grigoryan insisted that the Armenian gov- ernment and Gazprom have not reached a Eugenie Papazian Dies at 104 YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Deputy Prime confidential deal on a price rise that would Minister Mher Grigoryan on Monday did not take effect later this year. But he noted at SURVIVOR, from page 1 For three years, her maternal grandmother rule out the possibility of an increase in the the same time that Gazprom’s Armenian She had a large family: two sisters, Arousiag struggled to look after her, then gave her to an prices of Russian natural gas supplied to subsidiary needs additional revenues to and Azniv, three brothers, three maternal aunts orphanage when she was no longer able to feed Armenian households and corporate con- make capital investments in the country’s and uncles, whom she never saw. her. sumers. gas distribution network. At the start of the 1915 deportations, the So began her painful odyssey through three Armenia’s national gas distribution com- “Regarding investment plans, I won’t members of her extended family gather and children’s homes in Greece, where an American pany owned by Russia’s Gazprom giant said make secret of the fact that there are desires find refuge in the mountains and then descend- relief organization had arranged the placement last week that it may ask public utility regu- to make some investments because we have ed into a gorge. It is there that she was born. of Armenians in 13 orphanages. lators soon to allow it to raise its retail to bear in mind that it’s a matter of safety, Seeing how frail her mother was, many advised An Armenian couple took her to Egypt, and prices. efficiency and proper maintenance of the and almost forced her mother to leave Eugenie she spent her early teens in Cairo, where she They have remained unchanged since [gas] infrastructure,” he said. there on the road. Her mother however did not met her husband, Garabed Kokorian. She was Gazprom raised the wholesale gas price for Grigoryan was also confident that a possible agree. 15 years old when she married Garabed. Armenia from $150 to $165 per thousand higher gas price would not reflect negatively Because of her beauty and golden hair, they Eugenie Papazian had 5 children, 9 grand- cubic meters in January 2019. The Russian on continued economic growth in Armenia. named her Voski (Gold in Armenian). After children, 14 great-grandchildren and 1 great- gas monopoly said last month that the tariff Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan Eugenie’s birth her mother, exhausted, died. great-grandchild. will not rise further before the end of 2020. and Russian President Vladimir Putin dis- In this regard, Grigoryan reiterated his cussed the issue when they met in Yerevan earlier assurances that Armenian house- in October. “We talked about a gas price for holds will not pay more for gas at least until Armenia that will not break Armenia’s eco- April 1. “As for a change of the price of gas nomic dynamics,” Pashinyan said after- supplied to our homes, we should also wait wards.

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