News Inbrief

DECEMBER 14, 2019 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXX, NO. 22, Issue 4615 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF Former Armenian Armenia Honors Genocide Victims on President Charged United Nations’ Day of With Embezzlement Commemoration YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Law-enforcement YEREVAN (Armenpress) — On the occasion of authorities brought on Wednesday, the International Day of Commemoration and December 4, corruption charges against Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide Serzh Sargsyan, Armenia’s former presi- and of the Prevention of this Crime, on December dent who was toppled during last year’s 9, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian and “Velvet Revolution.” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the The Special Investigative Service (SIS) Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial in alleged that Sargsyan “organized the embez- Yerevan Monday morning. zlement by a group of officials” of 489 mil- Accompanied by Speaker of Parliament Ararat lion drams (just over $1 million) in govern- Mirzoyan and Foreign Minister Zohrab ment funds allocated in 2013 for the provi- Mnatsakanyan, they laid flowers at the Eternal sion of subsidized diesel fuel to farmers. Flame honoring the memory of the Armenian In a statement, the SIS said that Genocide victims. Sargsyan interfered in a government tender Former President Serzh Sargsyan December 9th has been declared International for the fuel supplier to ensure that it is won Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims by Flash, a company which has long been of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of one of Armenia’s main fuel importers. lion drams ($3.8 million) as part of the ply the same quantity of diesel fuel at a this Crime in 2015 during the 69th UNGA. The res- Flash is owned by Barsegh Beglaryan, a scheme designed to help tens of thousands lower price which would have allowed the olution was presented by Armenia and was passed businessman believed to have had close ties of low-income farmers across the country. government to save 489 million drams. unanimously. to the 65-year-old ex-president. According to the SIS statement, another The SIS said that the government’s The government paid Flash over 1.8 bil- private company, Maxhur, was ready to sup- see EMBEZZLEMENT, page 2 Armenian Catholic Church Reopens in Wife of Prime Minister Invites Azeri First Lady to Visit Karabakh Aleppo YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Anna will be our guest. Our people, the people of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) ALEPPO (Panorama.am) — The Armenian Hakobyan, the wife of Armenian Prime Artsakh know how to host, honor a guest, Resolution on Women, Peace and Security. Catholic Cathedral of Our Mother of Mercy was Minister Nikol Pashinyan, invited Mehriban and one of the rules of our hospitality is to In 2000, the UNSC formally acknowledged reopened on Saturday, December 7, in the al- Aliyeva, the wife of Azerbaijani President honor the guest with music he/she prefers. through Resolution 1325 the changing Telal neighborhood of Aleppo after restoration Ilham Aliyev, to Artsakh, on December 4. We can ensure a mugham, we can make her nature of warfare, in which civilians are and renovation works to fix the damage caused “A few days ago Azerbaijan’s first lady dream come true and listen her beloved increasingly targeted, and women continue to the cathedral by terrorism had been complet- Mehriban Aliyeva said on her Telegram music in Karabakh. This is an invitation, to be excluded from participation in peace ed, the official Syrian news agency SANA report- account that she dreamed of listening to a and if she accepts this invitation, I am also processes. ed. mugham [Azeri folk music] in Artsakh. I ready in my turn to be hosted in Baku,” “But if Mehriban Aliyeva means that The opening ceremony was attended by Syria’s invite Mehriban Aliyeva to Artsakh, and she Hakobyan said at the conference on the their dream is to come to Artsakh to listen Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, the Papal to mugham with war, I assure her that in Ambassador to Syria Mario Zenari, Aleppo Mufti that case this dream will remain unful- Mahmoud Akkam in addition to a crowd of Muslim filled,” she added. and Christian clergymen. Hakobyan added that the only way to The head of the Armenian Catholic Community reach that dream is through peace, the nor- in Aleppo, Archbishop Boutrus Mrayati, stressed mal relations with Artsakh and the mutual the importance of celebrating the reopening of the visits as a guest. She said that different cathedral, which was built in 1840, as a spiritual nations of the world managed to overcome occasion that aims at preserving Syria’s history, wars and hatred over the course of years. pointing out that renovation works were carried “If this happened to other European out by national expertise. nations, why can’t we do that? The The Grand Mufti Badreddin Hassoun said that Azerbaijani side just needs to show political reopening the cathedral is a message to the world will and refuse to wage war because it will that “we are rebuilding what terrorism had gain nothing with it. I want to once again destroyed of churches, mosques and factories.” He state that this invitation is very serious,” stressed that terrorism tools have destroyed the Hakobyan said. churches and mosques but they won’t be able to destroy Syria. Other speeches hailed the reopening of the cathedral, emphasizing that it indicates the N. Dakota Senator Blocks Christians’ insistence to stay in Syria and con- tribute to rebuilding what the terrorist war has Genocide Bill at Request destroyed. Of White House Zareh Sinanyan at Nor Kyank village, Armenia WASHINGTON (Axios) — The White Diaspora High Commissioner Sinanyan Works House directed Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) INSIDE to block an effort by Sens. Bob Menendez For Armenia-Diaspora Integration and (D-N.J.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Thursday, December 5, to pass a resolution Repatriation via unanimous consent formally recogniz- Hermitage ing Turkey’s genocide of the Armenian peo- YEREVAN – High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Armenia ple, according to two sources familiar with Zareh Sinanyan spoke about the challenges of his office in an interview mid-October the matter. Director of this year. This is the third time that the White His life has taken an unusual direction, both liter- House has directed a Republican senator to By Aram Arkun ally and figuratively. The former mayor of Glendale block the resolution, a symbolic measure Page 12 Mirror-Spectator Staff and his family had emigrated to the US from already passed by the House that would Armenia when he was a teenager. In his new coun- infuriate Turkish President Recep Tayyip try, Sinanyan has been able to climb high politically, Erdogan. including serving on the Glendale City Council. However, he changed course and Cramer said on the Senate floor that he INDEX decided to relocate to his ancestral homeland and take this new position in Armenia doesn’t think this is “the right time” to pass Arts and Living ...... 12 on June 14, 2019. the resolution, noting that President Armenia ...... 2,3 (In summer 2018, Sinanyan had sat down for an interview while he was mayor of Trump has just returned from meeting with Community News...... 6 Glendale. https://mirrorspectator.com/2018/08/23/mayor-zareh-sinanyan-work- Erdogan at the NATO summit in London, Editorial ...... 17 International ...... 4,5 ing-to-improve-glendale-while-strengthening-ties-with-armenia/) and that the resolution could undermine see SINANYAN, page 10 the administration’s diplomatic efforts. see CRAMER, page 10 2 S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Former Armenian President Vineyard Produces Charged With Embezzlement Organic Wine YEREVAN (Armenpress) — An organic wine has EMBEZZLEMENT, from page 1 The ex-president claimed to be not 20 in anticipation of his indictment. been produced in Armenia for the first time, made of failure to pick Maxhur amounted to a afraid of being arrested in rare com- “The guy positioned himself so as to certified organic grapes. deliberate embezzlement of public ments to selected journalists made in say ‘look, there is political persecu- Director of the Vine and Wine Foundation of funds ordered by Sargsyan. late October. He accused Pashinyan’s tion,’” claimed Hovakimian. “In Armenia Zaruhi Muradyan said on December 3 that The law-enforcement agency stopped government of jeopardizing democracy Armenia, nobody will be subjected to the production of organic wine is very important for short of arresting the man who ruled and stifling dissent in a November 20 political persecution anymore, at least Armenia. Armenia from 2008-2018. It said it had speech at a congress of the European as long as our political force is in gov- “Organic agriculture is recording a great progress him sign a formal pledge not to leave People’s Party held in Croatia. ernment.” in Armenia and has been studied in the recent years. the country pending investigation. Some of Sargsyan’s relatives, cronies Edmon Marukian, the leader of the This year for the first time an Armenian organic Sargsyan’s Republican Party of and political allies have been prosecuted opposition Bright Armenia Party wine made from grapes will enter into the market. Armenia (HHK) rejected the accusation, on corruption charges since his ouster. (LHK), also said that he sees no political Winemaking has started developing quite actively, carrying between four and eight years Also, his predecessor and erstwhile ally, motives behind the high-profile case. and our foundation carries out a lot of work in this in prison, as “fabricated and ludicrous.” Robert Kocharyan, was arrested in July Instead of alleging such motives, the direction,” she said. “We regard the accusation leveled 2018 on coup and bribery charges HHK and its leader should make Deputy head of the department of priority produc- against Serzh Sargsyan as a blatant which he rejects as politically motivat- detailed statements on the embezzle- tion of agriculture at the ministry of economy Varsik manifestation of solely political persecu- ed. ment charge itself, he said. Martirosyan said the world is more interested now in tion,” read a statement released by the The HHK has also alleged political “They freely speak up and freely organic agriculture. HHK’s governing body headed by him. motives behind most of these high-pro- engage in political activities and will “Organic agriculture is a mean to recover, “This process is aimed at silencing polit- file cases. The authorities deny that. continue to do so,” added Marukian. He strengthen and improve the agro-ecosystem. The pro- ical opponents against the background They claim to have already eradicated also stressed the fact that Sargsyan was duction of these goods is welcomed and is important of dangers threatening Armenia and “systemic” government corruption not arrested despite predictions to the for us, for the healthy agriculture and lifestyle”, the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).” which they say was one of the main contrary made by the ex-president’s ministry’s representative said. The former ruling party also claimed foundations of Sargsyan’s regime. entourage in recent months. Organic wines are produced in Armenia by Trinity with such high-profile criminal cases Vahagn Hovakimian, a senior mem- But Gevorg Petrosian, a senior parlia- Canyon Vineyards. the current authorities want to “deflect ber of Pashinyan’s My Step alliance, mentarian representing Prosperous the Armenian people’s attention” from also denied on Thursday any connec- Armenia (BHK), the other opposition grave challenges facing the country. tion between the accusation and party represented in the parliament, did Nephew of Ex-President Sargsyan has kept a low profile since Sargsyan’s first public speech delivered not exclude that Sargsyan is prosecuted to Be Extradited resigning in April 2018 amid mass since his dramatic resignation in April for political reasons. He too pointed to protests against his continued rule led 2018. He said the ex-president Sargsyan’s November 20 speech, saying YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Czech authorities have by Nikol Pashinyan, the current addressed a congress of the European that it “could not have pleased the decided to extradite former President Serzh Armenian prime minister. People’s Party in Croatia on November authorities.” Sargsyan’s nephew Narek Sargsyan in pursuance of Armenian authorities’ request, the General Prosecution of Armenia said. Prosecutor General Arthur Davtyan’s advisor Gor Abrahamyan said on Facebook this week that the ‘Tough’ Karabakh Negotiations Yield No Results prosecution has already tasked the police to organize BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (RFE/RL) — self-determination of the people of ment on the Mammadyarov-Mnatsakanyan the transport of Narek Sargsyan to Armenia. The foreign ministers of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh by way of legally meeting issued on Thursday. Sargsyan is indicted by Armenian authorities on Azerbaijan appear to have made no binding free expression of the will of the “We welcome the intention of the illegal possession of firearms and drug trafficking progress towards a resolution of the people living in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and charges. He was declared wanted in 2018. In Nagorno-Karabakh during what the outcome of which should have no limita- Armenia to meet again in early 2020 December 2018 Sargsyan was detained by Czech Azerbaijani side described as “tough” tion,” he said. under Co-Chair auspices to intensify police in Prague on an international arrest warrant talks held in Slovakia’s capital Bratislava “The government of Armenia will never negotiations on the core issues of a issued by Armenia. late on Wednesday, December 4. engage in any activities which can violate peaceful settlement and to facilitate fur- According to international mediators, the right of the people of Nagorno- ther talks at the highest level,” read the Earthquake Anniversary they only agreed to meet again early next Karabakh to freely determine their political statement. year “to intensify negotiations on the status or can deprive them of the owner- The mediators also noted a significant Marked on December 7 core issues of a peaceful settlement.” ship of this process,” he added. decrease in ceasefire violations in the Armenia’s Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and YEREVAN — Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Azerbaijan’s Elmar Mammadyarov, who December 7 visited the Lori region on the 31st met the sidelines of an annual ministeri- anniversary of the 1988 earthquake. al conference of the Organization for The first stop of the prime minister’s visit was the Security and Cooperation in Europe village of Shirakamut (Nalband), Lori region, the epi- (OSCE) member states, exposed linger- center of the devastating 1988 earthquake. Nikol ing disagreements between the conflict- Pashinyan paid tribute to the memory of the inno- ing parties in their public statements cent victims of the earthquake and laid a wreath at made on Thursday. the monument-khachkar located near the “My meeting yesterday with my Shirakamut municipality. Armenian counterpart lasted for three From there he headed to Spitak where he partici- and a half hours,” Mammadyarov said at pated in the Spitak Monuments Park commemora- the conference. “These were quite tough tion and to lay a wreath at their wreaths. He then negotiations. Unfortunately, we still have attended the inauguration of the bust of Armenian unresolved problems.” national hero, American-Armenian benefactor Kirk Mnatsakanyan did not comment on Kerkorian. Artist Levon Tokmajyan had donated the the outcome of the talks in his speech at bust of Kerkorian to the city. The prime minister the gathering. Instead, he charged that also laid flowers at the khachkar dedicated to the Slovakia — Foreign Ministers Zohrab Mnatsakanyan (R) of Armenia and Elmar further progress in the peace process is Mammadyarov of Azerbaijan meet in Bratislava, December 4, 2019. memory of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami vic- hampered Azerbaijan’s “maximalist posi- tims at the Spitak Monument Alley and in 2016. The tions” and “preconditions.” monument-khachkar dedicated to the victims of the The Armenian minister pointed to an April war. Pashinyan visited the Holy Resurrection The US Russia and France, the three conflict zone and called on the parties to official Azerbaijani “memorandum” out- Church of Spitak and lit a candle in memory of 1988 world powers co-heading the OSCE take “additional concrete humanitarian lining Baku’s position on the Karabakh victims. Minsk Group, have repeatedly stated that and security measures.” Those include settlement which was circulated at the Pashinyan then visited the Lernantsk community Karabakh’s internationally recognized the expansion of a small OSCE mission Bratislava conference. and participated in the opening of new housing for status should be determined through a monitoring the ceasefire regime along The document demands “immediate, local residents. Within the framework of the “legally binding expression of will.” This the “line of contact” and the Armenian- complete and unconditional withdrawal Disaster Zone State Housing Program, eight apart- is one of the main elements of their so- Azerbaijani border. Mnatsakanyan reaf- of the Armenian armed forces from the ments were built by the Fuller Center for Charitable called Madrid Principles of the conflict’s firmed Yerevan’s strong support for that. Nagorno-Karabakh region and other Non-Governmental Organizations at the expense of resolution first put forward over a Lavrov met with Mammadyarov and occupied territories of Azerbaijan.” It government funding. Nikol Pashinyan congratulated decade ago. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in also says that Karabakh’s predominantly the residents of the mountain passes on housing, The proposed plebiscite would be held Baku earlier this week. After those talks Armenian population can only be grant- wished them success and progress, noting that the after the liberation of virtually seven dis- he spoke of “possibilities of achieving a ed “the status of self-rule … within government was consistent in resolving the disaster tricts around the former Nagorno- compromise” on Karabakh. Azerbaijan.” zone housing problem. According to the govern- Karabakh Autonomous Oblast which Lavrov also expressed hope that his By contrast, Mnatsakanyan insisted on ment’s decision, another 24 high-quality housing were fully or partly occupied by Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts Karabakh residents’ right to “maintain construction has started, 4 of which are again in the Karabakh Armenian forces during the will issue a joint statement with the medi- and determine a status outside the juris- Lernantsk community. 1991-1994 war. ating powers as a result of the Bratislava diction, sovereignty or territorial integri- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meeting. The resulting statement was ty of Azerbaijan.” and senior U.S. and French diplomats signed only by the Russian, U.S. and “Azerbaijan must assume direct com- attending the Bratislava conference reaf- French officials. mitment to recognition of the right to firmed this peace formula in a joint state- (See related editorial on page 17.) S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 ARMENIA Rural Villagers Plant ATP’s Six Millionth Tree In Lori

By Ani Melkonian

MIKHAYLOVKA, Lori — Following a year of 25th anniver- sary celebrations and the inaugural Forest Summit in October, the Armenia Tree Project (ATP) planted its six mil- lionth tree this fall. ATP’s six millionth tree, a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), was sourced from and planted in Armenia’s northern Lori region. The pine traveled from the Mirak Family Reforestation Nursery in Margahovit village to a 43.4 hectare (107 acre) forest being planted in Mikhaylovka Village. Like all the other trees ATP produces, the Scots pine is a native species that commonly grows in the northern and southern regions of Armenia. The seedling was selected and ATP provides jobs for dozens of people to plant trees; last week, Mirak nursery worker Siranush Harutyunyan (pictured at left) unearthed by Mirak Nursery employee Siranush selected this Scots pine to be ATP’s six millionth tree to be planted in northern Armenia Harutyunyan. “All the seedlings we grow are special and beautiful to us, but I chose this particular pine because it stands taller and prouder than the rest,” explained broke into applause. purpose of offsetting greenhouse gases and fighting climate Harutyunyan. “ATP has given me work for the past six years. I help change. Unlike ATP’s five millionth tree, which is under the care them plant forests near our community,” said Arevik, ATP’s forestry and community tree planting programs and attention of staff at the Karin Nursery, the six millionth flushed with delight. “I’m proud to be a part of the story of plant an average of 230,000-250,000 trees and shrubs every would have to thrive in less hospitable conditions, in the the six million trees. It’s one of the best gifts I can give my year. The organization works with communities across the wild. “Its roots are strong and healthy, so it will withstand children, my grandchildren, and my country.” country for successful survival rates. This fall, ATP’s the elements. We’re certain it’s going to survive in the front This fall, ATP hired 60 people from Lori to help with forestry team added 190,651 trees to forests in the commu- lines. It’s a real warrior,” concluded Harutyunyan, as her afforestation and reforestation projects. “Using trees, we’re nities of Mikhaylovka, Tashir, and Saratovka in Lori. coworkers nodded in agreement and helped her carry the able to improve the quality of life in communities, so it gives “Armenia has a grand objective to double its forest cover tree to the truck in a bucket full of soil. people a good reason to plant forests and preserve them,” by 2050,” began Dr. Anthony S. Davis, interim dean of the About an hour later, the tree was given a great big wel- said Forestry Manager Navasard Dadyan. “When we plant College of Forestry at Oregon State University during his come by ATP’s seasonal workers at the new forest site in forests, we make sure to include different species so that a keynote speech at the Forest Summit hosted by ATP and Mikhaylovka. This northernmost village was almost-entirely more complex ecosystem can be formed. The trees store car- AUA in October. “Now is the time to define what those covered by fog, but that only added to the drama of the day. bon, regulate the water cycle, enrich the soil with nutrients, future forests look like. By 2050, half of Armenia’s forest Arevik Zoroghlyan was picked from the crowd to do the and promote biodiversity,” he added. cover will be based on decisions made today. There should honors. She was shy and hesitant at first but quickly decid- The Armenian government has pledged to double the be no greater calling to work together than this piece of ed to accept the responsibility and enjoy the moment. The country’s forest cover by 2050, and recently announced a information,” he added. hole was dug with help from her three young teammates – campaign to get 10 million trees planted on October 10, ATP volunteer Raffi Paul created a moving two-minute Sarkis Bezoyan, Armen Khachatryan, and Gevork 2020. What is being called the “10-10-10 Campaign” will short about the six millionth tree being planted. It’s avail- Khachatryan. When Arevik completed the task and pressed increase Armenia’s forests by 1 percent. The long-term sur- able on ATP’s Facebook and YouTube pages: down on the soft earth with her hands, the planting brigade vival of these new forests is essential for them to serve their www.tinyurl.com/sixmillionth

PSIA 2019 AUA Conference: Scholars and Specialists Discuss the Velvet Revolution

YEREVAN — On November 14-15, the staff, as well as to the participants and attendees, Republic.” answer session that gave the audience the oppor- American University of Armenia (AUA) held the Dr. Gharabegian noted, “The object of today’s The confer- tunity to pose questions and offer comments and Inaugural Political Science and International conference is to shed light on our near and dis- ence was com- perspectives. Affairs Conference organized by the Zoryan tant political futures in the context of the April prised of five At the conclusion of the first day, a keynote Institute and AUA with support from the 2018 uprisings by a glance backward at the coun- panel discus- speech was delivered by Dr. Noubar Afeyan, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. try’s political and historical past and through a sions in two founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering. Afeyan The two-day conference titled Armenia’s multi-perspectival, multi-vocal assessment of our days. The first shared several observations about what is needed Transformation in a Comparative Context: current state by experts in various fields. The con- day touched for Armenia and Armenians worldwide. He had Restarting Democratization? brought together ference brings together 21 scholars and practi- upon topics this to say, 21 scholars and specialists from Armenia and tioners, 14 of whom are here from abroad. Their related to the “Over the long term I would like to see the abroad to discuss various aspects of the 2018 expertise covers an impressive swath of multiple post-Soviet effort that has been put into genocide recognition Armenian Velvet Revolution and its aftermath in academic fields, and the conversation that will heritage: stag- expand to include a parallel effort in genocide a comparative context. ensue from the exchange of ideas will potentially nant democra- reversal, and the only way to reserve the geno- Dr. Noubar Afeyan, a lecturer at MIT and give rise to conclusions we can draw about direc- tization and cide, in my view, is to reconstitute, reassemble, Harvard Business School, co-founder of the tions to pursue, moving forward. Ultimately, as is rising aspira- reintegrate and basically, form an Armenian Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity and the the goal of a conference of this nature and the tions, offering nation of any kind that we collectively desire, but founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, was the stance of the PSIA Program vis-à-vis the govern- President of the Zoryan comparisons nevertheless do it.” keynote speaker of the two-day conference. ment, we hope, in part, to inform policy for the Institute, K.M. Greg Sarkissian within the for- The conference concluded with a synthesis of The conference started with opening remarks future of Armenia.” mer Soviet the conference presented by Dr. Hovhannes by AUA President, Dr. Karin Markides; In his opening remarks, president of the s p a c e . Nikoghosyan, adjunct lecturer at AUA Political Conference Organizing Committee Chair, Dr. Zoryan Institute, K.M. Greg Sarkissian, raised sev- Another panel was about contentious politics, Science and International Affairs Program. Dr. Alina Gharabegian; President of The Zoryan eral questions regarding the assessment of the mobilization, and media use, covering compar- Nikoghosyan thanked the panelists for their work Institute, Greg Sarkissian; followed by remarks Velvet Revolution, he stated: “It is our hope that isons on a wide range of activities from digital and readiness to share their findings with the from Director of Armenian Communities over the next few days, scholars and specialists engagement to street presence. The third panel audience and beyond, highlighting the key take- Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian who have come together here in Yerevan will be attempted to answer the important question of aways of the two day conference. Foundation, Dr. Razmik Panossian; and AUA able to raise substantial questions such as: How how systemic the changes were that ensued from The live-streamed version of the conference for College of Humanities and Social Sciences can we assess both the merits and the flaws of the Velvet Revolution. This panel continued the the first and second days is available online. For (CHSS) Dean, Dr. Brian Ellison. the Revolution?” He continued by stating: next day with other researchers presenting their more information about the panel discussions Dr. Markides highlighted AUA’s role in provid- “Naturally, the best way of addressing these ques- findings and analyses of the topic. The fourth and the panelists, visit the PSIA Conference 2019 ing the Armenian government with research- tions is to look at this process from a multidisci- panel tackled the issues of international relations official webpage. based data and analysis that support effective plinary and comparative approach. The Velvet after a political upheaval and available choices for The Zoryan Institute and its subsidiary, the decision- and policy-making throughout the gov- Revolution in Armenia encourages us also to small states in foreign policies. The final panel International Institute for Genocide and Human ernment. She placed emphasis on AUA’s mission think about its relevance in a larger context, such dealt with human rights, justice, and the rule of Rights Studies, is the first non-profit, internation- to promote the development of Armenia and as historical and contemporary responses in law, tackling issues of stability vs. change in al centre devoted to the research and documen- Artsakh. places with increasingly authoritarian regimes, Armenia and beyond. tation of contemporary issues with a focus on Expressing gratitude to the AUA faculty and such as Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Each panel was followed by a question-and- Genocide, Diaspora and Homeland. 4 S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL International News Rohingya Genocide Showdown

THE HAGUE (Deutsche Welle) — Suu Kyi defending the Myanmar mili- serious international crime, but will EU Puts Armenia’s Civil Myanmar’s civilian leader Aung San tary in an international court would be focus on the Gambia’s request for provi- Aviation under Scrutiny Suu Kyi appeared at the United Nations a remarkable scene, given that she her- sional measures. A decision on that International Court of Justice in The self spent 15 years under military- request is expected within weeks. The YEREVAN (News.am) — The European Hague on Tuesday, December 10, to ordered house arrest. tribunal has no enforcement powers. Commission has put Armenia’s civil aviation regula- defend her country’s military from alle- Suu Kyi was once seen as a shining Still, its rulings are final and have con- tor under heightened scrutiny. gations of committing genocide against “The Armenian Civil Aviation Committee has been the Rohingya minority. put under heightened scrutiny because of signs of a Suu Kyi watched the proceedings on decrease in safety oversight,” the European Tuesday without any show of emotion Commission said in a statement on December 10. as a legal team for the Gambia detailed However, European safety authorities did not accounts of atrocities allegedly perpe- explain the reasons for their concern. trated by Myanmar military personnel The European Commission also updated the EU in western Rakhine state. They are Air Safety List, the list of airlines that do not meet accused of committing crimes including international safety standards. killings, sexual violence and the destruc- tion of tens of thousands of Muslim minority homes in the state. Dutch Parliament Votes Acting on behalf of the 57-country To Allocate Funds for Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Gambia is asking the world court to Embassy in Armenia take “all measures within its power to prevent all acts that amount to or con- THE HAGUE (Public Radio of Armenia) — Tweede tribute to the crime of genocide.” Aung San Suu Kyi (BBC photo) Kamer, the Dutch House of Representatives, has A series of coordinated attacks by adopted an amendment to the 2020 Ministry of Rohingya insurgents on Myanmar secu- light for democracy and a global beacon siderable legal weight. Foreign Affairs budget, allocating necessary funding rity forces in the north of Myanmar’s of hope for human rights. She was Separately, the US on Tuesday for an embassy in Yerevan, the Armenian Embassy in Rakhine State triggered a crackdown by awarded the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for imposed sanctions on four Myanmar the Netherlands reported. Myanmar forces that has sent a stream championing democracy and rights military generals, including the com- The four coalition parties of the Dutch Parliament of Rohingya villagers fleeing to under Myanmar’s then-ruling junta. But mander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing, in the had earlier offered the leadership of the country to Bangladesh. About 400 people have her silence over the plight of the toughest action taken yet by provide 2 million euros to the Foreign Ministry for been killed in the clashes in Buddist- Rohingya has tarnished her reputation Washington following the alleged opening an Embassy in the Republic of Armenia. majority Myanmar. in the West. human rights abuses against the The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs saluted Opening its case, the Gambia’s Justice In Myanmar, however, many have ral- Rohingya. The sanctions freeze any US the news, noting that” the move was a manifestation Minister Aboubacarr Tambadou urged lied in recent days to show support for assets held by those targeted and pro- of support to the democratic developments in the court to “tell Myanmar to stop these her. Suu Kyi’s decision to personally hibits Americans from doing business Armenia.” senseless killings, to stop these acts of lead the country’s case at the court has with them. “The embassy will strengthen the long-standing barbarity that continue to shock our also proved popular at home. On What Is Genocide? partnership between Armenia and the Netherlands,” collective conscience, to stop this geno- Tuesday, flag-waving supporters joined The 1948 act, signed into internation- the Ministry noted. cide of its own people.” rallies in support of Suu Kyi in several al law after the Nazi Holocaust, defines UN investigators have also accused cities across the country, with some genocide as committing any of the fol- Iran National Orchestra the Myanmar military of undertaking 2,000 people marching through Yangon lowing against a national, ethnic, racial mass killings and committing atrocities and tens of thousands more in or religious group: To Perform Works by against Rohingya Muslims with “genoci- Mandalay. Killing members of the group; dal intent.” “We have to stand behind her as she Causing serious bodily or mental Armenian Composers More than 730,000 Rohingya fled the travels to defend our country’s dignity,” harm to members of the group; coastal state of Rakhine after the mili- TEHRAN — Iran’s National Orchestra will per- said 57-year-old Yangon resident Thant Deliberately inflicting on the group tary launched its crackdown in 2017 form pieces by some Armenian composers in a pro- Zin, sporting Suu Kyi stickers on both conditions of life calculated to bring and were forced into squalid camps gram titled “Armenian Music Night” in Tehran on cheeks. about its physical destruction in whole across the border in Bangladesh. December 19, Tehran Times reports. The Gambia’s lawyers said the appear- or in part; Myanmar has previously denied Iranian-Armenian conductor Razmik Ohanian will ance of huge billboards across Myanmar Imposing measures intended to pre- almost all allegations leveled against its conduct the orchestra during the concert, which will in recent weeks featuring pictures of vent births within the group; troops. be held at Vahdat Hall, the Rudaki Foundation Suu Kyi with three smiling generals Forcibly transferring children of the What Will Suu Kyi Say? announced. showed she was “in it together” with group to another group. Suu Kyi, who is leading the Myanmar Compositions by Komitas, Aram Khachaturian, the army that once held her captive. “It Punishable offenses under the treaty delegation in her capacity as foreign Edward Avedisian and Loris Tjeknavorian have been can only be intended to show that they include genocide, conspiracy to commit minister, is expected to address the selected to be performed at the concert. are all in it together and that Myanmar genocide, direct and public incitement court on Wednesday and defend the The orchestra will also be performing accompanied has absolutely no intention of holding to commit genocide, attempt to commit actions of the Myanmar military. She by soloists Samvel Galstyan and Vahan Badalyan, its emboldened military leadership genocide, and complicity in genocide. will likely argue that military “clearance and duduk player Saro Poghosyan. accountable,” lawyer Paul Reichler told These current proceedings are only operations” launched in August 2017 the court. the third genocide case filed at the were a legitimate counterterrorism This week’s proceedings, before a court since World War II. Jordan, Armenia Look response to attacks by Rohingya mili- panel of 17 judges, will not deal with sri,aw/msh (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa For Closer Ties tants. whether Myanmar is guilty of the most YEREVAN (Panorama.am) — Speaker of Armenian National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyan received last week Ayman Safadi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Turkey Must Free Jailed Rights Activist Osman Kavala, Rules EU Court of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Mirzoyan said he was certain the visit would pro- STRASBOURG, France (Deutsche The 657-page indictment against down against mostly peaceful protest- mote the development of the two countries’ rela- Welle) — The Strasbourg-based Kavala and the other defendants lists ers. tions. He noted that the Speaker of the House of European Court of Human Rights Turkish President Recep Tayyip ECHR rulings are legally binding; Representatives of Jordan recently proposed by let- (ECHR) on Tuesday, December 10, told Erdogan — who was prime minister at however, Turkey has frequently not ter to increase the number of the Jordanian students Turkey to release philanthropist and the time among the studying in the higher educational institutions of human rights activist Osman Kavala. injured parties. Armenia, adding that he and the Ministry of The 62-year-old was arrested in Erdogan has per- Education, Science, Culture and Sport were all November 2017 and accused of orga- sonally attacked happy to meet the demand. nizing anti-government protests in Kavala, calling him Speaking about the inter-parliamentary coopera- Istanbul’s Gezi Park four years earlier. the agent in Turkey tion Mirzoyan noted that the parliaments of the two The ECHR cited a “lack of reasonable of US financier countries have Friendship Groups for developing the suspicion that the applicant had com- George Soros. parliamentary relations. He also talked about sensi- mitted an offense” in its ruling. Kavala is the tive items for Armenia, touching upon the Nagorno The court said Turkey must now chairman of the Karabakh problem. “take every measure to put an end to Anadolu Kultur Safadi stressed that Jordan and Armenia have gen- the applicant’s detention and to secure (Anatolian Culture) uinely great potential for developing closer relations his immediate release.” center, which cam- and cooperation in the following fields: agro-busi- Kavala was accused of making an paigns for rights and ness, tourism, information technologies, also talked “attempt to overthrow the government’’ cultural diversity Osman Kavala about opening direct flights and budgetary avian by organizing and financing an “upris- including Kurdish companies. ing” with 15 other defendants, charges issues. Currently 120 Jordanian students study in he denied. The 2013 protests began to protect implemented them. Ankara’s justice Armenia. Human rights groups said the accu- Istanbul’s small Gezi Park from devel- ministry declined to comment on sation was baseless and aimed at silenc- opment but quickly evolved into wider Tuesday’s ECHR ruling. ing civil society activists. The charge anti-government demonstrations across The next hearing in Kavala’s trial will carries a potential life prison sentence. Turkey following a brutal police crack- take place December 24-25. S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 Oil Trail Reveals Turkey Funding Syrian Kurdish Rivals

Oil revenues have grown even more critical going into Syrian Kurdistan, also known as hands, it appears to have come to Turkey By Amberin Zaman since Trump froze some $200 million in stabi- Rojava. The hostility stemmed from its poor rela- through Kurdish middlemen and smugglers. lization funding for Syria in March 2018. The tions with the YPG and pressure from Turkey. This is all part of the war economy we’ve been European Union in turn refuses to commit more The State Department did not respond to a tracking along the Turkish-Syrian border.” FISH KHABUR, Iraq (Al-Monitor) — At the money, telling the Americans, “We are either in request for comment on O’Brien’s remarks; Tahiroglu acknowledged that the same smug- Halifax Security Forum, an annual event attend- with you or out with you.” Turkish officials did not respond either. gling networks may well be in play for sales to ed by high-powered government officials, busi- Cash injections from Saudi Arabia and the The US brokered a deal whereby the Syrian Turkey via the KRG. “Erdogan will likely deny ness titans and assorted other movers and shak- UAE amounting to $150 million are due to run Kurds would sell some of their oil via the KRG these reports lest they hurt his political image. ers from across the globe, national security out early next year. SDF commander Mazlum in exchange for unfettered access via Fish That said, Erdogan controls most of the narra- adviser Robert O’Brien took the stage with Kobane’s mysterious visit to the UAE in late Khabur, which is their lifeline for humanitarian tive in Turkey thanks to his tight grip on the PBS’ Nick Shifrin and let the cat out of the bag. November is believed to be connected in part to and commercial goods as well as military assis- media. He is able to get away with such political When the veteran correspondent grilled a quest for further funds. tance from the US-led coalition. “Getting the scandals thanks to his outsized power to influ- O’Brien November 23 about President Donald deal done was key to keeping Fish Khabur open. ence public opinion.” Trump’s decision to keep US troops in north- Wheeling and Dealing The KDP-YPG deal on oil allowed us to keep Trump’s decision to maintain troops to pro- eastern Syria “for the oil,” noting that the “We believe that around 300 tankers worth of everything smooth,” a former US government tect the SDF-run oil fields has upset Turkey’s Pentagon’s Syrian Kurdish allies were selling it oil goes to Iraqi Kurdistan per day,” a former official told Al-Monitor. “But it was never publi- calculations. Its game plan is to unravel the to the Syrian regime in defiance of sanctions, Trump administration official told Al-Monitor. cized,” the official noted. Syrian Kurds’ self-governance project and for as O’Brien responded, “Some of it goes to the “The oil trade is shady. The deals are cut at the In a recent research note, the International long as they have the means to finance and regime. Some of it is used locally. Some of it top then subcontracted. There are many mid- Crisis Group observed, “YPG leaders believe that a defend themselves under US protection, this goes to Iraqi Kurdistan. Some of it goes to dlemen. I would imagine that some of the oil continued US presence at the [Rmeilan] oil field in cannot materialize. Turkey. The key, though, is not where the oil ends up in Turkey.” al-Hasaka will compel Washington to keep a land Turkey’s hawkish security establishment goes but where the revenue goes.” The main An Iraq-based oil analyst put the volume at 6- supply route open” through Fish Khabur. recalls how the Iraqi Kurds began building their thing, he concluded, was to ensure that none of 8,000 barrels per day. “The oil is very cheap. In “For Washington, control of the crossing quasi-independent statelet throughout the it got to the Islamic State. July it was less than $20 per barrel while the would ensure a steady supply line from US mil- 1990s on the back of oil that was smuggled to It is by now well established that the US- world price was around $60,” he told Al- itary depots in Iraq. Loss of the crossing would Turkey in large quantities in breach of UN sanc- backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has Monitor. The big discrepancy between the ana- severely harm the local economy, end foreign tions. Ankara turned a blind eye. Assorted been involved in selling oil produced in fields in lyst and the former Trump Administration offi- stabilization and humanitarian funding, and ren- Turkish military and police officials were widely eastern Syria mainly to regime-held areas. But cial’s figures underscore how hard it is to pin der the YPG more dependent on Damascus.” reported to have benefited. trade with neighboring Iraqi Kurdistan and down volumes in the illicit trade. In any case, When the Islamic State controlled oil fields in The last thing Turkey wants, however, is a sec- Turkey has rarely been reported and the parties low prices make for huge profits. parts of Al-Hasakah and most of Deir ez-Zor, ond Kurdish entity, much less a PKK-friendly involved, including the United States, have The analyst continued, “We know that some Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was one, as it sees things, on its borders. sought to keep it that way. For one, it flies in the oil that goes to Iraqi Kurdistan is sold to small, accused of personally benefitting from what was a The message was reportedly relayed to KRG face of US sanctions. But for Turkey, it’s even unlicensed refineries in Dohuk and Erbil. And thriving multi-million-dollar trade at the time. A Prime Minister Masrour Barzani during his more awkward. most of the traders are somehow linked to KDP hacktivist group known as Redhack hacked the recent meeting with Erdogan in Ankara. “The As matters currently stand, Turkey, through oil, leaders in the same way that traders for the oil emails of his son-in-law Berat Albayrak, the coun- Americans are sure to push back,” the first Iraqi is helping to indirectly subsidize the very same going to regime-held areas are connected to try’s current finance minister and former energy Kurdish official predicted, saying Turkey had Syrian Kurdish administration that it’s seeking to [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad. And I would- minister. The most damning messages in the acquiesced to the trade under American pres- crush on the grounds that it poses a threat to n’t be surprised if some of the Syrian oil ends up leaked trove pertained to Powertrans, an energy sure to begin with. Turkey’s recent behavior Turkey’s national security. Turkey’s successive mil- in Turkey because the oil traders from both company that was granted a monopoly on truck- plainly indicates, however, that it no longer itary offensives against the Syrian Kurdish People’s sides are very well connected with government ing Iraqi Kurdish oil to Turkey before the KRG cares. It bought Russian-made missiles despite Protection Units (YPG), which forms the backbone officials from both sides.” KDP is the acronym pipeline became operational. Albayrak denied any threats of US sanctions and invaded northeast- of the SDF, have cost hundreds of millions of dol- for the Kurdistan Democratic Party led by the connection to Powertrans, but the dump exposed ern Syria, triggering a fresh cocktail of sanc- lars in treasure and at least 100 Turkish soldiers’ powerful Barzani family. 32 messages with the keyword “Powertrans” in tions bills. lives. So why is it beating the Syrian Kurds with The Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s president is which he appeared to be providing advice on per- Ominously, the spokesman for Erdogan’s one hand while feeding them with the other? The Nechirvan Barzani, who in his earlier stint as sonnel decisions for the company. Justice and Development Party, Omer Celik, main reason appears to be profit. The others are prime minister oversaw the KRG’s oil business, Turkish media outlets claimed that Powertrans took a thinly veiled swipe at Trump, saying, “To leverage over the Syrian Kurds, and — according to most notably a landmark deal with Turkey in mixed IS-produced oil into their shipments to claim rights over resources belonging to the Iraqi Kurdish officials — pressure from the United 2013. The agreement, which has been fiercely Turkey, though they provided no evidence. Syrian people is colonization.” He railed at States. criticized for its opacity, allowed the Iraqi Kurds In November 2015, after Turkey downed one its Washington’s plans to guard the oil fields so But there are growing signs that Turkey’s lais- to sell their oil independently of Baghdad via a fighter jets, however, Russia jumped in with its that the SDF may continue to benefit from oil sez faire attitude may be changing, part of an all- purpose-built pipeline running to export termi- own claims that Turkey was buying IS oil and cir- revenues, claiming, “This proves yet again that out effort to bring the YPG and its Turkish affil- nals in Ceyhan on Turkey’s southern culated satellite imagery that purportedly proved they are on the side of the terrorists, not the iate, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), to Mediterranean coast. it. Briefing the foreign media shortly after, Russia’s Syrian people.” their knees. Russia, which is leaning on the The deal escalated tensions between Erbil deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov charged Russia has been far blunter. Foreign Minister Kurds to reach an accommodation with the and Baghdad, which is suing Turkey in the that Erdogan was personally involved “in this crim- Sergey Lavrov said the US plan to protect the regime, knows that it’s more likely to do so if International Court of Arbitration for its role in inal business.” Erdogan issued an angry denial. oil was “tantamount to robbery” and warned financially squeezed. the affair. It’s impossible to prove, but a fair When Turkey and Russia kissed and made up, the the Syrian Kurds that relying on the US “won’t In a series of interviews conducted over the amount of oil is believed to go to Israel. In July, allegations disappeared. bring any good.” past year with current and former US, Iraqi a senior Israeli official told Al-Monitor that the A Barack Obama administration official For Russia, any Turkish move that deepens the Kurdish and Syrian Kurdish officials and with KRG was currently its biggest supplier of crude. involved in Syria policy told Al-Monitor at the rift with the United States and forces the well-informed sources with close knowledge of There are conflicting accounts of how the oil time they had no proof that the Turkish gov- SDF/YPG’s hand in its talks with the regime is the oil trade, Al-Monitor learned that oil, mainly gets to Iraqi Kurdistan. A second former Trump ernment was directly engaged in any commer- welcome. Curbing the oil trade results in both. from fields in Rmeilan, Syria’s second largest administration official who spent time in Syria cial activities with IS. Should the regime become the Syrian Kurds’ sole field, and Qaytaniyah, near the Turkish and said it was trucked. “There were shitloads of customer, it will push prices even further down. Iraqi borders, is being carried to Iraqi Kurdistan trucks,” he told Al-Monitor. Oil for Peace Nicholas Danforth is a senior visiting fellow at and then on to Turkey. These fields have been On a recent morning at the Fish Khabur cus- But Syrian oil was making its way to Turkey, the German Marshall Fund of the United States. in Kurdish hands since 2012, when regime toms complex, there were no tanker trucks in a Turkish official linked to the intelligence com- He told Al-Monitor, “From Moscow and forces redeployed to fight Sunni rebels else- sight. munity noted in written comments relayed to Al- Damascus’ perspective, this would be a more where. The sources spoke on condition of strict A reporter’s attempt to follow a pipeline that Monitor. Starting in July 2012, the YPG began helpful way for Turkey to put pressure on the anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the topic. ran along the road to the Sahela crossing to allowing oil sales to Turkish companies via the YPG than continuing its military operations on A high-ranking Iraqi Kurdish official con- Syria, which lies roughly five kilometers (three towns of Kobani, Qamishli and Afrin, prompting Syrian territory.” firmed to Al-Monitor that “some” Syrian oil miles) south of the main crossing at Fish the Syrian government to accuse Turkey of But there are signs that Russia and the from the SDF-controlled fields is carried via Khabur, was interrupted by an armed Iraqi “stealing” Syrian oil. regime may already be taking matters into their Iraqi Kurdistan to Turkey. The Syrian oil is Kurdish border guard. The first former Trump administration official own hands. labeled as Iraqi Kurdish when going through Open-source intelligence mined by Al-Monitor, reckons that around 100 tankers currently carry A series of mysterious airstrikes on makeshift the Habur border crossing with Turkey, an oil and as first observed in October 2019 by the oil from SDF-controlled fields to the Turkish-run oil refineries and oil tankers around al-Bab and smuggler from Turkey’s southeastern town of researcher known as @obretix on Twitter, Euphrates Shield zone in Jarablus. Jarablus, reported by Russia’s RT, may be the Silopi speaking not for attribution told Al- revealed that one of the pontoon bridges con- But the Turkish official said that direct sales opening salvo in a campaign to pressure the Monitor. A second KRG official who corroborat- necting Fish Khabur to the Semelka crossing on to Turkey proper halted when peace talks SDF. The RT report was picking up on a ed the smuggler’s account insisted that “most of the Syrian side features a makeshift pipeline. between Ankara and the imprisoned PKK November 26 story by Syria’s government news the SDF oil goes to Turkey.” This pipeline runs across the southern bridge, leader Abdullah Ocalan collapsed. Peaceful agency SANA, which quoted an unnamed “field “There’s some wheeling and dealing going where it connects to an oil depot on the KRG cohabitation with the Syrian Kurdish adminis- source” who had investigated “Kurdish organi- on,” the first Iraqi Kurdish official acknowl- side consisting of 22 storage tanks. Some tration, including oil, was meant to have been zations in Syria’s Jazira area” who were smug- edged without elaborating. tankers do use the bridge, however. part of a grand bargain that would have ended gling oil via Jarablus “as well as [via] northern Because of the secret nature of business with the PKK’s 35-year-old armed insurgency against Iraq, to the Turkey regime — which the Kurds Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey, Syrian Kurdish offi- Oil for Access the Turkish state. Yet, lucratively cheap Syrian claim as their main enemy.” SANA asserted that cials decline to formally confirm its existence. An SDF official told Al-Monitor that tanker oil is still making its way to Turkey via the KRG. the source had “emphasized that strict mea- But nor do they deny it’s going on. “The oil trucks that cross over the pontoon bridge typi- Merve Tahiroglu is the Turkey program coor- sures will be taken against any smuggling oper- issue is burning us,” said an SDF-linked source. cally carry Iraqi Kurdish fuel to coalition forces dinator at the Project for Middle East ations of stolen oil from Syrian land to outside Oil revenue is what sustains the Syrian Kurds’ in Syria. Democracy, a Washington-based think tank, Syria.” autonomous administration, allowing it to pay the Long before the Trump administration took who has written extensively on the IS oil trade. salaries of its civil and military arms. Control over over, the US-led coalition had been tacitly con- She told Al-Monitor, “Open source information (Dan Wilkovsky and Alexander McKeever the fields also strengthens the SDF’s hand in nego- doning oil sales to Iraqi Kurdistan. But in the on IS smuggling indicates that the oil passed contributed to this report. Amberin Zaman is a tiations with the regime. “If we lose the oil revenue, early days of the Syrian uprising, the KRG was through Kurdish-held territories in Syria and senior correspondent reporting from the Middle our whole system will collapse; it’s critical,” squeezing access through the Fish Khabur bor- Iraq before reaching Turkey. Regardless of the East, North Africa and Europe exclusively for Al- acknowledged an SDF-linked security official. der crossing and charging high taxes on goods oil’s origin and how many times it changed Monitor.) 6 S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Community News

Daniel Koushakjian Dr. Ari Sekeryan Named Armenian Named Visiting Council of America Professor in Rep in DC Armenian Studies WASHINGTON — The Armenian Council of At Fresno State America announced this week the appointment of Taniel Koushakjian as ACA’s Representative FRESNO — Armenian Studies Program in the nation’s capital. Director Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian “We are very proud to welcome Taniel to lead announced the appointment of Dr. Ari our efforts in Washington D.C.” remarked ACA Sekeryan as the 16th Henry S. Khanzadian Chairman Sevak Khatchadorian. “His vast expe- Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies rience on Armenian-related issues and his dedi- for the Spring 2020 semester at Fresno State. cation to our community will be of great service Sekeryan graduated from the Department of for our efforts in the nation’s capital.” Oriental Studies at the University of Oxford, Koushakjian is the CEO of BreakThru defending his dissertation titled, “The Strategies, a government affairs and strategic Armenians in the Ottoman Empire after the public relations firm in Washington, DC. He Dr. Rouben Adalian greeting Jane Stanton and Lionnel Zaragoza, representing First World War (1918-1923).” In the 2018- holds a BA in political science from Florida the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles 2019 academic year, Sekeryan was an Atlantic University, an MA in political manage- Honorary Fellow at the University of Wisconsin- Madison, Institute for Research in the Humanities. Sekeryan was a Visiting Lecturer in the ANI Exhibit on Armenian Faculty of Oriental Studies at Yerevan State University (summer of 2018) and a Research Assistant in the Department of Sociology at the Volunteers in Armenia at University of Oxford in 2016. Sekeryan’s interest in the field of Armenian Glendale YMCA Studies started to grow while he was working at the Istanbul-based Aras Publishing House. Teaching Armenian history is prohibited in the LOS ANGELES — With coverage on local television stations, the Armenian Armenian schools in Istanbul and there were National Institute (ANI) exhibit, highlighting the accomplishments of a pair of only Armenian literature classes offered, but YMCA volunteers who were in Armenia in 1918, continues to receive wide the content was limited due to the strict regu- Daniel Koushakjian attention. Marking its Western United States premiere, the exhibit was on dis- lations. It was at Aras that Sekeryan became play at the West Gallery on the campus of California State University more interested in Armenian literature and his- Northridge (CSUN) from October 26 through November 7 and is presently fea- tory, and then started to read works from ment from the George Washington University, tured on the premises of the YMCA of Glendale. famed Armenian authors. and a graduate certificate in PACs and political News reports on the exhibition were covered by community journalist At the same time, he decided to pursue a management from the George Washington Gabriela Milian for ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC) and by Maria Cozette for master’s degree at Bogaziçi University, where University. He previously served as the grass- Horizon TV who interviewed Armenian Assembly of America Western Region he had the chance to study the Late Ottoman roots director and communications director of Director Mihran Toumajan and ANI Director Dr. Rouben Adalian, who curated period and the minorities in the Ottoman the Armenian Assembly of America where he the exhibition, in addition to other media coverage. Empire. These two institutions, Aras Publishing advocated on a wide array of human rights, The exhibition explains the role of the YMCA and American relief work dur- and Bogaziçi University, had a great impact on international religious freedom, U.S. foreign ing the first republic of Armenia (1918-1920) and focuses on John Elder and his intellectual development. policy, and appropriations issues. James O. Arroll who arrived in Yerevan in January 1918 to open a YMCA cen- When Sekeryan was visiting the Bayazid Koushakjian was selected as a 2018-2019 ter. Neither Elder nor Arroll had anticipated being stranded as the only State Library to check on a few issues of Fellow with the Anti-Defamation League Glass Americans left in the country’s capital city, with all communication to the out- Leadership Institute, as well as a 2019 Fellow side world cut off when the front line faltered. World War I was still raging at with the James Madison Institute. the time and Allied forces were in retreat on the Caucasus front. The November “I’m excited to work with the dedicated team 11, 1918 Armistice that ended World War I was many months away. By the at ACA,” said Koushakjian. “With the House of time they left Yerevan in August 1919, Elder and Arroll had become responsi- Representatives’ affirmation of the Armenian ble for the entire operation set up by US-based charities, which earned them Genocide this year, the peaceful democratic tribute from future U.S. President Herbert Hoover, who, at that time, headed transition of power in the Republic of Armenia the United States Food Administration. last year, and the steadfast commitment of the Participating in the opening ceremonies on October 26 were representatives Armenian American community to these issues of the co-sponsoring organizations, including Jane Stanton and Lionnel over many decades, the promise and potential Zaragoza of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, CSUN Office of of US-Armenia relations in the years ahead is Government and Community Relations and its Interim Director Rafael De La greater now than ever before.” Rosa, the CSUN Armenian Studies Program and its Director Dr. Vahram see EXHIBIT, page 9 DC Council Adopts Genocide Recognition

WASHINGTON — Following the historic and Dr. Ari Sekeryan overwhelming bipartisan passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives, the District of Turkish and Armenian dailies for a book project Columbia Council approved a resolution on that they were working on at Aras, a librarian, November 8 affirming the Armenian Genocide, after seeing Sekeryan’s name on request forms, reported the Armenian Assembly of America. brought several volumes of Armenian newspa- The resolution is “to recognize and reflect on pers, asked him to help them in cataloging. No the 104th anniversary of the 1915 Armenian one knew Armenian among the library staff, Genocide and on the importance of educating and he felt obligated to help them. These were District of Columbia residents on the Armenian the volumes of Zhamanag daily in 1918 and Genocide.” 1919. “The Armenian Assembly of America wel- Sekeryan helped the library staff in catalogu- comes the passage of this resolution, and espe- ing these volumes and afterwards he visited the cially applauds the emphasis on the importance library twice a week to read the news items, of education,” Executive Director Bryan articles, and editorials. He was surprised when Ardouny stated. he realized the significant gap that exists in For a complete list of U.S. states that issued A group of CSUN ASA students and Armenian Assembly volunteers at the open- Armenian historiography regarding the resolutions and proclamations recognizing the ing of the ANI YMCA exhibit Armistice years (1918-1923). Rather than focus- Armenian Genocide, visit the Armenian ing on diplomatic documents, which are not National Institute’s website at www.armenian- great sources to analyze the inner dynamics of genocide.org. see SEKERYAN, page 7 S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS Accomplished Armenian Women Celebrated at Portantino’s Women in Business Luncheon

BURBANK, Calif. — On Wednesday, Western District, which serves the Armenian United States. The Western Diocese of the strengthen community partnerships. December 4th, California State Senator community through its chapters and special Armenian Church named her their Professional Taline Krikorian Arsenian is the present of the Anthony J. Portantino (La Cañada Flintridge) groups. She is also active in AGBU Hye Green, Leader of the Year and the SEIU Local 721 Glendale Teachers Association. She has been in hosted the annual 25th State Senate District a trailblazing women’s group that is a platform Women’s Caucus “I AM WOMAN, Visionaries, that elected position for the last four and a half Women in Business Legislative Update & for intellectual and professional women. Talin is and Agents of Change” award. years. As an advocate, she works to protect and Awards Luncheon at The Castaway. The a board member of the Armenian Assembly of Lucy Varpetian, the co-vice chairperson of promote the well-being of educators and stu- Women in Business Awards honor local women American and the Armenian Fund, as well as the Armenian Bar Association and serves as the dents by building trust, having clear communi- who have contributed to the economic vitality being a trustee of the Armenian American Co-Chair of the Association’s Pro Bono and cation, and proactively participating in public and diversity of the 25th Senate District. Museum and Cultural Center of California. Judicial Evaluation Committees. She is a and education advocacy. She has been a math Women in Business additionally celebrates Empowerment: Armenian Relief Principal Assistant City Attorney in the teacher in the school district since 1999. She is women who have contributed to the greater Society of Western USA Glendale City Attorney’s Office. Lucy serves on the daughter of immigrants and the grand- good of the community. The honorees celebrat- The Armenian Relief Society of Western USA the Boards of the Glendale YMCA and the daughter of Armenian Genocide survivors. ed inspire others, stimulate the workforce and received the Empowerment Award. The ARS is AGBU Western District Committee. “It is a pleasure to honor successful women run some of the most impressive non-profits, an international non-profit organization which Medicine: Dr. Srpouhi Gasparyan in the 25th State Senate District. Having a won- healthcare organizations and businesses in the is committed to meeting the social, health, and Dr. Srpouhi Gasparyan practices the full derful spouse who is a thriving business execu- 25th State Senate District. welfare needs of the community. For thirty-five spectrum of family medicine, including infants, tive gives me a unique window into the chal- This year’s luncheon featured Keynote years, the women at the helm of the organiza- children, and adults. She enjoys teaching and lenges, opportunities and success of women Speaker Dr. Lucy Jones, founder of the Dr. tion have provided valuable services and works with residents and medical students to business leaders throughout my district. The Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society and humanitarian assistance to both local and inter- train future doctors. She attended medical women we honored this year are impressive and Research Associate at the Seismological national causes while promoting Armenian cul- school at Thomas Jefferson University in humble servants for their non-profits, business- Laboratory of Caltech. She has been at the fore- ture and language. Today, ARS Western USA Philadelphia and completed her residency at es and professions. It is important that pause front of all seismic movement experienced in consists of more than 1,200 members belong- Kaiser Permanente. and to thank our deserving honorees for their California and nationwide. Additionally, the ing to chapters throughout California, Arizona, Education: Ani Keshishian & Taline successful service that touches all of us in such event included music performed by the Nevada, and Texas. Krikorian Arsenian a positive way,” commented Portantino. Pasadena Conservatory of Music and Cantor Law: Armenui A. Ashvanian and Lucy Ani Keshishian is the Assistant Director of the The main objective of the event was to cele- Ruth Berman Harris. Varpetian Professional Development Center of Glendale brate exceptional women whose professional The following prominent and successful Superior Court Judge Armenui A. Ashvanian Community College. In this role, she has been skills and commitment to their community have women honored include: presides over a courtroom in the County of Los able to increase student enrollment, develop a made them leaders and trailblazers in the 25th Volunteer: Talin Yacoubian Angeles. She is the first Armenia-born Armenian comprehensive course catalog, introduce new Senate District. The careers of the honorees Talin Yacoubian, is the Chair of the AGBU American to be appointed to the bench in the courses, update and improve infrastructure, and varied across the spectrum of professions, including science and technology, corporate and small business, environmental protection, as well as non-profit organizations. The Women in Business Award Luncheon was initi- ated by then Assemblymember Jack Scott over two decades ago. Portantino is the Chair of the California State Senate Select Committee on California Armenia, Artsakh Trade Art and Cultural Exchange. He recently returned from his third trip to Armenia and New York City where he helped launch the historic trade MOU signed by Governor Newsom and the Government of Armenian.

Dr. Ari Sekeryan Named Visiting Professor at Fresno State

SEKERYAN, from page 6 communities, he focused on the Ottoman Turkish and Armenian dailies to track the polit- ical and social developments and most impor- tantly the reactions of the community leader- ship as well as members. Sekeryan’s PhD dissertation, “The Armenians in the Ottoman Empire after the First World War (1918-1923),” analyzes the transformation of the Ottoman Armenian political stance and the impacts of social and political developments of the period on the post-genocide Armenian com- munity by examining the Ottoman Turkish and Armenian press as well as the Ottoman archives. Sekeryan is currently working on two pro- jects. One is a book, An Untold Story of Survival, which is a significant revision of his dissertation and secondly, he is writing an arti- cle about the story of Armenian orphans in Corfu, who were transferred from Istanbul in 1923 following the defeat of the Greek forces by the Turkish Nationalists. Students will have the opportunity to enroll in a three-unit course, “Armenians in the Ottoman Empire after the Genocide,” to be taught by Sekeryan in the Spring 2020 semester. The course will survey the aftermath of the Genocide in the Ottoman Empire and will analyze the Armenian community in the Ottoman Empire and modern Turkey after the First World War. Sekeryan will also give three public lectures in the Spring semester, under the general theme of the Armistice years. Based on a col- lection of Armenian and Ottoman Turkish press, the lectures provide new research on a neglected period in the history of the late Ottoman Empire and Ottoman Armenians. The first lecture, on Friday, February 7, 2020, is titled “An Untold Story of Survival: the Armenian Community in Istanbul During the Armistice Years (1918-1923),” and will present an overview of the political and social develop- ments that happened in the Ottoman Empire during the Armistice period and it explores how the Armenian community organized itself while facing political turmoil. 8 S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Karmanos Cancer Institute Recognizes 2019 Heroes of Cancer

DETROIT — The Barbara Ann Karmanos organizations will use in the future,” said Oncology Multidisciplinary Team at the award is an acknowledgement of teamwork, Cancer Institute recognized its 2019 Heroes Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., president and Karmanos Cancer Institute and professor of and I promise to continue to do my best for of Cancer this month, and the lineup includes chief executive officer of the institute and Oncology and Pharmacology at the Wayne those battling this disease. I learn from my a number of Wayne State University School chair of the Department of Oncology at State University School of Medicine, and to patients who are true heroes!” of Medicine faculty members. Wayne State University School of Medicine. Kids Kicking Cancer, founded by Rabbi Rabbi Goldberg established Kids Kicking This year’s event, held November 6 at the “Our scientists are world leaders in cancer Elimelech Goldberg, assistant clinical profes- Cancer 20 years ago after losing his 2-year- Gem Theatre in Detroit, celebrated treatment development. Each is dedicated to sor of Pediatrics at WSU. old daughter, Sarah, to leukemia. Kids Karmanos’ 25th year of honoring individuals the wellbeing of cancer patients, helping to Armenian-American Philip has conducted Kicking Cancer teaches children about and organizations that have distinguished advance treatment breakthroughs that can extensive studies to improve the treatment of power, peace and purpose through breath- themselves and inspired others as they advo- lead to improved outcomes – not just for patients with GI cancers. This is reflected in ing, martial arts movements and medita- cate for and raise awareness of all types of those treated at Karmanos but for all cancer his numerous publications that detail some tion. One of its martial artists, Michael cancers. patients. It takes all of us working together of the best treatments, including more than Hunt, has endless patience, humor and “This event is a wonderful opportunity to to provide the multi-faceted support needed 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts and more warmth when connecting with young can- recognize the extraordinary achievements of for cancer patients and their loved ones to than 50 review articles and book chapters. In cer patients. Hunt is just one of the Kids those dedicated to making cancer patients survive and thrive. I am humbled by this 2019, he was named the chair of Kicking Cancer representatives who teach- and their families,” said Katrina Studvent, year’s honorees and truly grateful for all they Gastrointestinal Cancers at the Southwest es classes for children on active cancer chief development officer of the Karmanos do to help those impacted by cancer.” Oncology Group. In this role, he continues to treatment, as well as their siblings who also Cancer Institute. “Each year, we’re honored The KCI Leaderhip Awards, which are develop clinical trials at the national level to face their own challenges and stressors. to shed light on the inspirational heroes who, given for helping to bring about a society help bring better and more effective treat- There is no hour of the day that Hunt won’t in their own way, help make a difference for that encourages people to speak out about ments to cancer patients – not only the travel to Detroit, Ann Arbor or beyond to those touched by this disease.” their illness, educate others about cancer and patients at Karmanos but others fighting GI serve the regional children’s hospitals and “I feel privileged to work with the incredi- increase funding for cancer research, went to cancers throughout the country. to support their most vulnerable patients bly gifted team at Karmanos who help devel- Philip Philip, M.D., Ph.D., FRCP, leader of the Philip specializes in pancreatic cancer. through challenging treatments. There are op new cancer therapies that other health Gastrointestinal and Neuroendocrine “I am humbled to be recognized as a Hero times when he and his colleagues are the of Cancer,” he said. “I am privileged to work only support for children whose parents alongside the dedicated team at Karmanos aren’t able to be with them because of who support me in my work and serve our transportation issues or other child care or Maranian Promoted to Major General cancer patients in the best possible way. This work responsibilities. LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — On December 2, Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Brigadier General Stephen Jack Maranian was Force Commendation Medal, the Army promoted to the rank of major general. Achievement Medal, and the NATO Meritorious Maranian was born in Boston and grew up in Service Medal. He is also authorized to wear Watertown and Natick. the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Combat In June 2019, MG Maranian was assigned as Action Badge and the Canadian Parachutist Deputy Commanding General- Education, United States Army Combined Arms Center, Provost of the Army University, and Deputy Commandant, United States Army Command and General Staff College, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. His overseas service comprises deployments in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait as well as assignments in Greece, Italy, Germany and Korea. Maranian holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bucknell University and a mas- ter’s degree in human resources Major General Stephen Jack Maranian development and strategic studies. Telephone (617) 924-7400 He is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Badge. Aram Bedrosian the Army War College in Carlisle, Penn. and He has been married to his wife, Cynthia, also completed a fellowship at the NATO since 1993. He is the son of Jack and Alma Defense College in Rome, Italy. Maranian of Natick, Mass. His maternal grand- Funeral Home, Inc. He is also a graduate of the Greek Language parents were Stephen and Siony Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 Institute in Monterey, Calif. Khachadoorian from Kharpert. His paternal His decorations include the Legion of Merit, grandparents were Aram and Liza Maranian MARION BEDROSIAN the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service from Aintab. 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN OBITUARY Arax Simsarian Pilot, WWII Navy Veteran NEW YORK — Arax Simsarian, of New York Company of New Jersey, now Exxon, and while GiragosianF UNERAL H OME City, died on November 12, 2019, at age 97. She there, she was invited by George P. Schultz, James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC was born in New Jersey in 1922, a daughter of then director of the U. S. Office of Management Mark J. Giragosian Dicran and Satenig (Tashjian) Simsarian. and Budget during the administration of Funeral Counselors She graduated from Fort Lee (N.J.) High President Nixon, to work in the White House, 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 School and Mount Holyoke College in 1943. where she prepared reports and charts for the During World War II she served as an officer in Board of Economic Advisors. She also worked the WAVES at the Naval Ammunition Depot in for Equitable Life Assurance Society of the Hingham, Massachusetts, and at the Office of United States and became a licensed Chartered Special Devices and Inventions, later called the Life Underwriter. She later was associated with Office of Naval Research. the insurance brokerage firm of Alexander & In 1941, during the summer of her sopho- Alexander. ENNIS M. EVENEY & ONS more year, she was selected to take part in a She became a licensed pilot for single engine D D S conference on International Affairs at the sum- aircraft and was licensed to fly commercial Cemetery Monuments mer home of Eleanor Roosevelt at Campobello, planes, one of about 1500 women with such a New Brunswick, Canada, under the leadership license. She was an active member of the Specializing in of Joseph Lash. Ninety Nines, the International Organization of Armenian Designs and Lettering Upon her discharge from the Navy, she was a Women Pilots, having served as a vice governor. researcher and reporter for the National She was a world traveler and visited every con- 701 Moody St. Waltham, MA 02543 Industrial Conference Board and for the tinent as well as the North Pole and Antarctica. (781) 891-9876 www.NEMonuments.com National Association of Manufacturers, where Simsarian is survived by her brother, Edward, she wrote a special paper on Social Security and his wife, Lowerre, of Worcester, Mass., her and a position paper on forced labor and hand- nieces, Ellen and Sarah, both of New York, and icapped employees. These position papers were her nephew, David, of Yarmouth, Maine. Her referred to by both employers and employee brother, Kenneth, predeceased her. unions to support their respective positions. In A memorial service will be held at a date to 1966 she was employed by Standard Oil be announced in the spring of 2020. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS ANI Exhibit on Armenian Volunteers in Armenia at Glendale YMCA

EXHIBIT, from page 6 Shemmassian, the CSUN Armenian Student Association (ASA), as well as special guests Ambassador Dr. Armen Baibourtian, the Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles, Ms. Mary Chakerian who serves as a Field Representative for Congressman Brad Sherman, and Ms. Nikki Perez who serves as a Field Representative for California State Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-45). Armenian Assembly of America Western Region Director Mihran Toumajan served as the Master of Ceremonies and introduced a dis- tinguished group of speakers. Dr. Vahram Shemmassian, Professor of Armenian Studies at CSUN, headed the lineup of speakers. He welcomed the audience to the school and intro- duced the university’s plans with the recently announced $2.1 million gift dedicated to the Armenian Studies Program. “This exhibit once again demonstrated American humanitarianism in its finest, as well Organizers, co-sponsors, special guests, and student volunteers at the CSUN exhibit as the close bonds between the American and Armenian peoples that exist until today. Armenians in the United States have con- depicting the life and deeds of two American Elder family who shared the resources needed to momentous developments in Washington, DC tributed to this great nation in many areas heroes in Armenia in 1918-1919, this photo reconstruct this forgotten piece of history. soon put the U.S. House of Representatives on including, but not limited to, science, literature, exhibition sheds light on unknown pages of The exhibit was viewed by student groups record affirming the Armenian Genocide. sports, arts and culture, politics and so on. In American humanitarian undertakings in over the course of the following two weeks. Adalian was interviewed by international media, turn, the Armenian nation will forever be Armenia and delves into the roots of Armenian- Seventh and eighth grade students from the including Voice of America Russian Service and indebted to the American people for their altru- U.S. historical friendship,” Baibourtian. Armenian Sisters Academy of Montrose, Al-Arabiya News Channel, on this major legisla- ism and benevolence shown in times of great Speaking on behalf of the YMCA of California visited the exhibit as part of their tive accomplishment of the Armenian American catastrophes and tribulations,” stated Dr. Metropolitan Los Angeles, Stanton cited Elder school program. Separately, KABC was present community and the importance of American Shemmassian. and Arroll as exemplars of YMCA ideals and at the West Gallery During his remarks, Baibourtian reflected called upon viewers to appreciate the volunteer when 10th grade stu- upon the historical meaning of the exhibit with spirit that inspired them to assume so much dents of the AGBU responsibility. M a n o o g i a n - Director of the West Gallery, Jim Sweeters, Demirdjian School welcomed the audience to the exhibit and (MDS) of Canoga praised CSUN ASA volunteers, who helped Park, California mount the exhibit and welcome the audience viewed the exhibit. In attending the opening ceremonies with refresh- addition to interview- ments and information. Concluding remarks ing oumajan, a select were made by Mary Chakerian, field represen- group of AGBU MDS tative of Congressman Brad Sherman, who students were inter- bestowed Certificates of Special Congressional viewed by Gabriela Recognition upon Adalian and Shemmassian. Milian during which Prior to the opening ceremonies, Adalian gave they voiced their own a brief overview of the exhibit explaining key observations about moments captured by the photography and tes- what they learned by Ambassador Dr. Armen Baibourtian (center) standing with audience at timony of the two YMCA volunteers in Armenia. seeing the exhibit. opening ceremonies “While a heroic story, all of this might have Toumajan, who been completely forgotten had Elder and Arroll spearheaded the not done something else, which was to take exhibit’s opening ceremonies, also provided policy in the context of international recogni- photographs of the situation in Armenia. They guided tours of the exhibition while it was on tion of the Armenian Genocide. Dr. Adalian and Dr. Shemmassian awarded effectively are the first documentarians of the display at the West Gallery. “On behalf of the The YMCA exhibit has become a critical Certificates of Special Congressional resource for YMCA centers in America and Recognition on behalf of Congressman Brad rebirth of the Armenian nation and the pho- Armenian Assembly, I extend our profound Sherman by his Field Representative Mary tographs they made are of a remarkable quality gratitude to our co-sponsors at the YMCA of Armenia. The exhibit also served as the bridg- Chakerian and contain a wealth of information. Some of Metropolitan Los Angeles and at CSUN for ing point of reference to the partnership agree- the pictures are so dramatic that no amount of their dedicated partnership. We are especially ment struck between the Glendale YMCA and words can reconstruct the scenes they depict,” grateful to Mr. Suren Seropian, Director of Artsakh YMCA signed in early November. his personal thoughts about the difficult days at explained Dr. Adalian Development of CSUN’s College of Humanities, The exhibit is currently on display until the start of the Armenian republic as docu- Maria Cozette of Horizon TV conducted an for facilitating introductions to several stake- Friday, January 17, 2020 at the YMCA of mented in the photographs and testimony of extensive interview with Adalian about the origin holders on the campus of CSUN, and for gen- Glendale and will be traveling to other the exhibit. of the exhibit, its unique elements, the impor- erously serving as an integral member of our California-based centers in the new year. “The initiative of organizing this important tance of the humanitarian undertaking of the team of co-sponsors,” stated Toumajan. “The exhibition titled ‘American Relief in the exhibition duly serves its purpose. By means of YMCA volunteers, and his appreciation of the Upon the heels of the opening of the exhibit, First Republic of Armenia,’ along with all the other exhibits prepared by the Armenian National Institute, are available for free down- loading in digital format. An abundance of 6GB:C>6C6HH:B7AND;6B:G>86 other instructional resources is available on the FN44E
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Armenian Assembly of America Western Region BE7 E4F Director Mihran Toumajan and CSUN Armenian Studies Program Director Professor Vahram Shemmassian L6H=>C6 expressly stated that it ‘encourage[d] education and public understanding of the Armenian Genocide, including the United States role in the humanitarian relief effort,’ the Armenian National Institute calls on educators to tap the available resources for that very purpose,” stat- 7FFBOEDB?D;7J777?D9$EH=%IJK:;DJI ed Adalian. 10 S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Diaspora High Commissioner Sinanyan Works for Armenia-Diaspora Integration and Repatriation

SINANYAN, from page 1 Armenian government, the Office of the High He defines himself as both. He said, “I con- the diaspora done in the past, Sinanyan said, Sinanyan had known and supported Prime Commissioner will not implement cultural or sider myself a hybrid. I consider myself a com- were done even before the ministry was created Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan for sever- educational programs. These have all been plete Hayastantsi Yerevantsi [native of Yerevan and will be done after it is gone. Therefore he al years. After an indirect communication from transferred to the Ministry of Education, and Armenia] [and] at the same time, a com- did not consider that an important legacy of the the prior diaspora minister, Mkhitar Science, Culture and Sport. However, Sinanyan plete diasporan.” He is the first diasporan to pre-revolution ministry. Hayrapetyan, broached a possible position, said, “We certainly retain jurisdiction over any- run this office or its predecessors (which only Sinanyan spoke directly with Pashinyan and thing that deals with the diaspora, so that if we have a history of ten years). Smaller Budget than Glendale decided it required a conversation in person. So believe a program is appropriate and should be When asked what is the positive legacy of the The office has a budget of about $1.5 million Sinanyan said he took a plane to Yerevan and implemented, or that one should not, or that Ministry of the Diaspora prior to the Velvet for next year, which must be approved by the after several meetings with Pashinyan came to one is not being implemented well, we intend to Revolution that he can use, Sinanyan replied, “I parliament. Sinanyan exclaimed that this is a an agreement. share that [belief] with the Ministry and make can think of only one thing, to be honest, and “far cry from the $900 million of the city of After this trip, Sinanyan returned briefly to the appropriate recommendations.” that is the Ari Toun program, which has since Glendale.” Yerevan and resigned from the city council and Sinanyan pointed out that on any diaspora- been renamed Qayl Depi Toun.” This is basical- At present, unlike the office of the previous all other offices. He then flew out to Yerevan to related program, “At the end of the day, when ly a summer camp program for diasporan Minister of the Diaspora, he has no advisers. He start living there fulltime. His children, as dur- they are unhappy with it or they are happy with Armenian children, who come to bond with said, “I am taking it slow. Once we announce ing other summers, came to spend a few it, we hear about it. They come to us, especially each other and with Armenia. Sinanyan said the new structure of the office, I think that is months in Armenia but then returned to if they are unhappy with it. We get blamed for the format is being expanded, and added, “If we when I will commence appointing advisers.” Glendale for school. it too, forget the fact that someone else is sup- had more resources, I would double that pro- Among them will be his representatives in vari- He said about the move, “You never know in GIORGI GOGUA (RFE/RL) PHOTO life, but this is it. I am building the foundations for my children’s future here. My family is still in Glendale only because we are building our new apartment [in Yerevan] and because my decision was so quick that we weren’t ready for the school transition and those very important things….The plan is, one way or the other, the kids will start school in September of next year in Yerevan.” Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Some people have viewed the transformation of the prior Ministry of the Diaspora into an office as a demotion of sorts. Sinanyan strong- ly continues to disagree. He said, “I still sit in on the government meetings. I still sit at the same table. I have been given basically a very broad mandate by the prime minister. The prime minister wanted the office to be associ- ated [directly] with him and he wanted the clas- sical constraints that come with a ministry not to be there.” He gave two examples of such constraints. First, while Sinanyan is able to participate in cabinet or government meetings, he is not obliged to do so and if he is absent he will not be punished for this. Ministers can sent their deputy ministers in their stead, but this can Zareh Sinanyan only be done on occasion. “Whereas,” Sinanyan said, “I have been instructed specifically to spend as little time in the office as possible, and posed to do it. This is our business. I have that gram in size because, again, it is very effective ous diaspora communities. Furthermore, he to be out in the community, working with the absolute, explicit authority.” for kids at that impressionable age. They learn said, “In the future, I see clearly that we will community…That means I won’t be there most The Office of the High Commissioner of two things. They first learn how vast the have an attaché at the embassy from our office, of the time physically.” Diasporan Affairs has a staff of 52 including Armenian world is. They are not limited to their especially in the larger communities, who will Secondly, government ministers must go to Sinanyan. A good part of the staff is new, some little communities or their church or even deal with nothing but diaspora affairs.” parliament and report weekly at the question- are from before the Velvet Revolution of 2018. Armenia. They learn that we are a small but To make up for limited resources, Sinanyan and-answer session, which, he said, exposes He said that this was not his final lineup or con- global nation. They get to know each other. said, “Since I came, we started partnering up them to a lot of potential hostility. Thus, part of figuration however. His chief of staff is a dias- Secondly, they bond with their homeland, with organizations which have been in the dias- the intent of the change was to safeguard the poran and he said that he intends to hire as because that is the glue that puts everything poran Armenian space—in the business of the diaspora office from that. many as he can, while keeping a balance together.” Armenian diaspora, such as Birthright Armenia, As a result of the recent reorganization of the between them and natives of Armenia. The yearbooks, publications and research on CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

North Dakota Senator Blocks Armenian Genocide Bill at Request of White House

CRAMER, from page 1 the region with Turkey and other allies.” Cramer’s objection is especially noteworthy given that Trump clashed with France’s Emmanuel Macron at a he was a co-sponsor of a similar resolution during the NATO summit in London this week over Turkey’s role in last Congress. the military alliance. Macron criticized Turkey for its Cramer tweeted a picture in September 2017 thanking assault on U.S.- and French-allied Kurdish forces in actor Dean Cain for visiting Capitol Hill to “raise aware- northern Syria, as well as its purchase of a Russian S-400 ness on the Armenian genocide.” missile system over the objections of its NATO allies. “Once a Superman, always a Superman. Thank you Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Lindsey @RealDeanCain for coming in yesterday to raise aware- Graham (R-S.C.) both called on Secretary of State Mike ness on the Armenian genocide,” he wrote under the pic- Pompeo to sanction Turkey over the S-400 purchase. ture of himself with Cain. Trump said at the NATO summit that he has a “very As Axios has previously reported, Sen. Lindsey good relationship” with Erdogan, dodging a question Graham (R-S.C.) was asked to block the resolution on over whether he’d approve the sanctions. November 13 after meeting with Erdogan at the White Sen. Cramer’s office and the White House did not pro- House. vide a comment. Graham told Axios at the time that he was trying to In related news, for the third time, Senators Robert “salvage the relationship” between the U.S. and Turkey, Menendez (D-NJ) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) issued a bipartisan which has been under considerable strain in the wake of call for Unanimous Consent for Senate Adoption of Turkey’s military invasion of northern Syria. S.Res.150 – the Armenian Genocide Resolution. He added: “I’m not going to object next time.” The passage of a resolution recognizing the Armenian The following week, the White House asked Sen. David Genocide in the US Senate is “very likely” in the coming Perdue (R-Ga.) to block the resolution. weeks, Cruz told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” A Perdue spokesperson told Axios: “Senator Perdue “We are likely to finally acknowledge the horrific Sen. evin Cramer (D-N.D.) with actor and supporter of the recognition of objected due to concerns that passage of the resolution Armenian Genocide, which I have been fighting for years the Armenian Genocide Dean Cain would jeopardize the sensitive negotiations going on in to do,” the senator said. S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 COMMUNITY NEWS One-Day Retreat at St. Nersess Aims to Revive Spirits

ARMONK, N.Y. — On Saturday, November day continued with a nurturing introduction 23, St. Nersess hosted its first-ever one-day to silence in prayer. Participants engaged in a retreat focusing exclusively on one’s faith brief period of focused stillness and then dis- journey. persed for a session of quiet time, time which, Jointly sponsored by the seminary and the many reported later, was a welcome respite Eastern Diocese’s Department of Christian from the “noise” of everyday life. The final Education, the retreat, titled “A Time for retreat session, led by Elise Antreassian, Prayer,” attracted 27 participants from the explored resources for creating a disciplined greater New York and New Jersey region as approach to spending time with God and sur- well as New England. rendering “me time” to Him. These included Participants received advanced readings on a 4-week challenge to incorporate Scripture the topic by contemporary theologians/ and prayer time in one’s daily schedule, an teachers prior to the retreat so the first order evening prayer exercise, and a journal to keep of the day was to discuss these readings in notes on daily encounters and experiences. small groups. Then attention was focused on At day’s end, all gathered for worship in the a selection of verses in Scripture that chapel. The service, conducted by Fr. Mardiros described or depicted prayer, notably by and Chevian, dean, added contemporary litanies about Jesus Himself. and participation to the traditional Armenian After examining these passages, retreat “jhamerkootiun” format. Group members facilitator, Fr. Yeprem Kelegian, seminary spir- wrote their own prayer petitions and placed itual director, polled the group for favorite them in a basket on the altar from which they Bible passages or stories. “So often,” he were drawn and read by Der Hayr. It was a noted, “this choice sheds a lot of light on poignant moment as the cares of each member where we are in our relationship with God.” of the group became the prayer of all. After a lunch prepared by Wilma More one-day retreats will be offered by the Some of the attendees at a session Petrossian, Manager of Food Services, the seminary and the Eastern Diocese.

Diaspora High Commissioner Sinanyan Works for Armenia-Diaspora Integration and Repatriation

FROM PREVIOUS PAGE 2050 Vision plan in August 2019 edge serves as an asset on his travels (as does top-down, “the same concept exists in the Repat Armenia and others, and using their (https://www.azatutyun.am/a/30093797.html his English fluency). United States. It is must softer, but certainly, a knowhow and their resources to do those things ) while a preliminary draft was discussed in July. He said that he inherited no analysis or poli- guy with the name Zareh Sinanyan is going to that otherwise we would be unable to do at this Sinanyan did not find any immediate physical cy for dealing with the Russian-Armenian com- have a much tougher time than a dude named stage.” Teach for Armenia is another partner in limits to increasing Armenia’s population dra- munities. Therefore, he said, “First of all, I am John Smith. That is just the reality of it.” certain projects. He said, “We are unashamedly, matically. He emphasized that “any time I refer trying to understand what the Russian commu- Assimilation is the same in France too, unabashedly using them to further our agenda, to Armenia, Artsakh and all the liberated terri- nity is. When I say it is a vast and complicated although Sinanyan has not yet visited there. and I think they don’t mind at all.” tories are part of it.” Together they compose community, it truly is. The difference that I have In the Middle East, Sinanyan said, On the other hand, Sinanyan said, he did not 42,000 square kilometers of land. He said Israel seen between Moscow and St. Petersburg, “Traditionally we held on to our language and specifically plan to do fundraising in the dias- is half that size and includes territory that used between St. Petersburg and Sochi, is tremen- our culture because there was this hope of pora for his office. He said, “But I may resort to to be considered barren, but it sustains a popu- dous. These communities are so different that return that Western Armenians always dreamt it. I am not sure yet.” He said that he has lation of 8 ½ million. they might as well exist in different countries. about. They lived in the Middle East all around received many offers of help in terms of funding He said that first integration must be carried So for each, there has to be a different Western Armenia.” That has changed too. and has some ideas on how to attract talent and out and then repatriation. Internal reforms in approach.” It is too soon to say what that will Sinanyan was going to visit Los Angeles the get things done, but has not yet found the prop- Armenia have to progress, he said, “to a point be, he said. next day. He said that though Moscow had er legal format for it. where we can tell folks with a straight face, Sinanyan agreed that quick and easy assimi- Armenians from all over the former Soviet come, we are ready to accept you, this home- lation within a generation in Russia was a prob- Union, it did not compare with Los Angeles in Diasporan Goals land wants you, and you will have a quality of lem. He said, “Certainly, the language problem its degree of cosmopolitanism, with Armenians Sinanyan and the Pashinyan government life that will be better than the one you are [loss of Armenian] is very relevant to Russia, from around the world, all in comparatively have two major goals for his office. In the short- though it is very relevant to all of large numbers. As in other communities, he term, it is, he said, “to achieve the highest level the diaspora. I want to step away said, “We are still trying to figure out how do of integration between the diaspora and from this language-centric con- we achieve the goals we are setting for our- Armenia possible. And I mean integration on cept of what or who is Armenian selves.” every level, professional, economic, cultural, etc. and move more towards self-iden- When asked how he would attempt to reach – easier said than done.” tification. Hopefully that way we the majority in Los Angeles, who were unaffili- He said that “we must do it because Armenia, circumvent the problem of folks ated formally with organizations, he replied in order to thrive and to survive and to get its not really speaking Armenian that many of the former have connections with economy to grow as fast as we need it to grow, within a generation or two.” Armenian cultural groups, like dancers or has to go for the low-hanging fruit, and the low- Though communities still singers, or with student groups. These groups hanging fruit is its diaspora.” “This integra- should be encouraged to establish can be used to reach people, along with social tion,” Sinanyan continued, “will also bring with Armenian full-time or Sunday media and any other resource available. itself the restoration of the sense of trust schools, Sinanyan said that the Ultimately, Sinanyan went back to his formu- between Armenia and the diaspora, where the creation of schools in Russia lation of success attracting those who are gen- diaspora does not view itself as a milking cow apparently was problematic. He erally uninvolved in Armenian affairs. If for Armenia. And Armenia does not view the Zareh Sinanyan with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan admitted that in places like Armenia can provide “an attractive product to diaspora as a relatively foreign element that did- Moscow, where there are suffi- the diaspora…they will find a way to communi- n’t come in large numbers, en masse, to fight abandoning in your host countries.” cient numbers of prosperous cate with us. It is kind of like the ‘if you build during the Artsakh War.” The achievement of Sinanyan said the recent revolution in Armenians who could afford to pay for private it, they will come’ mentality.” this goal will help Armenia attain the second Armenia has provided an opportunity to do Armenian schools for their children, it is Politics strategic goal, which is important for national this. While “better than” is relative and a sub- unclear why this is so. His explanation for it is Sinanyan’s appointment was criticized by the security. jective standard, Sinanyan said it must have that “the value associated with being Armenian Social Democrat Hunchak Party and some oth- This second, ultimate goal, Sinanyan said, is some objective and measurable benchmarks. or raising your child as an Armenian had dimin- ers in Los Angeles, who felt that because of his to achieve repatriation on a massive scale over Education, health care, and a non-monopolistic, ished to such an extent that the average prior Armenian National Committee/Armenian the next 25 to 30 years. Sinanyan said, “This free economy aroe among the foundational Russian Armenian didn’t see the need for Revolutionary Federation affiliation, he would be country [Armenia] does not have a sustainable qualities he said a state needs in order for its cit- it…Why make sacrifices, why spend money and partisan as high commissioner (https://massis- economy. It needs to provide for itself a mar- izens to be content with it and others to want resources just so my kid can speak Armenian if post.com/2019/06/sdhp-statement-on-the- ket.” It needs to be able to draft people into the to possibly live there. I don’t see my kid’s future in Armenia?” appointment-of-zareh-sinanyan-as-the-chief-com- military in sufficient numbers to defend the Secondly, he said, Armenia must make sure that During the Soviet period, Sinanyan said, missioner-for-the-diaspora-affairs/). Sinanyan country, to have taxpayers, and do everything the diaspora remains healthy in this time peri- Armenia at least was industrialized and was in commented: “I don’t really see a need to respond else a successful country does. When asked od. This is all ultimately in the interest of the some ways an interesting country, with science to that. They are entitled to their opinion. All I what the population of Armenia was at present, Armenian people, he concluded. and arts. Since independence, Sinanyan said, need to do is work and I intend to do that.” he replied frankly, “No one knows.” and until recently, “Armenia had become a He declared that he was not involved in Sinanyan said, “The magic number that we Travels place from which people are leaving and not the Armenian politics or in Prime Minister Nikol are going to set for ourselves, and it is a part of Sinanyan took his first trip as high commis- other way around. At least a million people have Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party. Sinanyan our Vision 2050 [plan], is five million people at sioner to Russia. When asked whether this was left Armenia. Why would the average diasporan added, “I try to stay out of politics as much as least. Frankly, I think it is a modest goal and I to balance his US connections, he said that in want to go to a place that people are leaving or I can because the Office is kind of nonpolitical. think we can do better. But five million is cer- some ways, yes, but more importantly, Russia is even dream about their kids going there?” It involves the diaspora and the diaspora tainly way better than what we have now. I where the largest Armenian diaspora is located. However, the revolution in Armenia provides shouldn’t be political, if you think about it.” would like to have a million and a half growth, He said that it is so vast not only demographi- an opportunity to change this attitude, he said. However, when asked if he foresees becom- and then natural growth, whatever is there, and cally but also in its geographic spread. He took Adding value to their future and yours, he said, ing involved in Armenian politics at some achieve that number.” his first two trips there, but afterwards went to “is how you fix the language and assimilation later point, after this position, he replied, “I Prime Minister Pashinyan publicly many other countries with Armenian commu- problem.” will not exclude the possibility of that hap- announced some of the goals of the Armenia nities. His near-native Russian language knowl- He added that while Russia might be more pening.” 12 S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Arts & Living

Hermitage Director Armenian State Piotrovsky Comes Symphony From Russia with Orchestra to Love (for Armenia) Perform in London On January 14 By Aram Arkun Mirror-Spectator Staff YEREVAN — The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra (ASSO) will performs at the Barbican Hall in London on Tuesday, January 14, with its YEREVAN — Prof. Dr. Mikhail Piotrovsky, 2019-20 Artist-in-Residence Maxim Vengerov. director of the world-famous State Hermitage Artistic Director Sergey Smbatyan, who Museum of Saint Petersburg for almost three founded the ASSO 14 years ago, conducts the decades, was in Armenia in mid-October to orchestra in a program which includes the long- explore projects of museum cooperation, meet awaited European premiere of Armenian com- with government officials, and participate in poser John Ter-Tatevosian’s Symphony No. some Aurora Forum events. He gave a Russian- 2 The Fate of Man (1959). They will also play language talk on October 19 as part of the Composer-in-Residence Alexey Shor’s Barcarolle Aurora Dialogues in the Ararat Challenge fes- for Violin and Orchestra and Bruch’s Violin tivities and is an Aurora Forum Goodwill Concerto No. 1 with Vengerov as the soloist. Ambassador. This performance is a rare opportunity for UK Piotrovsky and the Hermitage have profound audiences to hear one of Europe’s newest and ties with Armenia. The Hermitage is the only most distinctive symphony orchestras, under museum in the world which has a special the leadership of Smbatyan, who founded the department of Armenian and Urartian antiqui- ASSO at age 18. ties. Prior to Piotrovsky, it had an Armenian The 32-year-old conductor has not only been rec- director, Hovsep (Joseph) Orbeli from 1934 to ognized in Armenia, being recently awarded the 1951. title of “Honored Artist of the Republic of Piotrovsky was born in Yerevan in 1944 to an Armenia” by the President of the republic, but has Armenian archaeologist and Armenologist also received international recognition with the mother, Hripsime Janpolatyan, while his father title of Chevalier of the “Order of Arts and Boris Piotrovsky (1908-1990) was a famous Mariette Soudjian Letters”, granted by the Minister of Culture and specialist on Urartu and himself a director of Communication of France, making him the youngest and only Armenian recipient of this title. One of Smbatyan’s and the orchestra’s key ‘Charles’ Makes missions is to share Armenian culture and his- tory internationally. Their decision to bring Ter- Tatevosian’s work to new audiences stems from a wish not only to introduce people to Armenian Appearance in North composers and their music, but to spread the message of hope that many Armenians have felt since the recent revolution. Hollywood Composer and violinist John Ter-Tatevosian (1926-1988) based his second symphony on Soviet writer Mikhail Sholokhov’s text “The NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — The mainstage performance of “Charles: A Bio- Fate of Man,” which tells the emotionally fluc- Musical on the Life & Songs of Legendary Singer Charles Aznavour,” came to life tuating tale of a soldier enduring trials and dev- at the notable El Portal Theatre on Saturday, November 9, transforming the sto- astating times throughout the Second World ried space into a nostalgic ambiance to highlight one of the most industrious and War, but who eventually finds hope in adopting Mikhail Piotrovsky (Aram Arkun photo) memorable singers in the world. a young boy, also ravaged by the horrors of war. Created, written and directed by Taleen Babayan, the performance featured This premiere comes at a pivotal point in singer Maurice Soudjian, pianist Bernard C. Bayer, who portrayed a younger the Hermitage for nearly 40 years. With a doc- Armenian history following their 2018 revolu- Aznavour, and Mariette Soudjian, who guest starred as Edith Piaf. Musicians torate in history specializing in Arabic studies, tion, alongside continuing, and occasionally vio- Harout Soghomonian accompanied on guitar and accordion and Levon Ghanimian Piotrovsky participated in archaeological exca- lent, tensions with some of their neighboring on bass. vations in the Caucasus, Central Asia and countries. The audience was intrigued by the narrative story that unveiled little known Yemen. He has published widely, teachers as a Smbatyan said: “The Armenian State details about the singer’s life, in addition to the live singing and instrumentation. professor at Saint Petersburg State University, Symphony Orchestra is composed of extraordi- “This brilliant show provided great historical and cultural insight into an excit- and is a member of the Russian Academy of nary musicians, not just in their virtuosity and ing era of French music,” said Mariette Tachdjian. “It’s a must-see as we discover Sciences and the Russian Academy of Arts. He dedication to the highest level of music making, and rediscover the great legend through stories and songs, alongside the spirit of is a foreign member of the Armenian Academy but in their belief in music to spread messages Aznavour that was alive and present with us.” of Sciences. of hope and joy, even in turbulent times. We The bio-musical debuted last October at Hollywood’s the Hotel Cafe in a cabaret- hope our first ever Barbican performance, and The Hermitage and Armenia style setting that brought to the forefront the striking resemblance, vocally and indeed the rest of the European tour, brings a see CHARLES, page 13 Piotrovsky wanted Armenian-American read- beacon of light from Armenia to the rest of the ers to be aware of these connections. He said, world.” in fluent English, “The Hermitage is really one Smbatyan has been praised for his conduct- of the places that is very much connected with ing with “great dignity and nobility” (Hessisch Armenia, a museum outside Armenia that has Niedersächsische Allgemeine) and continues to a big department of ancient and medieval guide the orchestra from strength to strength as Armenia. The Hermitage for more than 70 it approaches its 15th year. years was run by people connected with The Armenian conductor champions innova- Armenia—Orbeli, my father, and me. And the tion in music. In 2015 he founded the 24/04 Hermitage is one of these important outposts World Orchestra to commemorate the cente- of Armenia, as Saint Petersburg in general is, nary of the Armenian genocide, comprising of and it is very important. I think that the 123 musicians from 43 countries. Earlier this Armenian presence all over the world and rela- year, Smbatyan also brought members of the tions between Armenia itself and all the out- ASSO together with musicians from all five con- posts of Armenian culture around the world are tinents for the World Congress of Information very important.” Technology, where they performed the first ever Piotrovsky explained that “as a museum piece of music composed by artificial intelli- director, I am very much involved in all the pro- gence in real-time. longation of the cooperation between the The ASSO’s Barbican performance is part of Hermitage and Armenia.” As part of his trip, he a European tour, which takes the Orchestra to visited the Urartian site of Karmir Blur or cities across Germany, Austria, Russia, the Teishebaini together with the mayor of Performers on stage at the El Portal Theatre Czech Republic and the UK. The ASSO is sup- Yerevan, Hayk Marutyan. Piotrovsky’s father ported by the European Foundation for Boris directed the original excavations there in Support of Culture (EUFSC), who are organiz- see PIOTROVSKY, page 14 ing this European tour. S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 ARTS & LIVING Premiere of ‘One Province, One Song’ Project on YouTube

YEREVAN — On November 11, the first around Argentinian provinces, singing and episode of the “One Province, One Song” pro- meeting new local artists. ject by Argentine-Armenian singer-songwriter That’s why last year while she was visiting Alin Demirdjian was released. After this first Armenia for the fourth time, she had the idea episode, a new one will be released every to do the same in Armenia and Artsakh, and Monday on Demirdjian’s YouTube channel: she developed a project called “One Province, www.youtube.com/alinmusica. One Song, which she is carrying out with the The videos are a musical tour of Armenia and support of Birthright Armenia organization, My Artsakh, each one with its identity and its musi- Step Foundation and AGBU Armenia. cal style: diverse styles of music, different local The project is aimed to share the current artists and variety of landscapes and customs. musical scene of Armenia and Artsakh while Every Monday a new song is released to help showing it’s landscapes and traditions. It con- discover a new region of the beautiful and inter- sists of exploring every province and searching esting Armenian lands. Detailed information for a local musician or a band with whom she about each song, each band and each province can sing a song in Armenian and record a music video. Regarding the songs, the goal is to record artists of all ages, styles, -both in traditional and mod- ern genres. All videos Alin Demirdjian (first from left) performs with the Tiezerk band. will be filmed on-site and, later on, edited and shared individual- Armenian schools of Buenos Aires, in 2 During these years the singer-songwriter has ly (in YouTube and all Armenian schools and in 2 scout groups of been invited to sing with artists across South social media plat- Uruguay, and with the Armenian youth of America and Armenia. forms) as episodes. In Chile. The main objective is to involve young The artist is also part of the music duo for total there will be 19 people in the project, so that they can be more children in the Armenian language called “Alin episodes (all regions of connected to the current situation in Armenia & Talin” with Talín Leylek, created in 2012. Armenia and Artsakh and Artsakh, through their music and their The duo released an album with some songs of and its capitals, provinces. their own and others of the popular songbook. Yerevan and Demirdjian is a singer-songwriter from Buenos Alin & Talin gave numerous concerts in a large Singing in Armenia Stepanakert) which Aires, who has composed and performed songs number of Armenian institutions in South will be published accompanied by guitar from a very young age. In America, in theaters, and also participated in can be found in the description of each video on every Monday December 2014 she released her first album with festivals such as the “Buenos Aires Celebra” YouTube. Demirdjian’s YouTube channel. her band called “Buscando el Ámbar,” perform- organized by the government of the city of Demirdjian is an Argentinian-Armenian The tour began on August 2019 and ended in ing all the songs she wrote: a selection of songs Buenos Aires and the “Homage to Father singer-songwriter. She has two solo albums September. To discover the adventures of Alin that described her as an artist and defined her Komitas” organized by AGBU, among others. with her own songs in Spanish, and she has and her team on social networks visit her original musical proposal. In 2017 she released During 2009 and 2010 she was also part of a also been part of different Argentinian and Instagram Stories Highlights: her second solo album titled “De Leones y duo of Argentine folk music with Mariano Armenian musical projects in Buenos Aires. www.instagram.com/alinmusica Deshielos.” This album was officially presented at Zagari. The duo played in several traditional She is always curious about different artists and The months before her trip to Armenia, Alin the “Sala Siranush” in Buenos Aires. In “peñas” of the city of Buenos Aires and sur- places, and most of the time she is touring offered concerts and informative talks in the 7 November 2018 she released a new single, Hola. roundings. ‘Charles’ Makes Appearance in North Hollywood

CHARLES, from page 12 physically, of its lead singer who always dreamed of embodying Aznavour. “In a sense I’ve been preparing for this role throughout my lifetime,” said Maurice Soudjian, who spent a considerable amount of time living, studying and working in Paris. “It was a natural progression for me since I’ve been passionately listening to and studying Aznavour’s captivating music for decades.” In response to his performance, attendee Mark Olivas said, “Maurice blew my mind.” “Bernard Bayer nailed the role of the younger Aznavour, especially with his skills on the piano, and Mariette brought another tal- ented dimension to the show as Piaf,” said Olivas. “The show was genius.” The concept of the bio-musical was based on primary and secondary sources, including Aznavour’s two autobiographies, to depict the artist accurately as the three dimensional figure

From left, Harout Soghomonian, Levon Ghanimian, Maurice Soudjian, Mariette Soudjian, Taleen Babayan and Bernard C. Bayer

that he was and the rich life he led. Each well as one of personal growth,” said for music and led an acclaimed career without vignette tied into the performance of one of his Ghanimian. “Aznavour’s music was not only a ever forgetting his roots. hit songs, from La Boheme to Les Deux portrayal of love, but also a story of healing for “I now see Aznavour in a different light Guitares to La Mamma. Highlighting the gener- a people who have suffered great loss.” because of this up close and personal perfor- ational enthusiasm for Aznavour, singer-actress The son of Armenian Genocide survivors, mance of amazingly talented artists,” said Mariette Soudjian performed Franco-English Aznavour’s climb to becoming a chart-topping Gladys Saroyan. “I’m so happy that Taleen is versions of Emmenez-Moi and Hier Encore. singer across the globe was one filled with enriching our community through these live Maurice Soudjian “As a diasporan musician, performing in this determination, grit and ambition. Born into an theatrical plays and I just wish Aznavour saw show was a historical learning experience as artistic family, Aznavour embraced his passion the performance.” 14 S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING Hermitage Director Piotrovsky Comes From Russia with Love (for Armenia)

PIOTROVSKY, from page 12 ARAM ARKUN PHOTO a joint expedition of the Armenian Academy of Sciences and the Hermitage and in this way strengthened ties between Yerevan and Saint Petersburg (then Leningrad) at the same time. Piotrovsky exclaimed, “Frankly, it is not in very good condition.” However, a lot of work had been done during the last year, and Piotrovsky participated in discussions of how to make it, he said, into “a very special kind of museum.” Instead of building or rebuilding something, he said that everything would be cleaned and modern technology would be used, so that “people can really get the prop- er feeling of what was the history and also what was the archaeology, because the digs there at Karmir Blur had been sensational — every day a find, which never happens in a normal excavation…the history of it is also a very important part of the cultural heritage.” The Hermitage has some choice pieces of Armenian and Urartian art. According to the Hermitage website, there are 1,500 Armenian artifacts from the 9th to 17th centuries alone. Piotrovsky said that most of these are gifts of the Armenian government to the Hermitage, while other items were bought on the market like the famous Skevra reliquary from Cilicia. Furthermore, expeditions in the Tsarist period obtained various items, such as small parts of frescoes from Ani obtained by Orbeli. Most Armenia-related artifacts either are on display Mikhail Piotrovsky speaking at the Aurora Dialogues before an image of Hovsep (Joseph) Orbeli, one of his predecessors as Hermitage director or on small shelves and published on the inter- net. Piotrovsky said that in his October 19 talk, Armenia on various projects, and specialists cultural unity at a time when the world was The Hermitage Abroad “Armenian Lessons of the Hermitage,” he come to Armenia regularly, he said. divided among different religions. When you Piotrovsky said that the Hermitage puts on referred to the Ani material. One of the Agreements have been reached about work at take the upper classes, their cultural unity is many exhibitions around the world. Three days “lessons” was that Ani items were saved, and, other archaeological sites like Erebuni. The very strong, and so sometimes you have the earlier he was in Saudi Arabia, and before that he said, it was an example of how archaeolo- focus on Armenia and Urartu, he said, “is not same architectural style, the same style in in Venice. Armenian and Urartian ties form part gists and excavators have to work in very dif- on the same level as it was before, in Soviet applied arts too, of the Christians and of exhibitions on the medieval period. However, ficult conditions, which are not stable. In times, but we are now educating new young Muslims if they are of high social level. You he said, it did not present exhibitions solely on addition, when World War I began, Nikolai people.” can see this clearly in the Caucasus, where Armenia, as that was the realm of Armenia’s Marr and Orbeli went anyway to Van to exca- Piotrovsky noted that there is also “a very you have Georgia, Armenia and all the museums. vate Urartian materials. Piotrovsky said, important tradition in Russian studies of the Seljuks [Turks], and all the others, and you The one place the Hermitage does not send “You have to save…art is not saved even if it Caucasus and the medieval period, which was have the very clear feeling of the same cul- exhibitions is the United States. Piotrovsky said is on the site and even if it is underground.” founded by Orbeli, who was the director of ture, more or less.” At present, the Hermitage is working with the Hermitage and a great scholar. It is about He said that the sociological importance of this should be pro- moted, and that in general, “Our work of museums is to change the wars of memory into dialogues of culture. We are in a place that has a lot of wars of memory. It is very difficult to change them but it is still our mission.”

Role of Museums Piotrovsky declared, “Museums are reserves. Museums are not gal- leries for display. Museums are for taking objects of memory, storing them [and] studying them, because without study, to present a thing is nothing.” A treasure is only recog- nized as such, he said, after it is studied and properly explained. Then it can be displayed, he said. Urartian statuette at the Hermitage Museum For this reason, the Hermitage is building two large buildings only for reserves, Piotrovsky said. These will be open that this was due to the decision of an Mayor Hayk Marutyan, left, and Mikhail Piotrovsky visit Karmir Blur reserves. American court that the Schneerson library, He said that though museums are for the which was always in Russia, and was national- public, they are not only for the public. He said, ized, must be given to Hasidic Jews in the “The interference of the public or the interfer- United States. If it is not, state property, such as ence of the government in museum life is for- that of the Hermitage, could be seized, in a bidden because we work for the next genera- sense as hostage to force compliance. This col- tion and for art, our priorities. It is…very much lection at present is in the hands of the Jewish contested today because everybody thinks all Museum and Tolerance Center in Moscow. over the world now that a museum is enter- In general, Piotrovsky said, lawsuits are a danger tainment, a service.” for museums, so for each exhibition abroad, the Piotrovsky has a more far-reaching view of Hermitage must obtain the guarantee of the host the museum’s role. He said, “No, museums have government or some executive body that even in a very important mission of keeping historical the case of lawsuits, the exhibited items would be memory, and part of this mission is to educate returned in a timely fashion. people about this historical mission. Certainly, Under the above circumstances, Piotrovsky in the case that …it brings you [there], or makes said, as the American government cannot pro- it nice, and people love it, it is entertainment, vide such guarantees, the Hermitage cannot but it is [really] edutainment.” exhibit in the United States. The Hermitage is able in part to do this because it is a Russian state institution. Piotrovsky in Armenia Piotrovsky said, “We have a special status of While in Armenia, Piotrovsky met with Prime being under the patronage of the president and Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Speaker of we have a special separate line in the state bud- Parliament Ararat Mirzoyan and Catholicos of get, but in general we are part of the Ministry All Armenians Karekin II to discuss the role of of Culture and we are living with state subsi- museums in public life. He was presented with dies.” The remaining fifty percent or so of the the symbols of the title of honorary citizen of Mayor Hayk Marutyan of Yerevan, left, welcomes Mikhail Piotrovsky. budget, he said, comes from ticket sales, dona- Yerevan by the Yerevan municipality on tions and other revenue. October 19. S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 ARTS & LIVING Finding Humor in the World, One Cartoon at a Time

And second, the same locale was the site of a By Marietta Khachatryan celebration for the launch of his new book, whose title translates to Great Events of a Little Country. YEREVAN (Azg) — Cartoonist Sukias The book contains a collection of cartoons Torosyan, known as Toto, has been the car- referring to political events in Armenia as well toonist for the Armenian Mirror-Spectator and as in the region and the world. its sister publication, Azg, in Armenia, for a Azg editor Hakob Avedikian opened the exhi- long time. bition, saying: “Enjoy, if you can, of course, the Earlier this month, two events were held to sharp barbs of Toto,” adding that satire is a sign celebrate the rare talent of this cartoonist, of health. When presenting the book, he men- painter and opera director. tioned the sponsors, the Tekeyan Cultural First, at the Tekeyan Cultural Association, on Association and Mihran Minassian, a member of the occasion of his 60th birthday, the opening the Central Board of the Tekeyan Cultural of an exhibition ofhis cartoons took place. Association of the United States and Canada

Sukias Torosyan, AKA Toto, in front of some of his cartoons

and one of the founders of Azg. Minassian, he said, aimed to make the publication one that offered satire and analysis and that Torosyan’s cartoons delivered on both fronts. Avedikian added that Toto’s art follows the tradition of diasporan Armenian satirical car- toonists in the Middle East. TCA of USA and Canada representative Gayane Muradyan presented the book and thanked Minassian and Central Board President Edmond Y. Azadian for the opportu- nity to organize a book printing and Torosyan also received a certificate of appre- Sukias Torosyan signs a copy of his book. ciation from Yerevan Tekeyan Center Director Armen Tsulikyan. Recipe Azg editor Hakob Avedikian

Hamlet Gasparyan, from the office of the President of the Republic of Armenia, also Corner spoke about the post-independence beginning of political satire Torosyan successfully collaborates with the Armenian Mirror-Spectator in Boston on inter- national issues and uses bold satire to skewer by Christine Vartanian Datian world politics. He and the Mirror-Spectator edi- tor work well through email. Armenian Farina Cake INGREDIENTS 6 eggs, beaten 2 cups sugar 1 quart plain white yogurt or madzoon 1/2 pound butter 1 cup flour 2 cups farina 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 cup brandy Ground cinnamon and choice of garnish

SYRUP 5 cups sugar correspondent Armenian Mirror-Spectator 5 cups water Artsvi Bakhchinyan, left, with Toto Boil sugar and water together in a medium pan for 10-12 minutes, stirring until thickened; set aside.

PREPARATION Melt the butter, add the beaten eggs, yogurt, sugar and brandy. Sift the flour with the baking powder and baking soda. Add the flour and farina to the butter and egg mixture. Mix all together. Pour into a greased shallow baking pan and bake for 30-35 minutes in 325°F oven. Take the cake out of the oven, cut the cake in dia- mond shapes, pour some of the syrup over the cake, and put it back in the oven until syrup is absorbed. Serve extra syrup on the side, if desired.

*Recipe courtesy of Treasured Armenian Recipes, published by the Detroit’s Women’s Chapter, Armenian General Benevolent Union, Inc., 1949. Treasured Armenian Recipes is a collection of some of the most well-known Armenian recipes of all time. Member of the Detroit Women's Chapter of the Armenian General Benevolent Union gathered and published this cookbook of Armenian recipes to per- petuate and honor old customs and pass them on to the growing generation of young Armenians in the United States. To order, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Treasured-Armenian-Recipes-Marie-Manoogian/dp/B0033QFPIA or https://agbubookstore.org/products/treasured-armenian-recipes-simple-directions-but-delicious-food-i-by-agbu-detroit-women-s-chapter-i or https://naasr.org/collections/on-line-books/products/treasured-armenian-recipes. Sukias Torosyan, right, receives a certificate of appreciation from Armen Tsulikyan. 16 S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING CC AA LL EE NN DD AA RR

FLORIDA Haig Der Manuelian Galleries, 3rd floor. This year we are concert which is a gift to the community. For further welcoming children ages 7-12 to celebrate the season of information, contact the Holy Trinity Church office at DECEMBER 13, 14, & 15 — Friday, Saturday, & Sunday giving by making Christmas ornaments and cards deco- 617.354.0632 or e-mail [email protected]. - Friday - 6pm to 10pm; Saturday - 9am to 10pm; rated with traditional Armenian motifs. Armenian DECEMBER 31 — Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston Sunday - 1pm to 6pm; - St. David Armenian Art & Food Christmas Workshop allows kids to express their creativi- invites the community to welcome the New Year Festival, 2300 Yamato Road, Boca Raton, FL. Join us for ty by designing Armenian ornaments to adorn treed, and together, at its New Year’s Dinner-Dance celebration. St. an afternoon of delicious homemade Armenian food, heartfelt cards to give to family and loved ones. After all, James Church’s Charles Mosesian Center/Keljik Hall, 465 fun, fellowship, raffles, and children’s activities while you this is the true meaning of Christmas! Guiding the chil- Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown. Entertainment will be pro- shop for Christmas gifts at our vendors. For more infor- dren through the spirit of sharing will be Artist-in- vided by popular singer Arabo Ispiryan and his band from mation, call the church office at 561-994-2335. Residence Arevik Tserunyan. We will also be making Armenia, and community’s very own DJ Rams! Cocktail Admission is free and there is ample parking on the cards for seniors at the Armenian Nursing Home and hour is at 7 pm, with dinner served promptly at 8 pm. And church grounds. Rehab Center. The class will conclude with a tree lighting of course, there’ll be dancing ‘til 2am! Donation: Adult - FEBRUARY 15, 2020 — SAVE THE DATE for the Annual and decorating party in which the children help decorate $125; children (5-12): $75 For tickets please call Alina Dinner Dance hosted by the Women’s Guild of St. David the Museum’s Christmas tree and enjoy refreshments. Ashjian (617) 852-1816 or Mike Demirchian (617) 240- Armenian Church, 2300 NW 51st St, Boca Raton Members $16. Non-members $20. (Note: The Museum’s 8266 or go online SNDCNYE2020.eventbrite.com Tickets elevator is in the process of being upgraded and is cur- are advance purchase only. MASSACHUSETTS rently out of service. For more information visit: https://www.armenianmuseum.org/classes) NEW JERSEY DECEMBER 1-22 — Saturdays and Sundays, December DECEMBER 15 — St. James 88th Anniversary Name JANUARY 11, 2020 — Tekeyan Cultural Association of 1-22, Members-only Holiday Gift Shop Sale. 12-6pm, Day Celebration - Honoring Hripsime Parsekian and Greater New York presents “A Children’s Song and Armenian Museum of America , 1st floor, 65 Main Street, Leslie Cristello, Parishioners of the Year. 10 am Divine Dance Show,” starring Joelle. 2-4 p.m., Saturday, the Watertown. Join us Sundays in December for afternoons Liturgy. Name Day Banquet to follow. Keljik Hall. St. Hovnanian School, 817 River Road, New Milford. Tickets of Christmas cheer! We welcome members of all levels to James’ Charles Mosesian Cultural and Youth Center. $45 $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Children 2 and under enjoy a special sale each Sunday before Christmas in per person. $15 for children 12 and under. Advanced free. Joelle of Montreal will perform her first children’s which they receive an additional holiday discount of 25 Reservations Required – purchase tickets online at show in New Jersey. Light reception to follow. For tickets percent (some exclusions apply)! Find that special gift or www.stjameswatertown.org. 465 Mt. Auburn Street, text or email Talia, 917-238-3970, [email protected] book to make this an extraordinary Armenian Christmas Watertown 617.923.8860 [email protected] or Salpie 516-413-4178, Salpimegerian @gmail.com. as you enjoy holiday music and refreshments. Renew, DECEMBER 15 — Christmas Holiday Concert — Erevan sign up, or give a gift membership to those you love. Choral Society and Orchestra. 3 p.m. Church DECEMBER 5-29 — Thursdays – Sundays, December 5- Sanctuary. Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater 29. End of the Year Book Sale. 12-6 p.m. Armenian Boston. 145 Brattle Street Cambridge. Holy Trinity Calendar items are free. Entries should not be Museum of America , 1st floor, 65 Main Street, Armenian Church of Greater Boston and the Erevan Watertown. Looking for the perfect gift or a treat for Choral Society and Orchestra, founded by the Very Rev. longer than 5 lines. Listings should include yourself that won’t break the bank? Come to the Oshagan Minassian (1930-2008) and now under the contact information. Items will be edited to fit Armenian Museum Gift Shop and explore our End of the direction of Konstantin Petrossian, Music Director and the space, if need be. A photo may be sent Year Book Sale. Great titles on sale for $20, $10, $5 and Conductor, will present their annual Christmas Holiday $1! Concert. The program will consist of a variety of beloved with the listing no later than Mondays at noon. DECEMBER 14 — Children’s Christmas Workshop. 1-4 Armenian and Western sacred and holiday music. The p.m. at the Armenian Museum of America Adele & public is warmly invited to attend this complimentary

Popular Armenian Songs Are a “This new Armenian CD, “Echoes of the Past” Hit in Watertown, Providence features the exciting sounds of the New Mugrditchian Band. The artists are, Mark DerMugrditchian-Clarinet/Def; WATERTOWN and PROVIDENCE — Two Greg Krikorian, Oud/Vocals; Armenian pops concerts were recently orga- Kevin Magarian,Guitar/Vocals, nized by the Armenian Museum of America jointly with the Composers Union of Armenia. Arthur Chingras, Dumbek. The Artistic Director of the concert program The smooth and mello sounds of the songs played on this CD was conductor Konstantin Petrossian. The for your listening and dancing pleasure will bring back memo- soloists of the concert were the popular Armenian singer Arthur Ispiryan from Armenia, ries of the past. and the winner of many international competi- A CD can be pur- tions Nara (Narine Harutyunyan) from chased by contacting California. The concerts were held at the Egavian Mark at 508-887- Cultural Center in Providence, and at the 2847, or by E-Mail at Armenian Museum of America in Watertown, and attracted great interest among the public. mdermugrditchian Numerous admirers of Armenian popular @gmail.com. music enjoyed the songs of Babajanyan, Ajemyan, Orbelian, Heqimyan, Khachatur or Greg at [email protected].

Arthur Ispiryan The band is available for bookings by calling Avetisyan, Vartazaryan, Ayvazyan, as well as Mark at 508-887- composers Aram Satian and Konstantin 2847 or Greg at 508- Petrossian, who performed in the concert and 485-1506. accompanied their own compositions. The interesting concert program was warmly received by the audience. In Providence, the concert in the form of an “Armenian Cafe Night,” was organized by the Cultural Committee of the Saints Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church. Arthur Ispiryan and Nara introduced each song and composer, and had a lively dialogue with the audience. The same concert format was successfully hosted by the Berj Chekijian, director of the Armenian Nara Museum of America in Watertown, where more than 200 listeners warmly received the soloists. S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 17 COMMENTARY

COMMENTARY Mirror Bratislava Offers Road to Nowhere Spectator On Karabakh ed in the public statements and discussions in Bratislava. By Edmond Y. Azadian The Kremlin, and particularly Mr. Lavrov, seem more accom- modating in recent months towards Yerevan’s position. When EstablishedEstablished 1932 1932 Mr. Lavrov visited Yerevan earlier, he stated that no settlement The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Zohrab is possible without the participation of the people of Karabakh. AnAn ADL ADL Publication Publication Mnatsakanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov, respectively, met for That was a welcome addition to the “Lavrov Plan” and in a way the 26th time in Bratislava, Slovakia, on December 4, under the echoed Prime Minister Pashinyan’s position on the issue. auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in The Russian position is more realistically explained in an arti- Europe (OSCE). cle by Aram Sargsyan. The headline of the piece says it all: EDITOR Statements were issued and news appeared which indicated “Russia is dreaming to integrate Azerbaijan in the structure of Alin K. Gregorian that the ministers had been spinning their wheels, as usual. the Collective Security and the Eurasian Economic Union; The ministers have made contradictory statements while the Azerbaijan’s price tag is Karabakh.” ASSISTANT EDITOR OSCE statement has tried to paper over the differences, count- In the ebb and flow of international politics, odd bedfellows Aram Arkun ing among their contributions to the parties prisoner have been congregating based on their national interests. Russia ART DIRECTOR exchanges, journalists’ visits between the two countries, the believes that Azerbaijan can become a convenient nexus for Marc Mgrditchian relaxation of tensions on the border and the willingness of the Russia, Turkey and Iran. At this time, Russia is not ready to pay two ministers to meet again in the future. the price Azerbaijan seeks, because it believes that Yerevan is After considering many plans over the years and contemplat- already slipping through its fingers, with Washington’s sudden ing solutions, the Azeri foreign minister has reverted to generosity towards Armenia and the passage of the Genocide Azerbaijan’s original demands which allow no room for com- resolution in Congress, which sent out many signals to different SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: promise. (See related story on Page 2.) quarters. Edmond Y. Azadian Mammadyarov’s delegation has distributed a memorandum to Along with Azerbaijan’s integration into Russian structures, the participating delegates, outlining Azerbaijan’s conditions for Moscow has been coveting the possibility of stationing its peace- CONTRIBUTORS: a solution: “Immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal keeping forces in Karabakh to complement its military base in Florence Avakian, Dr. Haroutiun of Armenian forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh region and Gyumri. Arzoumanian, Philippe Raffi Kalfayan, Philip Ketchian, Kevork Keushkerian, other occupied territories of Azerbaijan.” In addition to Mr. Lavrov’s private initiative to mediate Harut Sassounian, Hagop Vartivarian, The memorandum also is recognizing the right of the pre- between Baku and Yerevan, other voices from the Russian Naomi Zeytoonian dominantly Armenian population to have the “status of self-rule Duma offer hope. Constantin Zadulin, a Duma member, has within Azerbaijan.” CORRESPONDENTS: A party which has lost a war Armenia - Hagop Avedikian is asking for unconditional Boston - Nancy Kalajian surrender from the victor. Los Angeles - Taleen Babayan Where does Azerbaijan derive Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach such a degree of unrealistic Contributing Photographers: arrogance if not from its asso- Jirair Hovsepian ciation with Turkey? Azerbaijan has enlarged the scope of the conflict to bring in Turkey. The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published weekly, except two weeks in July and the first Indeed, Ankara has made a week of the year, by: condition of the settlement of the Karabakh issue on Azeri Baikar Association, Inc. terms to establish diplomatic 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 relations with Armenia and to Telephone: 617-924-4420 lift its blockade. FAX: 617-924-2887 Another reason is www.mirrorspectator.com Azerbaijan’s internal transfor- E-Mail: [email protected] mation, which began with the For advertising: [email protected] recent dissolution of the par- liament, the elimination of the old guard from key govern- ment positions and the transi- tion of power from Ilham Aliyev to his wife, Mehriban SUBSCRIPTION RATES : Aliyeva, who already holds the position of vice president. Interestingly, Armenia U.S.A. $80 a year seems to be offering another Canada $125 a year diplomatic channel to break the stalemate. Anna Other Countries $190 a year Hakobyan, the wife of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, last week come up with a plan which involves Azerbaijan’s recognition of invited Aliyeva to Karabakh. In an earlier interview, the Azeri Karabakh’s independence in return for the transfer of five first lady had expressed her desire to listen to Azeri folk music regions out of the seven that were captured by Armenian forces during the war as a security guarantee. Of course, these are sim- © 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator in Karabakh. Hakobyan said she would be welcome there like a ple statements; otherwise the parties would have requested fur- Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA guest of honor if she came in peace and that she herself would ther elaboration of the specifics, since the devil is in the details. and additional mailing offices. welcome a reciprocal visit. No answer has been received from the Azeri side. The director of the Caucasus Institute, Alexander ISSN 0004-234X Armenia’s foreign minister has also put forward Armenia’s Iskandaryan, does not see the possibility of the long-term or position in seven points. It basically says, “Azerbaijan must even short-term resumption of hostilities. Nor does he find real- istic the OSCE statement that the “status quo is unacceptable.” POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The assume direct commitment to the recognition of the right to self- Armenian Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount Auburn determination of the people of Nagorno Karabakh, the outcome He believes the status quo will remain at the expense of contin- St., Watertown, MA 02472 of which should have no limitation.” ued losses on both sides. Iskandaryan states: “The parties are Other than the editorial, views and opinions It is unfortunate that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, not ready for a compromise. Armenia’s concept of compromise expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily Russia, France and the US, as well as the United Nations have does not match that of Azerbaijan. For Azerbaijan, a compro- reflect the policies of the publisher. adhered to the Azerbaijani interpretation of the definition of ter- mise solution is a return to the situation before 1988, which ritorial integrity, while the Armenian position has been that actually is a non-starter. Armenia calls a compromise the preser- Karabakh ceded from the Soviet Union with the same legal vation of the current situation and in addition the recognition avenue that Azerbaijan did. Therefore, the concept of territorial of Karabakh, which Azerbaijanis are not ready to discuss.” integrity must not become a component of the solution to the Although Azerbaijan does not accept the status quo, in the Copying for other than personal use or conflict. Perhaps Armenia’s representatives have been maintain- final analysis the status quo works in its favor, weakening internal reference is prohibited without ing this position during the negotiations but we seldom witness Armenia through attrition over the years. express permission of the copyright On the other hand, the status quo saves lives for Armenia, owner. Address requests for reprints or its public manifestation. back issues to: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had met allowing hope that someday political developments may pave Mammadyarov and President Aliyev in Baku before arriving in the way for a more equitable solution. Bratislava and as a result of his discussions with them, made The meeting at Bratislava has not led anywhere and future Baikar Association, Inc. some positive statements about the “possibilities of achieving a similar meetings will not amount to anything but spinning 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472- compromise” on Karabakh which unfortunately were not reflect- wheels in the sand. 1509 18 S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY Would Turkey Really Allow Historians to Judge the Armenian Genocide?

After the U.S. House of Representatives last month recog- and Armenia. It asked the International Center for Transitional cial Vache Brudyan, who oversaw the archives, said in 2016 nized the mass killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire Justice, a U.S.-based non-governmental organization, to facili- that they were not closed, but were temporarily unavailable as from 1915 as genocide, Turkish President Recep Tayyip tate an independent legal study on genocide claims. But when they were being digitalized. He also said that all the archive Erdogan said historians, not politicians, should decide on the the center said in a 2003 report that the events of 1915 indi- materials had already been published in 1934 and later as a issue, and that Turkey’s archives were open to researchers. cated genocide, Turkey rejected the report and the commission book of two volumes. The idea is not a new one. It was first put forward by Levon was dissolved. But researchers have complained they have been unable to Ter-Petrosian, Armenia’s first president, after the country Since then, many in Turkey and in Armenia have tried to effectively use Turkey’s Ottoman archives, as they have not gained independence in openly discuss the events of 1915. In 2005, Istanbul’s presti- been properly indexed. Some who could access the archives 1991. He suggested forming gious Bogaziçi University backed out of hosting a conference were later interrogated by authorities and barred from access. By Alin Ozinian a commission of historians on Ottoman Armenians after the then-Justice Minister Cemil In recent years, the condition of the Ottoman archives has to discuss the question of Çiçek called the organizers traitors and accused them of stab- significantly improved, but åproblems persist. Some documents genocide. Turkish politicians bing the Turkish nation in the back. Istanbul’s Bilgi University of communication between the central and local authorities later embraced the idea and have frequently called for the mat- then held the conference, but protesters threw tomatoes and during the genocide have somehow evaporated. ter to be left to academics. There are similar problems in other official archives in In all, 152 countries are parties to the United Nation’s Turkey. “The archives of the Foreign Ministry are totally “Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime closed,” political scientist Ayhan Aktar said in 2014. of Genocide”. The convention obliges countries to prevent and the official archives in “The archives of the Office of the General Chief of Staff, punish genocidal acts and does not say a consensus by histo- Armenia are open, but Turkish known as ATASE, are only open in theory,” he said. “You are rians is required to recognize an atrocity as genocide. academic Candan Badem said in not allowed to see the originals of the documents. There is pre- Of course, political decision makers can base their decisions inspection. They show you what they want to,” he said. on the available research, and international scholars have pro- 2012 that only two researchers Another key source for studying the Armenian genocide is duced a vast literature concluding that the events of 1915 from Turkey had used them. the Ottoman land registry archives. In 2006, when authorities onwards can be classed as genocide. Most Turkish studies, were considering transferring the documents from the Land however, have focused on finding excuses and mitigating the Registry to the state archives, the military advised the National massacre of Armenians. eggs at participants outside the venue. Security Council against the move. “The information there can But if a commission of historians were set up, is it possible Then, in 2007, officials and researchers from Turkey were be abused for unfounded genocide claims and claims on the it would not become politicized, given the likely state interfer- invited to Armenia for an event on the problems and the future properties of Ottoman foundations,” a general said in an offi- ence in the selection of the academics involved? Is there any of Turkish-Armenian relations. Turkey declined the invitation, cial note to the council. guarantee that a historian who accepted the events as geno- saying there was nothing to discuss. Political scientist Baskın Oran said the council had blocked cide would not then be charged with the crime of “insulting Scholars attempted to organize another conference on the the move as the documents would prove that many properties Turkishness”? Armenian genocide at Bilgi University in 2015, but the univer- transferred by the state to Muslims had been seized from In 2000, secularist-nationalist journalist Emin Çölasan sity administration cancelled it. Greek and Armenian Christians. warned the then president of Turkey, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, For scholars seeking to research the genocide, the official Given the failure of previous efforts to allow historians about moves to set up just such a commission. archives in Armenia are open, but Turkish academic Candan access to open key source material and the hardening of the “What if those historians say ‘yes it is true, you committed Badem said in 2012 that only two researchers from Turkey had Turkish government’s stance since then, what can Armenians genocide’? What will we say then?” he asked. used them. do other than demand official recognition that the killings con- Despite such concerns, a year later, the U.S.-backed Turkish Turkish nationalist historians such as Yusuf Halaçolu have stituted genocide? Armenian Reconciliation Commission was established with a complained for years that the archives of the Armenian nation- (This commentary originally appeared on the website Ahval panel of retired diplomats and public figures from both Turkey alist Dashnak Party in Boston are closed. Dashnak Party offi- on November 20.)

LETTERS

the Turkish market looted gold provided by the Friends and Foes: A Lesson in Realpolitik Reichsbank (Nazi Germany’s Central Bank). A crucial point to keep in mind is the fact that the provenance of the gold sold on Turkish market To the Editor: es and addenda that disgusted so badly commu- by a desire to place relations between the two originated mostly from the “Melmer account” With reference to last week’s editorial “A nist party members in Europe, a substantial countries on a basis of mutual confidence and in which the SS deposited the gold, jewelry, Deadly Dilemma” by Edmond Y. Azadian, the number of party card holders dumped and sincere friendship, agreed without prejudice to coins, gold bars looted from Jewish victims, and author is absolutely right in his assertion that burned their membership IDs in front of build- present obligations of both countries to con- gold dental fillings extracted gassed Jews before “Now that Nzhdeh’s legacy has become a polit- ings housing communist parties’ offices. Based clude a treaty.” Article II reiterated the critical their corpses were conveyed to the incinerators ical hot potato, it is not up to the Azeris and for on the terms of the secret clause of “The Pact”, bonds between Turkish Turanic fanaticism and of the concentration camps. that matter, the Russians, to dictate which hero Germany provided to Russia military hardware in Nazi Supremacist aspirations by pointing out Also the archives and declassified documents Armenians should nor should not honor.” exchange for raw materials such as oil-mostly that: “Germany and Turkey bind themselves in of The US State Department indicates clearly Russians, Azeris, Turks, or any other nation from the oil fields of Azerbaijan, grain, iron and the future to communicate with each other in that Germany’s foreign minister, Joachim von should make no attempt to conceal the fact that other minerals critical for the Nazi’s weapon pro- friendly manner on all questions affecting their Ribbentrop, smuggled 15 tons of gold out of states and non-state actors conduct politics, duction programs. Soviet deliveries of oil to the common interests in order to bring about Berlin before the city’s fall to the Red Army. and especially wars considered to be a continu- fuel-starved Germans improved substantially the understanding on the treatment of such ques- The US Army took custody of 6.5 tons, some 2 ation of a political discourse in a different lan- operational efficiency of the Nazi Army. Fuel tions.” Based on the key conditions of the tons were delivered to the British Army in the guage, as a game where you have no permanent from the oil fields of Azerbaijan was used in SS treaty, reintroduced and consolidated in the German province of Schleswig-Holstein, and the enemies, no permanent friends, and the only trucks that rounded up Jews in the territories “Clodius Agreement” (named after Hitler’s balance (6.5 tons) ended up in the hands of neu- permanent reality is your focus on protecting conquered by the Nazi army. Fuel from the oil henchman/negotiator, Karl Clodius, who tral countries such as Portugal, Spain, your nation’s interests. fields of Azerbaijan was used in locomotives that signed the agreement on behalf of Nazi Switzerland, and an estimated 2 tons in Turkey. It seems that Azeri President Ilham Aliyev is shipped thousands of Jews to concentration Germany in October 1941), Turkey agreed to After years of close cooperation and collabora- suffering from a “selective amnesia” when he camps where gas chambers and specially export to Nazi Germany in 1941 45,000 tons of tion with Nazi Germany, under Soviet threats accuses, in international forums, Armenians of designed ovens guaranteed a horrifying industri- chromite ore, 90,000 tons in 1942, and 90,000 and Allied pressure, on February 23, 1945, promoting anti-Semitic sentiments by honoring al type of mass destruction. tons in 1943. In return Nazi Germany commit- Turkey declared war on Nazi Germany. Not a heroes who decided to partner with the devil to “The Pact” was used also by Stalin’s Russia ted itself to supply military hardware to Turkey, single Turkish soldier joined the Allied opera- save a nation from obliteration. Perhaps it will be to cater to the whims of Hitler who wanted all as many as 117 railway locomotives, and 1,250 tions in Europe, but it paved the way to the a good start to highlight the critical role the communist party members from Germany and freight rail cars to transport the ore. Turkish narrative that since it had been at war Russian air base at Lipetsk, located about 250 Austria — most of them Jews, who fled Nazi per- No one managed to emphasize better than with Germany, no one, including Holocaust sur- miles south of the Soviet capital Moscow, played secutions since 1933 and settled down in German Munitions Minister Albert Speer the vivors should expect the return of whatever between 1924 and 1930 in training the future Russia — to be returned to the Gestapo’s cus- critical role Turkish chromite export to Nazi Nazi loot it retained. Briefly I should point out pilots of the Luftwaffe, the very pilots who pro- tody in Germany. Soviet authorities arrested Germany. He pointed out to Hitler “that much that Turkey knowingly allowed Nazi war crimi- vided the critical air cover for the blitzkriegs of and shipped back to concentration camps every of Germany’s manufacture of armaments would nals to use its territory as a transit point to the Nazi Army into Poland and Eastern Europe. communist from Germany and Austria who had come to a halt within 10 months if Turkey’s reach Syria and Egypt, in the same way it Soviet cooperation with Hitler and his Nazi taken refuge in The Soviet Union. Last but not chromite exports to Germany were ended.” allowed ISIS fighters to use its own territory as regime did not end in 1930. On August 22, 1939, least, let us review “the honorable” role Turkey Needless to mention that without the manu- a transit point for the transfer of military hard- Nazi Germany’s Foreign Minister Joachim von played in maximizing the efficiency of the Nazi facturing of armaments, the Nazi Army would ware, logistical support, and medical treatment Ribbentrop had a lengthy face-to-face with Stalin war machine during WWII, and turning the have failed to conquer Eastern Europe, the SS of wounded ISIS field commanders determined and Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov. extermination camps into a fine tuned complex would have failed to round up Jews in con- to topple The Assad regime in Syria. Now for The details of a non-aggression treaty were final- mechanism enjoying the precision of a Swiss quered lands, and the gas chambers and incin- Azerbaijan, Russia, and Turkey to argue that ized, and on August 23, 1939, Hitler’s Germany mechanical watch. erators of concentration camps would have erecting the statue of Garegin and Stalin’s Russia shocked the world by Turkish nationalism during WWII and its been the subject of a grinding halt. Harutyunyan/Garegin Nzhdeh anywhere on announcing that they had concluded a non- attachment to the ethnic purity of Turkey was Turkey did not only benefit from the exports Armenian soil is a sure sign of anti-Semitism, is aggression pact, that became known as The in harmony with the Aryan racial superiority of chromite over a period of several years, it nothing but an absurd maneuver designed to Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. pursued by Nazi Germany. And nowhere this profiteered also of what was known as “Blood burry under the rug the collaborationist role Taken at face value, the pact seemed like a gar- point is more obvious than in the preamble of Gold” the equivalent of modern day “Blood each of these countries played in supporting den type variety of an agreement between two The German–Turkish Treaty of Diamonds” used to finance war activities by dif- Nazi Germany and the fanatical anti-Semitism sovereign states reassuring each other that no Friendship/Türk-Alman Dostluk Paktı signed ferent state and non-state actors. German banks that colored and shaped the political landscape military aggression will target their respective on June 18 1941. (the Deutsche Bank and the Dresdner Bank) of Europe from 1933 to 1945. territories. But “The Pact” had a more horrifying “The Treaty” proclaimed: “The German took advantage of the largesse and open arms and sinister dimension. A long list of secret claus- Government and the Turkish Republic, inspired of the Turkish political establishment to sell on —Noubar Serabian S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 19 COMMENTARY

Chalik continues “If we believe that there is no other way Daily Sabah further reports that “In 1915, the Ottoman to defend our homeland and national existence, whoever we Empire relocated Armenians in eastern Anatolia following are, the smallest gratification we will resort to is a new ‘depor- revolts in which some sided with invading Russian forces. tation.’” There were many Armenian casualties during this relocation In the preface of his book, Armenian Genocide Claims, process. Armenia has demanded an apology and compensa- My Turn Chalik describes the Armenian demands regarding the 1915 tion, while Turkey has officially refuted Armenian allegations Genocide as “a crying literature…. Great nations with deep over the incidents saying that, although Armenians died dur- By Harut Sassounian roots do not manage to cry and whine. They regard pity and ing the relocations, many Turks also lost their lives in attacks seeking pity for themselves as demeaning. For this reason, carried out by Armenian gangs in Anatolia. The Turkish gov- ‘weeping and crying literatures’ are either not developed or ernment has repeatedly called on historians to study Ottoman have disappeared. This is one of the serious issues. From time archives pertaining to the era in order to uncover what actu- Erdogan’s Backers Threaten to to time, we, too, are influenced by the richness of the ally happened between the Ottoman government and its Commit A New Genocide Against Armenian crying literature, and unnecessarily accuse our- Armenian citizens. Rebuffing the ‘genocide’ allegations, selves for not publishing as much as they do. As a matter of Turkey has officially acknowledged past experiences as a Armenians fact, we can’t compete with them even if we wanted. We have great tragedy in which both parties suffered heavy casualties, such a vast ‘mourning literature’ that is not only related to including hundreds of Muslim Turks.” A group of extreme nationalist Turkish lawyers, members the Armenian atrocities, but other catastrophes we are expe- Altun was also quoted by Daily Sabah as stating that of the Istanbul Bar Association, published an article in their riencing. In fact, it is said that the silence that the Turks came Turkey will step up its efforts against Armenians targeting November 2019 Bulletin threatening “to deport” all to exhibit in the face of Tashnak propaganda, which has been the country. “We should wage a stronger fight against dark Armenians from Turkey once again. The author of the article, carried out for decades with a full cry, has been seen as propaganda.” Mustafa Chalik, writes that the “deportation” would be “the ‘denial’ of the crime of slander and genocide.” More importantly, Altun added that Turkey’s negotiating mildest action” against the Armenians. Since the Turkish gov- In addition to Chalik’s article, there is a second article in power in the international arena has been increasing as a ernment denies the occurrence of the Armenian Genocide, the extreme nationalist Turkish lawyers’ Bulletin, written by result of its growing regional strength. “Our aim is to conduct the author refers to it as “deportation.” The article describes Faruk Ulker, titled: “1915 Events and Armenian Atrocities.” high-quality, valuable work to equal to the upsurge of our the Armenian Genocide as “a crowning achievement.” Ulker writes that “the Armenian issue and the claim of the country, which has a voice in the region and in the world,” To make matters worse, Chalik blesses the memories of Armenian Genocide still remain one of the most important Altun stated. the chief henchmen of the Armenian Genocide: “the great problems of our nation in the last century.” He calls the geno- We should make two conclusions from the above materials: martyr Talaat Pasha,” Enver Pasha, and Bahaddin Shakir, cide, “self-defense.” The article also quotes Yusuf Halacoglu, 1) Those who say that the ‘Bloody Turk’ has not changed saying that “we bow in front of the saintly memories of all a former member of the Turkish Parliament and a denialist of much in the past 100 years are right, except that we should Unionists [Young Turks] and kiss their blessed hands…. the Armenian Genocide, as stating: “the 300,000 Armenians not generalize to all Turks. There are many Turks who are We wish God’s mercy and eternal bliss in Heaven to all who died during the deportations lost their lives due to dis- righteous and readily acknowledge the crime of Genocide unnamed [Turkish] martyrs who lost their lives in the ease in the Caucasus.” against Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks. However, there are Armenian massacres.” As if such denialist lies were not enough, the Turkish news- many other Turks who are the blind followers of Turkish offi- Chalik goes on to write that “If the Committee of Union paper Daily Sabah published an article on December 8, 2019, cials who intentionally deny the Armenian Genocide. Good and Progress [Young Turks] committed ‘a crime,’ their only titled: “Turkey to boost efforts to fight defamation campaign.” examples of the denialist Turks are the authors of the two ‘crime’ was to prevent the catastrophe that occurred to us in The Turkish government’s Directorate of Communications articles referenced above, and the website set up by the Balkans from happening to us in Eastern Anatolia.” formed a website, “1915.gov.tr,” posting materials that deny Erdogan’s Turkish Government to deny the Armenian The writer states that “we support the Armenian deporta- the facts of the Armenian Genocide. Daily Sabah states that Genocide. tion of 1915. Those who call the deportation a genocide are “Turkey objects to the presentation of the 1915 incidents as 2) The Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin making a declaration of war. Armenians and others, who call a ‘genocide,’ rather referring to it as a tragedy in which both Altun claims that with the increasing prestige of Turkey, it it a genocide, are threatened with a new deportation which Turks and Armenians suffered casualties amidst the throes of has become a stronger country. While this is unfortunately will be the lightest measure against them.” World War I…. ‘This website will respond to Armenian geno- true, it should encourage all truth and justice loving people “Our ancestors entered the World War to defend their cide slander used against our country at every possible oppor- in the world to work tirelessly to expose the true barbaric sacred homeland and honor. It is our honor and the crown of tunity in the international area, by putting historical infor- nature of Turkey not only 100 years ago, but also today in our heads in all our struggles from Sarıkamısh to Chanakkale mation and data to the fore,’ said Presidential Northern Syria against Kurds and Christians. Countering and and from the Armenian deportation to Independence War. Communications Director Fahrettin Altun on Saturday dur- diminishing Turkey’s clout in international relations should We will carry this crown with eternal pride,” writes Chalik. ing a training program in the coastal province of Antalya.” be one of the main objectives to establish historical justice.

had joined women of color groups because I knew I wasn’t white ing so many depressing stories of the Genocide it was exhilarat- Why I Marched in European. I told them about the 1915 Armenian Genocide ing to be there in May 1992 and see Armenians outwitting ene- because it was never being mentioned. I identified as a light mies trying to kill us. skinned Near Eastern women of color. There were few maps that I went to battlefronts in every region of Artsakh and docu- showed the Near East and Western Asia categories of Armenians mented some of the stories of the Artsakh women soldiers I met The NYC Veteran’s or how Eastern Turkey was really the stolen land of my occupied because so many Armenian women’s stories have been left out Western Armenian ancestry. I appreciated everyone who could of Armenian history. understand my path of resisting assimilation. Like Marguerite Sarkissyan, a sniper who hid in trees and had Day Parade When I went to Eastern Armenia in 1991 it was fate (jagadad- excellent aim. She saved an Armenian village that was being er) that I met Monte Melkonian in the youth hostel in Yerevan. attacked by Azeri tanks. When the Azeri commander who In 1978 we had been in Armenian Students Association protest thought he had won, stuck his head out of the tank she shot him of UC Berkeley taking down an exhibit of Armenian Genocide and his soldiers fled. By Anoush Ter Taulian photos out of the library because of Turkish pressure. Monte In Artsakh so many people couldn’t believe I had come to help. asked me to come with him to Artsakh (I had never heard of Because I was a woman alone with a camera, I must be a spy!! I marched in the Veterans Day Parade in New York City on Artsakh) to videotape his soldiers who lacked proper shoes and was even captured by the Russians who interrogated me at their November 11 with my Artsakh War Veteran sign because equipment and I agreed. military base to find out who I was. The constant mislabeling we need US citizens to protest any US government He didn’t tell me his soldiers didn’t want a woman with them coupled with the discrimination against women was very stress- attempt to stop aid to Artsakh. I made a map because few because they thought I would slow them down and they could- ful. Americans know the location of Armenia and Artsakh. I n’t relax at night in their underwear. Going to the first battle he Thank goodness there were so many helpful Armenians with- wanted them to know Artsakh Armenians are not allowed told me not to bring anything with my Armenian name in case I out whose emotional support I couldn’t have done anything. to live in peace on their ancient land because Azerbaijan was captured by the Azeris. Because while I met the best commanders there was also the is currently violated ceasefire agreements firing at After we won the battle I was told it was safe to go to the lib- reality of having to get permission from the worst. It was good to I Artsakh border guards. erated village but I was surrounded and attacked by some of our know Alvard Bakhudarjan, a compassionate and hard working I marched with Veterans For Peace a global organization of soldiers from another battalion who didn’t know who I was. writer/journalist understood how hard it was to deal with cor- military veterans dedicated to heal the wounds of war on veter- Monte reprimanded them but I had to deal with the burden of rupt leaders like Samvel Babayan who was the NKR Defense ans and educate about war making around the world. Many their shame of attacking an unarmed Army Commander. He stole a lot of aid and took many bribes. Americans now know how Turkey unethically, with many human Woman. Reports suggest greed was not among his worst vices. rights abuses, grabbed control of land in Northern Syria. It was After seeing so many destroyed Armenian villages and head- Soldiers are supposed to protect the population, but like all a good time to talk to the media and public about Erdogan’s less Armenian bodies in Artsakh, I came to realize how impor- military around the world women soldiers can face harassment, denial of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, his support of tant armed self-defense was for the survival of my homeland. I abuse and discrimination. After the ceasefire in 1994 one of the Azerbaijan’s attack on Armenians and his continuing anti- decided to become a soldier. I gave up someone in the US who Martakert commanders decided that women should be eliminat- Armenian policies that allowed Islamic militant groups to dam- really loved me, and redirected my life to do my duty as a volun- ed from the military base because they were a temptation. age Armenian towns in Syria. teer in the Artsakh liberation struggle. Even though I learned Fortunately the soldiers themselves knew that wasn’t right and Turkey and Azerbaijan’s theft of the Armenian homeland and how to use an avtomat I never used one, I was never involved in eventually the women soldiers were allowed back in. murders of Armenians under the guise of Jihads and fake histo- direct combat, but tried to help however I could. At a certain point I knew I had to leave because fighting ries they created has profoundly affected my life. I have had to I was proud to meet kind and pure hearted leaders like Authur against corruption can be dangerous. When I exposed the head figure out what effect intergenerational trauma has had on me. Mkrtchyan, the first president of Artsakh, who was mysteriously of a hospital for selling the aid and charging wounded soldiers a It took me a lifetime to find out hidden family history involving killed. I was fortunate to meet Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan a kind and hundred dollars under the table to sign their pension papers he those violent conquerors. My paternal Aintab grandmother brilliant leader military leader that allowed me join the Artsakh said “Anoush you are a bad woman and you aren’t allowed in the never talked about being a sex slave in a Turkish harem and all liberation struggle. hospital again.” That decision was reversed but he became very the horrors she saw. My maternal grandmother’s family was from In February 1992 I was in the village of Khojaly when the bat- rich owning a lot of the town. Julfa, Nakhichevan. Later Azerbaijan forced out Armenians out tle occurred. The Azeris who are master propaganda manupu- Also many women don’t report cases of sexual violence of the area and bulldozed the ancient Armenian Julfa cemetery laters passed it off as the Azeri Genocide which unfortunately is because they would be looked upon as damaged goods or over which they put up a military base where their trucks are acknowledged by 21 states in America. There were many suspi- unwanted troublemakers. I decided to take an officer to court for now driving over my ancestors’ bones. cious circumstances. Enough to wonder if the deceitful Azeris attempted rape for all the women who felt they couldn’t speak When I attended U.C. Berkeley in the 1970s, immersed in the created a scene of misinformation. out. Even though I won the case who knows if the abuser I took peace movement, I never imagined I would end up a soldier in Ter-Tadevosyan was the commander of the “Wedding in the to court might seek revenge if I return. an Armenian self-defense struggle against Azerbaijan attacks. I Mountain Operation” Armenian retaking of Shushi. After read- see PARADE, page 20 16 S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

Abu Dhabi Firm Plans to Invest in Armenia’s Renewable Energy Sector ABU DHABI (RFE/RL) — A renewable energy and $320 million in investments, the bulk of company based in Abu Dhabi has pledged to which will presumably be made by Masdar. finance the construction of large solar power Masdar’s chief executive, Mohamed Jameel Al plants in Armenia that would ease the country’s Ramahi was quoted as noting Armenia’s “con- dependence natural gas and nuclear power. siderable untapped potential for both solar and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, also wind power.” known as Masdar, signed a “joint development “Armenia is a fast-growing economy with an agreement” on December 2 to that effect with increasingly open and supportive environment the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) in for inward investment,” said Al Ramahi. “That the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). is an important reason why we have been able Armenian President Armen Sarkissian and to move forward in our partnership.” UAE’s Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei “I am happy to report that we have sent a attended the signing ceremony. highly competitive written proposal to the gov- In a joint statement, Masdar and ANIF said ernment of Armenia which outlines the details the deal envisages the launch of solar energy of the 400-megawatt of solar PV that we are projects in Armenia with a total capacity of 400 jointly proposing,” David Papazian, the head of megawatts, which would nearly match the ANIF, said for his part. design capacity of the Metsamor nuclear plant . Papazian, runs a state agency tasked with Members of the Guatemalan parliament delegation with Catholicos of All Armeniabs Karekin II They said this will require between $300 million attracting foreign investment in Armenia. Guatemalan Parliament Delegation Visits Armenia Why I Marched in The NYC Veteran’s Day Parade YEREVAN (Armenpress,News.am) — First Vice President of the Guatemalan Parliament Felipe Alejos Lorenzana visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial on December 6 in PARADE, from page 19 grateful to have found an Armenian energetic Yerevan. In 2016, Azeri attacks against Artsakh inten- healer that for years has been helping me heal Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Lena Nazaryan accompanied the delega- sified in the Four-Day War and the Armenian from PTSD. tion, which also included senior MP Juan Ramon Lau. National Committee of America held a demon- I was fortunate to experience Artsakh when The Guatemalan delegation laid flowers at the Eternal Flame and observed a moment stration in front of the UN. The was a big photo there were indigenous values of sharing before of silence in honor of the Armenian Genocide victims. banner of Artsakh war heroes with no photos capitalism created more differences between Then, the lawmakers also toured the Armenian Genocide Institute and signed the guest- of women. Another Artsakh war veteran and the haves and have not. Ironically now after book. myself were present but they wouldn’t acknowl- devoting my life to the Armenian cause many Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians on the same day received edge us. I also felt bad when I saw a photo Armenian events in NYC are too expensive for the delegation at the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin. exhibit of the war at the AGBU and there was- me to attend. During the meeting, the Supreme Patriarch expressed joy for the first steps aimed at n’t a single photo of all the women soldiers. After 17 years of my life involved in helping establishing partnering ties between Armenia and Guatemala, and in this context, he Without all the sacrifices by all the people and Artsakh I, I still spend a lot of my time letting attached importance to the signing of an agreement on friendship and parliamentary coop- soldiers in Artsakh the 1990s would there even the world know about the Artsakh Freedom eration between the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala and the National Assembly of be an Artsakh today? Struggle and good hearted courageous people the Republic of Armenia. Having seen so many body parts and muti- I met who are persevering to take care of our The catholicos drew the delegation’s attention to the importance of condemnation of lated dead bodies I have wartime PTSD. Many ancient land despite all the obstacles. the Armenian Genocide and shed light on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the need for veterans experience flight or fight anxiety and a peaceful settlement of the conflict. The Supreme Patriarch voiced hope that the have a hard time waiting. I feel part of priest (Anoush Ter Taulian is a graduate of the Guatemalan authorities would express their position on these issues which are important training should be how to deal with PTSD. One University of California Berkeley. In 1992, she for the Armenian people. of the best books on this is Complex PTSD by decided to relocate to Artsakh where she vol- Lorenzana expressed gratitude for the reception and stated that his visit to Armenia Pete Walker. unteered in the liberation struggle alongside serves as a major step for further development of the relations and cooperation between I have spent a lot of time and money trying Monte Melkonian. She has depicted the the two countries. The Vice-President also presented the developments that have unfold- to repair the damage to my health from the Armenian struggle for freedom in poetry, paint- ed in the Republic of Guatemala over the past years and attached importance to exchange toxic metals in the bombs and mine explosions. ings, videos, and radio. She is a lifelong activist of experience and further strengthening of relations with Armenia. I have purchased years of detoxification supple- speaking in schools, churches, and at anti- ments and treatments. I am very fortunate and racism conferences.)