NOVEMBER 8, 2014 MirTHErARoMENr IAN -Spe ctator Volume LXXXV, NO. 17, Issue 4360 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 Bishop Vahan Human Rights Journalism Focus of Hovhanessian Elected Primate of French Annual Heritage Park Lecture Diocese PARIS — On November 1, meeting under the chair - manship of V. Rev. Mesrob Barsamian, locum tenens of the Armenian Diocse in France, Bishop By Alin K. Gregorian Vahan Hovhannesian, currently Primate of the Mirror-Spectator Staff Diocese of Great Britain and Ireland, was elected Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of France by the assembly of Diocesan religious and BOSTON — The fifth annual Armenian lay delegates. He succeeds Archbishop Norvan Heritage Park Foundation endowed lecture Zakarian. The result was immediately transmitted on Thursday, October 23, focused on jour - to Catholicos Karekin II for confirmation and bless - nalists around the world who cover human ing. Diocesan authorities will soon announce the rights issues, and who sometimes pay the date of the inauguration of the new Primate. ultimate price for their courage. Hovhannesian was born in Bagdad in Iraq in Three journalists, including veteran jour - 1963. In 1985 he graduated from the Faculty of nalist Ray Suarez, Pulitzer Prize-winner Electrical Engineering of the University of Stephen Kurkjian, formerly of the Boston Baghdad and began studying theology at St. Globe , and Thomas Mucha of Global Post, Nersess Seminary in New York and St. Vladimir’s shared their experiences at the K. George Orthodox Theo in the same city. and Carolann Najarian MD Lecture on Human Rights called “Truth to Action: Media Freedom,” at Faneuil Hall. Memorandum Signed One of the first speakers was Boston From left, Dr. Carolann Najarian, Courtney Radsch, Mayor Martin Walsh, Ray Suarez, Mayor Martin J. Walsh, who spoke not only Thomas Mucha and Stephen Kurkjian Between Gulbenkian about human rights, but also his ties to the Armenian community. He recalled serving Foundation and in the State House with Rachel Kaprielian its Armenian Quarter with Koutoujian, built communities all over the world.” Diaspora Ministry and Peter Koutoujian, both of whom even - chuckling about the very tall Koutoujian He paid tribute not only to the survivors tually left the State House, as he did, one to trying to pass through a doorway that was of the Armenian Genocide, but to the peo - YEREVAN — The Armenian Communities head the Registry of Motor Vehicles first half his height. ple in Boston who a century back, at the Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian and now the Office of Labor and Workforce He praised the Armenian Heritage Park very same location, in Faneuil Hall, raised Foundation and the Armenian Ministry of the Development, and the other who is cur - for presenting new possibilities in terms of the alarm about the Genocide and created Diaspora signed a memorandum of understanding rently the sheriff of Middlesex County. public space. “It is one of the most thought - mechanisms to help survivors. to collectively reinforce the advancement of He also recalled his visit to Jerusalem and fully-designed spaces in our city,” he said. “I am of Irish descent and there are a lot Western Armenian. The agreement was signed at “I am so grateful to the Armenian- of similarities. So many Armenian people the ministry’s offices in Yerevan by Minister American community who use their back - here are so proud of their heritage and Hranush Hakobyan and Razmik Panossian, who ground to shine the line on human rights,” don’t want to let it go,” he said. was representing Martin Essayan, a trustee of the he said. “The Armenian people experienced Courtney Radsch, advocacy director for foundation. a massive loss of life,” he said, but the sur - the Committee to Protect Journalists, This agreement is one element in the wider pro - vivors of the Genocide “persevered and see MEDIA, page 9 grams of the Armenian Communities Department of the Gulbenkian Foundation in the promotion of Armenian language and culture, and is in addition to its other academic and civil society engage - New Chairman Claims Probe Clears Pasadena ments in Armenia. The agreement is for three years. The Gulbenkian Foundation’s contribution Genocide Memorial Committee of Impropriety is 75,000 ruros (approximately $100,000) for the Anthony Portantino. first year. By André Coleman Melekian said that the group has been The agreement stipulates assistance to initiatives assured by its CPA that the PASAGMC’s IRS undertaken by the Educational Center for Mayor Tom Menino at the opening nonprofit status is current and secure and Learning Western Armenian in Armenia, and other of the Armenian Heritage Park in PASADENA, Calif. (Pasadena Weekly) — that there are no financial irregularities similar entities; and support for a scholarship pro - May 2012 Responding to allegations of financial regarding any funds that have been collected. gram for diasporan Armenian students wishing to impropriety made by its former chairman, “The goal is to finish the project,” pursue a course in Armenian Studies within a uni - former Pasadena Mayor Bill Paparian, the Melekian told the Pasadena Weekly on versity in Armenia. Moreover, the Gulbenkian Remembering Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial see PASADENA, page 10 Foundation and the ministry will undertake to Committee (PASAGMC) issued a statement coordinate their respective efforts in the publica - Thomas Menino last week indicating an internal investiga - tion and dissemination of learning materials (in tion into Paparian’s claims found no wrong - print or electronically) of the Western Armenian doing involving the group’s finances. Armenians Mull Electing language, as well as periodically updating each By Alin K. Gregorian “After a thorough review by the board, it other of their respective activities. Mirror-Spectator Staff is clear that the allegations made by Mr. Istanbul Patriarch Paparian represent, at best, a gross distor - tion of the facts and, at worst, a concerted ISTANBUL (Daily Sabah) — The lengthy BOSTON — For Boston residents campaign to mislead the community,” the absence of Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan, and for those attending official statement reads. Paparian served as the the Armenian Patriarch in Turkey, due to INSI DE events in the city, seeing Mayor group’s chairman until resigning late last his illness, has fueled a debate in the coun - Thomas Menino was routine. month. try’s Armenian religious community The mayor, who became Boston’s At that time, Paparian’s main complaints regarding whether the patriarch should be longest serving mayor, died on were leveled against the committee’s trea - replaced with a successor. Harvard Thursday, October 30, in the city he surer, David Gevorkyan, who Paparian said Since Mutafyan, officially known as loved so much, at the age of 71. was not truthful about his work and edu - Mesrob II, began suffering from dementia It was clear that the cancer that cation history. in 2008, Archbishop Aram Atesyan has Dink Talk had been ravaging his body for many “While the board cannot control what been serving as the head of the church in years was strengthening its hold on Page 5 the prior chairman says, his saying them his capacity as Patriarchal Vicar. A group of him, making him increasingly frail. does not make them true. His actions both Armenian dignitaries have urged for an The news a few days prior that he prior to and since his resignation were hurt - election of a new patriarch. Turkish laws had decided to forego any further ful to the project and not in keeping with prevent it since a new patriarch cannot be treatments made it clear that there legal ethics,” reads the group’s statement. elected while his predecessor is alive. INDEX was no hope. Paparian, who could not be reached for Another debate is over whether the new Arts and Living ...... 11 Much of the city, including the comment on this story, was replaced as patriarch will be “a co-patriarch” or not. Armenia ...... 2,3 members of the Armenian commu - PASAGMC chairman by Board member A patriarchal election is required to be Community News...... 5 nity in Massachusetts, mourned the Bernard Melekian, a former Pasadena held by the synod and the synod has to Editorial ...... 14 death of this plain-speaking man International ...... 4 police chief and city manager. apply to the Interior Ministry after approv - see MENINO, page 8 Members of PASAGMC board include ing the election. The government ruled out Melekian and former Assemblyman see PATRIARCH, page 4 2 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 8, 2014 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Hollande Talks about Karabagh Herbie Hancock to Give Concert in Armenia Conflict at Meeting with Erdogan YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Grammy Award winning YEREVAN (Armenpress) — At the the issue’s regulation is based are meeting between Presidents American pianist, keyboardist, bandleader and com- course of an October 31 meeting acceptable for the sides, which can Hollande, Sargisian, and Aliyev, the poser Herbie Hancock will give a concert in with President of Turkey Recep give an opportunity to record Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Armenia in the Alexander Spendiaryan National Tayyip Erdogan, President of progress in this issue. Among other Group Igor Popov of Russia, James Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet on November France François Hollande touched things, Hollande stated that they Warlick of the USA, Pierre Andrieu 20. upon the Nagorno Karabagh (NK) take into consideration Turkey’s of France and the personal repre - The organizer of the concert company One conflict and the meeting of attention to this issue. sentative of the OSCE Chairman-in- Production declared: “It was very difficult to bring Presidents Sargisian and Aliyev, On the initiative of Hollande, Office Anjey Kasperchik. The par - him to Armenia. Many others tried, but it took us which was held in Paris on October negotiations over the NK conflict ticipants attached great importance 4-5 months to convince his manager to launch 27. The official website of the pres - were held on October 27 at the to continuing dialogue within the Herbie Hancock’s European tour from Armenia.” ident of France reports that the lat - Paris Marine Palace. After meeting framework of the OSCE Minsk Hancock is a true icon of modern music, with an ter in his speech stated that before the French president, the Armenian Group co-chairmanship and confi - illustrious career spanning five decades. Born in the meeting with Erdogan, a signif - and Azerbaijani presidents conduct - dence-building efforts in order to Chicago in 1940, Hancock was a child piano prodi- icant meeting was held in the ed negotiations with the participa - make progress in peaceful negotia - gy who performed a Mozart piano concerto with Minsk Group format, where the tion of the Organization of Security tions. The absence of an alternative the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age 11. He Karabagh issue was discussed. The and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to the peaceful resolution of the began playing jazz in high school, initially influ- French president finds that the Minsk Group co-chairs and the per - conflict was stressed. The parties enced by Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans. He also Paris meeting of the Armenian and sonal representative of the OSCE made an arrangement to proceed developed a passion for electronics and science, Azerbaijani presidents was much Chairman-in-Office Anjey with high-level negotiations. and double-majored in music and electrical engi- more efficient than it is being Kasperchik, followed by a private On behalf of the French presi - neering at Grinnell College. assessed as. conversation between Serge dent, a supper was held in honor of Holding that meeting is a positive Sargisian and Ilham Aliyev. The the Armenian and Azerbaijani pres - Air Armenia Blames step and, according to the French negotiation results were summed idents at the Elysee Palace on the president, the principles on which up late in the evening at a joint evening of October 27. Russia for Flight Suspensions YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Air Armenia, a passenger Private Zoos Boasting Exotic Animals: and cargo airline based in Yerevan, has suspended all passenger flights until at least December 20 over financial difficulties that the firm is blaming The New Status Symbol of Armenia’s Elite on Russia. Air Armenia says it is unable to continue regular health. denied any connection to the case, but passenger services because of a “panic” among By Marianna Grigoryan Yet investigative reports by the news has said that Tsarukian owns about investors and customers over a statement by site Hetq.am indicate that not all of the two dozen lions and white tigers, which Russia’s federal air navigation service. exotic animals imported into Armenia live “in perfect conditions.” Russia’s Rosaeronavigatsia announced on YEREVAN (Guardian) — The neigh - – for example an endangered bonobo – Tsarukian is not alone in his tastes. September 11 that it would ban Air Armenia from bors of Mher Sedrakian, an MP in end up in the CITES database. Former deputy defense minister operating flights to Russian cities unless the com- Armenia’s ruling Republican party, Similarly, though crocodiles were Lieutenant General Manvel Grigorian, pany paid its outstanding debts by September 21. have a persistent problem with noise. offered for sale in Yerevan supermar - the head of an influential organization Air Armenia said the statement damaged its busi- But this is not about wild parties or car kets last December for New Year’s cele - of Karabagh war veterans, keeps tigers, ness reputation and that, as a result, its fleet was horns. Rather, it is about lions. brations, the database contains no lions, bears and various birds in a pri - reduced to one aircraft. The lions that Sedrakian allegedly mention of their import as food prod - vate zoo in the town of Echmiadzin. Other than Russian cities, the airline had been keeps as pets at his home in the ucts. According to Hetq.am, an allegedly flying to Paris, Frankfurt, and Athens. Air Armenia Armenian capital Yerevan roar continu - It does, however, show an array of toothless tiger also protects Grigorian’s was founded as a cargo airline in 2003 and began ously, his neighbors complain. exotic imports. Cheetahs topped the Echmiadzin house. The tiger cub found operating commercial passenger flights in 2013 Increasingly, many Armenians can feline list, with 18 imports from the wandering in the town last year is after the bankruptcy of Armavia. understand that concern. Private zoos United Arab Emirates and South Africa believed to have belonged to the gener - with lions, tigers and bears are emerg - between 2008 and 2013. Nine lions al, who has not responded to the alle - ing as a popular hobby for the wealthy were brought in during the same peri - gations. EU To Provide Armenia and powerful, and the government od; most from the United Arab But holding any political figure to With Fresh Aid does not seem inclined to intervene. Emirates. account on such a score is difficult. Instead, recent amendments to Forty-one fennec foxes, natives of the Environmentalists say the govern - YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The European Union (EU) wildlife legislation seem to facilitate Sahara, entered Armenia between ment has not responded to their has pledged to provide between 140 million and this pastime. Private citizens are 2009 and 2010, while 21 rheas, ostrich- requests to see the documentation for 170 million euros to Armenia for the private sector, allowed to own wild animals, including like birds from South America, made the endangered brown bears allegedly public administration and justice reforms over the endangered species, as long as they the trip in 2012. owned by Hovik Abovian, the governor next three years. provide areas for the animals that Whether or not these animals were of the northern province Tavush. The commitment is contained in a memorandum ensure their “life, health and safety,” meant for the Yerevan zoo was not The agriculture ministry’s Mkrtchian, of understanding launching the Single Support and prevent escape from captivity, the immediately clear. however, says that “everything is done Framework for EU support to Yerevan that was law says. Supervision is supposed to be Yerevan zoo director Ruben in accordance with procedures.” signed in Brussels on November 3 by newly “constant.” Khachatrian said his facility was “mak - “We do everything we can to ensure appointed Commissioner for European But it is not. Last November, tiger ing every effort to meet international safety,” he said. Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement cubs were found in the streets of standards”, and expressed regret that But it does not always work. In 2012 Negotiations Johannes Hahn and Armenian Echmiadzin, a town about 12 miles Armenia had developed a reputation a lion allegedly owned by a former Economy Minister Karen Chshmaritian. from the capital, Yerevan, local media for an illegal trade in wild animals. police colonel seriously injured a two- “The EU and Armenia are committed to continu- reported. “Because of certain persons, year-old child in a village not far from ing cooperation in areas of mutual interest based Although tigers, as an endangered Armenia has a bad international image the Turkish border. on shared values,” Hahn said, on his first official species, cannot be exported from the in terms of the unlawful trade in ani - Environmentalist Silva Adamian working day as commissioner. “We support the wild, their import from zoos is allowed. mals,” Khachatrian said. “[Individuals] argues that the law on wildlife simply country’s modernization efforts and we will con- A search of the Convention on can approach you at international con - does not work. “Legislators should tinue encouraging necessary reforms in Armenia.” International Trade in Endangered ferences and ask with anxiety, ‘What is have the leverage to control the field, The deal represents the most significant agree- Species of Wild Fauna and Flora going on in your country?’” whereas the opposite is happening,” ment between the European Union and Armenia (CITES) database for 2008 to 2013 The government launched a criminal said Adamian. since Yerevan decided to join the Russian-led shows the import of six tigers to investigation into the importation of Restaurants throughout the country Eurasian Economic Union. That decision, Armenia, including three Siberian animals after the Hetq.am investiga - offer the meat of bears, boars and deer, announced by Armenian President Serge Sargisian tigers from Ukraine. The others came tion, but no results have been all endangered in Armenia, on their in Moscow in September 2013, effectively put an from Belgium, Chile and Kazakhstan. announced. menus. Bears can also be seen on the end to years of negotiations between Yerevan and An Armenian border guard official, Among those known to have a taste loose in Yerevan itself – there were two Brussels to conclude an Association Agreement and who declined to be named, said that a for exotic wildlife is one of Armenia’s reported spottings twice within the last its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area tiger can be brought into the country if most powerful political players, million - year. (DCFTA) component. documents show its country of origin aire businessman Gagik Tsarukian, the Adamian said civil society groups He also announced the first package of EU assis- and demonstrate that it is the third head of the opposition Prosperous were not prepared to take up the issue tance for 2014 under the new Single Support generation of a zoo-based line. Armenia Party. either. “The field is controlled by cer - Framework. The fresh funding of 19 million euros A CITES certificate that authorizes A 2009 YouTube video showing a tain influential people, while society is (about $23.8 million) will focus on small business- the animal’s shipment is also required, donkey placed in a cage of lions was so busy with other problems that it sim - es and human rights protection in Armenia. said Hovhannes Mkrtchian, head of the widely reputed to have been filmed at ply has no time to take an interest in ministry of agriculture’s food security Tsarukian’s Yerevan residence, which these issues,” she said. The govern - department, which checks import doc - contains a private zoo. ment declined to comment on the alle - uments and verifies the animals’ His spokesperson, Iveta Tonoian, gations. S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 8, 2014 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 ARMENIA Teachers, Businessmen, Robots and Youth United to Rebuild Armenian IT

explained to us that he had seen such a printer By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach on the Internet and copied the design to build his own out of Lego. Then he studied program - Special to the Mirror-Spectator ming and wrote a program to be able to run his printer. YEREVAN — Karen Vardanyan has an ambi - Among the tools available to the robotics tious vision for Armenia’s future. If his program clubs is a lab program, modeled on an MIT continues to garner success, the country will “Scratch” program, developed in 2003, which is become a leader in the field of complex engi - an online programming language and commu - neering solutions, not only in software but also nity, through which children can learn pro - in related fields. Thus far, the project has cap - gramming and create their own stories and tured the imagination of hundreds of Armenian games. This has been translated into Armenian youngsters and enjoys the support of private and adapted to teach programming in the industry and some governmental agencies. Armenian language and in an Armenian envi - The basic concept is deceptively simple. He ronment. So children now can do their class - and his colleagues set up robotics clubs in pub - work, including physics experiments or whatev - lic schools, where pupils can take part, on a vol - er, with this computer language. Of course, untary basis, and learn all about the field. They many children who learned to work with can build their own robots, as well as learn to Scratch online, had to learn English to do so. operate them through remote control. They This may help explain why we met up with so become proficient in computer programming. many young people who spoke excellent Once a year, they can participate in a nation - English. With this program in Armenian, they wide competition, where they present their cre - can also connect their games to small comput - ations. Those youth who excel and wish to con - ers, also made in Armenia. With their comput - tinue their education in electronics, can study ers they can develop programs to operate com - at universities thanks to scholarships, and even puter-controlled cutting (CNC) machines, to cut travel abroad to further their higher education. wood or metals, for example. In more advanced When they return to Armenia, they will either robotics clubs in the higher grades, students embark on teaching careers or enter industry at learn to work with unmanned aerial vehicles some level, and either way contribute to rebuild - (UAV) with video stabilization cameras mount - ing this vital sector. ed on them, for application in weather systems We met with Karen, an old friend, at the and the like. Digitec Expo 2014, held between October 3-5 at A further tool is the Atelier Lab, invented by the Mergelyan Institute in Erevan. Twenty-five Etienne Delacroix, who pioneered deconstruct - years ago there were 8,000 people, working at ing discarded computers and other related com - the Mergelyan Institute, whereas now there are ponents — “technological junk” — and reassem - 400. These figures spell out the dimensions of bling them in new useful electronic devices. A the tragedy that has afflicted the sector, which trained physicist and also a painter, Delacroix earlier had been the leader in military electron - was a visiting scholar at MIT. There he ics in the entire Soviet Union. When Armenia Karen Vardanyan approached computer technology from the became independent in 1991 there was opposi - standpoint of an artist, and later led workshops tion in both east and west to the perspective of in various countries on how to combine engi - a strong sector in the country. In the early Armenian Open Championship of Developers of rather play together, in groups of 5-7 at a time, neering and art. “He came to Armenia,” 1990s conflict situation, electricity was scarce Computer and Mobile Games; the Armenian learning about how robots work and then build - Vardanyan told us, “and we want to implement or not available, the factories had been gutted, Robotics Developments and Support Program ing their own. his approach nationally — the first country to their equipment removed or stolen, and former (ArmRobotics), the Business Innovation Forum At the Digitec Expo, we could see how excit - do so.” Obviously, this requires qualified teach - employees had to seek jobs elsewhere. and the Digi Camp. ing these robots are for children of all ages. ers and a lot of old junk computers. “Also we Thousands of highly qualified Armenians in this They had small wheel vehicles built with Lego want to make a Live Code programming lan - and other high-tech areas sought and found Building Blocks for Tomorrow’s blocks, which they drove around in a playing guage in labs, to allow the members of engi - employment abroad, and the brain drain threat - Engineers area by remote control. Then there were the neering labs to learn programming both for ened to rob the country of its most precious The special programs covering the 5th range finders, which are mobile platforms with Android and IOS. Afterwards they can gener - resource: its human capital. through 12th grades in schools work with five ultrasonic distance sensors that can find obsta - ate income by it.” Thus the idea of robotics clubs. As Vardanyan basic tools. First are the School Educational cles and measure distances. A robot equipped Industry Allies with Educators explained, the Union of Information Robotics Kits, produced by SYMOTEC with an arm mounted on the mobile platform Technology Enterprises (UITE), of which he is Engineering Company. These are inexpensive can carry a web camera. It can recognize balls One slogan Vardanyan quoted for his project executive director, was established in 2000 as a kits providing the tools with which youngsters of different colors, follow them and perform var - is “One company, one school.” By this he hopes business association of some 70 enterprises in can build their own robots. The kits contain a ious actions with each color. One attraction to organize small and medium companies to this field operating in Armenia, whether native self-sufficient collection of metallic constructor that fascinated especially the youngest children team up with schools, whose students can be or local branches of international organiza - details, wheels, motors and sensors from Vex was an ecology-friendly garbage can with a big trained there. At present there are about 500 tions. Among the many programs that UITE Robotics, control boxes with RoBoard based smile, that opened its cover, like taking off its such companies in Armenia and the number implements are the Digitec Expo, the Digitec controllers, web cameras, Lan and WiFi wireless hat, to collect refuse. The more sophisticated should increase to 1,400 by the year 2018. Business Forum and the robotics programs networks, related software programs and train - devices on display included unmanned flying Since there are 1,400 schools in the country, by with their competitions, the “Open Game” ing instructions. Children work together, or objects (drones) and printers. One young boy that time, the one company, one school formu - la could be realized. To finance this entire effort, he estimated that a $25 million invest - ment, from public and private sources com - bined, would be required. Help from the Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian: ‘To Confront, to Ignore the Diaspora, in the form of single grants to single school, would be crucial. Right to Self-Determination Is Equivalent to Opposing Evolution’ Anyone who finds such a sum exorbitant should reflect on the sad reality of Armenia’s YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — The implementa - State at the British Foreign Office David right to self-determination. The last example is economy today. Although figures vary, tion of the right of self-determination does not Lidington. in the United Kingdom, where Scotland held a Vardanyan estimates that there is a 3% emigra - cause the emergence of different conflicts, but According to the Armenian foreign minister, referendum,” Nalbandian said, according to the tion rate, a continuing brain drain, which is just the reverse — the hindering, the refusal of the international system today including the 193 Ministry of Foreign Affairs press service. threatening Armenia’s future economic and the exercise of the right of self-determination United Nations (UN) member-states is a result of Nalbandian was also asked to react to state - social stability. Those who emigrate are educat - creates a fertile ground for conflicts, Armenian the implementation of the right to self-determi - ments in Baku alleging the authoritarian man - ed, university graduates, many with 8-12 years’ Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian stressed nation. He said, “How many countries existed at ner of the authorities in Armenia. experience. But they see no challenges and on November 3 when asked to comment on the the times of the foundation of the UN? Fifty-one! “I don’t think that it could make an impres - ambitious employment at home. This is the rea - recent conclusion of a United Nations expert That number has nearly quadrupled. To con - sion on anyone outside of Azerbaijan. And son why Vardanyan’s programs focus not on report. According to this report, it will be impos - front, to ignore the right to self-determination is even inside Azerbaijan that can impress very one single aspect but on the whole. His vision sible to resolve many conflicts if the right of equivalent to opposing evolution.” few people. Criticism on such a topic by a foresees an Armenia in which every school has peoples to self-determination is ignored. “We can unequivocally mention that this country which is characterized by the most an engineering club and the relevant educa - “We have always said, and say, that the imple - important, valuable report once again affirms authoritative international structures as an tional programs, and every school has a com - mentation of the right to self-determination can the approaches that Armenia had and has autocracy, with the most glaring and gross pany partner to provide on the job training. “It be preventive for new conflicts and can promote towards this issue; and not only Armenia, but violations of human rights, actually looks like will take one, two, three generations,” the settlement, preservation and strengthening of also several other countries and institutions of empty talk. Could you imagine such accusa - Vardanyan said, “but we have begun, we have regional and international peace. This report the international community. It is impossible tions from Gaddafi’s Libya or Saddam clubs in 60 schools so far.” And, as we could see speaks exactly about this,” Nalbandian said at a for any country or society where democracy Hussein’s Iraq? Whom could they impress?” for ourselves at the Digitec Expo, the excite - joint press conference with visiting Minister of and human rights are protected to resist the Nalbandian asked. ment is spreading like wildfire. 4 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 8, 2014 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL International News President of San Lorenzo Argentinean Football Club Recognized for Rejecting Azerbaijan Sponsorship Cartoon Dog Causes BUENOS AIRES — “I am very pleased Scandal between that San Lorenzo could be a pioneer in Germany and Turkey saying no to a budget offering, in saying that not everything can be bought, that ANKARA ISTANBUL (Armenpress) — Turkey has not everything can be sold.” responded angrily to the appearance of a caricature With those words, Matias Lammens, in a German textbook depicting the Turkish presi- president of the Argentinean football dent as a canine, summoning the German ambas- club San Lorenzo de Almagro, was rec - sador for explanation. ognized by the Armenian community on As Press TV reports, the depiction turned up in Friday, October 31, at AGBU Center a textbook in Germany’s southern state of Baden here for rejecting Azerbaijan sponsor - Wuerttemberg, personifying a dog as the Turkish ship in his club. head of state, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The animal is “Sometimes the power of money tries shown watching over a kennel, also named after to trample on history, because Nagorno the Turkish leader. Karabagh was an Armenian territory Ankara has summoned Eberhard Pohl, Germany’s until 1917. It is surprising how money ambassador to Turkey, over the matter. “We strong- occupies such an important place in our ly condemn the appearance in a school textbook of society and steps over issues of history a cartoon insulting our respected president,” the and identity,” said Lammens. Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement, After the news released, Lammens adding, “There is no place in democracies for was honored in front of most of the rep - attempts to incite hatred in society.” resentatives of Armenian institutions, as The ministry called the caricature offensive to well as leaders of other football clubs “all Turks living in Germany,” saying it incited like the Vice Presidents of River and “Islamophobia.” The Turkish president has in the Independiente, Matias Patanian and past come into conflict with cartoonists several Noray Nakis, respectively. The times. renowned sports journalists Enrique As prime minister, Erdogan filed a criminal com- Macaya Marquez and Walter Safarian, plaint against Musa Kart, a cartoonist for the who acted as host, also attended the Matias Lammens, on the left, and Hampartsoum Haladjian, AGBU President Cumhuriyet daily, in February, for a drawing of him event. serving as a watchman in a robbery. Lammens provided details of the During his incumbency as premier, he sued Azeri officials approach in Madrid and passed on from generation to genera - tract with the Uruguayan club Peñarol, Turkish satirical magazine, Penguen (Penguin), in Argentina, who told him that “there tion the Armenian cause for genocide but they couldn’t “because everyone 2005 for depicting him as an elephant, a giraffe, a could not be ethnic Armenians in the recognition. It seems incredible that knows that the Armenian community in monkey and several other animals. executive committee of the club.” only 20 countries have recognized the Uruguay is large and strong. Also, the He also expressed his admiration for Genocide after almost a hundred years.” board of Peñarol had two Armenian offi - the Armenian community because “they Walter Safarian explained that cials.” Russia Falls Behind In are great activists and have always Azerbaijan tried to enter the same con - — Christian Leblebidjian Prosperity, Personal Freedom Rankings LONDON — An annual assessment of global wealth Armenians Mull and well-being ranks Russia 68th in the world, or seven places lower than a year ago. The 2014 Electing Istanbul Prosperity Index by London-based Legatum Institute rates 142 countries around the world Patriarch based on eight categories, including: economy, per- sonal freedom, education, governance, health, safe- PATRIARCH, from page 1 ty, and security. an election of a new patriarch but a Russia’s lowest ranking — 124th in the world — group of Armenians filed a lawsuit for comes in the personal freedom category, while its the removal of regulations blocking the highest — 37th — is in education. In health care, election. The legal process is still under - Russia is ranked 44th. way. Norway leads the overall rankings for the sixth Speaking to Daily Sabah , Bedros year, followed by Switzerland, New Zealand, Sirinoglu, president of the Yedikule Denmark, Canada, and Sweden. China ranks 54th Surp Pirgiç Hospital Foundation, which and the United States 10th. Pakistan, Iraq, and represents the Armenian community, Afghanistan rank among the lowest — 127th, 128th, said the community needed a new patri - and 137th, respectively. President Serge Sargisian in Jordan arch, “either a successor or a co-patri - Among Central Asian states, Kazakhstan fares arch.” He claimed that the majority of best at 55th, followed by Uzbekistan (57th), community members agreed with the Kyrgyzstan (74th), and Tajikistan (94th). Among Armenian President Has ‘Spiritual election of a successor. Patriarchal Vicar other former Soviet republics, Belarus is ranked Atesyan told the Turkish daily Milliyet 53rd, Ukraine 63rd, Azerbaijan 79th, Georgia 80th, Moment’ at River Jordan that the election was “up for debate” Moldova 89th, and Armenia 95th. In the Western but the synod would have the final say Balkans, Croatia is ranked 50th, Montenegro 65th, AMMAN, Jordan — Armenian President Serge Sargisian wrapped up his on the matter. Sirinoglu says that Macedonia 69th, and Serbia 77th. tour of Jordan on October 30 with a visit to a spot on the river by the same Armenians have no intention of remov - The index defines prosperity as both wealth and name where it is said that Jesus Christ was baptized. ing Atesyan from his post. “He can be a wellbeing and states that, aside from a high gross According to the presidential office’s public affairs department, Sargisian candidate. What matters here is holding domestic product, the most prosperous nations in wrote the following in the guest book at Al-Maghtas (which means bap - an election,” Sirinoglu stated. “Atesyan the world are those that also have happy, healthy, tism/immersion in Arabic) located on the Jordan River 10 kilometers south - has been serving as an acting patriarch and free citizens. east of Jericho: “At Al-Maghtas, where Jesus Christ was baptized, the spiritu - for seven years. You can’t be an acting al dominates. A human here becomes a part of humanity, realizing the patriarch for seven years,” he said. inevitability of eternity. Baptism symbolizes the new, the tolerant and the Sirinoglu said that his call for the Aznavour Receives reborn good. I believe that this place can change a person’s understanding election of a new patriarch has found Turkish Golden Plane of the world.” broad support in the community includ - Sargisian led a government delegation to Jordan that included Armenian ing from the family of Mesrob II. Award Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian and Diaspora Minister Hranoush Since he was diagnosed with demen - Hakobyan. tia, Mesrob II remains confined to a PARIS (PanARMENIAN.Net) — The annual Turkish They also visited the soon to be consecrated St. Garabed Armenian Turkish-Armenian hospital in Istanbul Golden Plane honored Charles Aznavour, with the Apostolic Church at Al-Maghtas, the land of which was donated by the where he has been receiving treatment. prize already awarded to French-Armenian singer in Jordanian government. He is the 84th patriarch of Turkey’s Paris, Armenian media reported citing Posta daily. Armenian community. Turkey’s ambassador to Paris Hakki Akil handed the prize on behalf of the residents of Izmit, where the ceremony is usually held. “If my Izmir-born mother saw her fellow citizens Tigran Petrosian Memorial Tournament Gets Underway in Moscow award me the prize she would surely have been happy,” Aznavour said. MOSCOW (ArmeniaNow) — A super mittee is the president of the Republic (Armenia), Vladimir Kramnik, Alexander This year, the official ceremony was scheduled to tournament dedicated to the memory of of Armenia, President of the Armenian Grischuk, Alexander Morozevich, take place on November 4 in Istanbul. the late world chess champion (1963- Chess Federation Serge Sargisian. Ernesto Inarkiev (Russia), Boris Gelfand 1969) Tigran Petrosian will be held in The chairman of the Appeals (Israel), Peter Leko (Hungary), and Ding Moscow on November 4-11. The chair - Committee is Grandmaster Rafael Liren (China) will participate in the man of the memorial’s organizing com - Vaganian. Grandmasters Levon Aronian tournament, according to armchess.am. S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 8, 2014 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 Community Ne ws

Chicago Hrant Dink Parish Marks Memorial 50 Years Lecture Nov. 13 CHICAGO — Parishioners of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Chicago, celebrated By Tom Vartabedian their 50th anniversary at the church’s current location, during the weekend of October 17-19. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — It has been nearly Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the eight years since Turkish-Armenian journalist Diocese of the Armenian Church of America Hrant Dink was gunned down in the streets of (Eastern), visited the parish to ordain acolytes, Istanbul, causing an international outcry. meet with community members, and take part Yet his memory still lives on, even stronger in the celebratory banquet on Sunday. than before. The Primate celebrated the Divine Liturgy on To say it saddened an entire habitat of 8 mil - Sunday, October 19, and gave a sermon on the lion Armenians is putting it mildly, not to men - Holy Translators. Also taking part in the service tion the hundreds of was the Very Rev. Aren Jebejian, parish pastor, thousands of Turks who still mourn his and the Rev. Nersess Jebejian. Rev. Thomas YSIP interns enjoying the sights and sounds of Yerevan. Baima, Vicar for Ecumenical and Interreligious loss. Relations at the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hrant Dink’s death Chicago, was in attendance. Khoren resonated around the Mekanejian, the Diocese’s director of Music world. And time has Ministry, led the choir. AGBU Celebrates Another not diluted the influ - At the afternoon banquet, the community ence he carried as an welcomed Roman Catholic Archbishop of Summer of Programs for editor, journalist and Chicago Francis Cardinal George. Cardinal columnist for a bilin - George spoke about his close ties with the gual newspaper, Agos . The late Hrant Dink Armenian Church, and especially the warm rela - Young Adults “His death res - tionship he shares with St. Gregory the onates to this day and Illuminator Church. NEW YORK — For students about to enter the professional world, the Armenian carries with it a vengeance that underscores Barsamian expressed his gratitude to George General Benevolent Union (AGBU) offers programs that not only allow them to man’s inhumanity toward man,” said Harry for his friendship and support, and presented gain valuable work experience, but also connect with their heritage. This year, Parsekian, president, Friends of Hrant Dink. him with a decorative Michael Aram plate. Armenian youth participated in internships, musical and community service pro - “His legacy will never fade. Justice still has not “Cardinal George is a great friend of the grams that helped them solidify their career aspirations and strengthen their ties been served.” Armenian Church, and a personal mentor to the to Armenians around the globe. A Hrant Dink Memorial Peace and Justice lec - pastor, Fr. Aren Jebejian, Barsamian said. “He is In New York, 33 undergraduate and graduate students from Armenia, Brazil, ture will take place Thursday, November 13, at an example of holiness and resolution in this Canada, France, Lebanon, Romania, Syria, the United Kingdom and the United 6 p.m. at Yenching Auditorium, 2 Divinity Ave., city, and in the larger culture of our country.” States participated in the New York Summer Internship Program (NYSIP). As the on the campus of Harvard University. He went on to speak about the achievements flagship program in AGBU’s internship opportunities, NYSIP provided a combi - The event is being sponsored by the of the Chicago Armenian community. “I know nation of critical experience in a chosen field and immersion in one of the most Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard. this is a parish with a proud history behind it,” energetic and exciting cities. Interns were placed in prestigious institutions like Keynote speaker will be Rashid Khalidi, he said. “It has been blessed with leaders of Michael Aram, Deutsche Bank, Human Rights Watch and the NYU Medical Center. Edward Said professor of Modern Arab Studies vision: great individuals who loved the church, The program also brought students of Armenian descent closer to their roots. at Columbia University. His subject will be: and truly upheld its spiritual values.” For Villanova University student Samantha Testa, the intellectually stimulating “Unhealed Wounds of World War 1: Armenia, Pianist Marta Aznavourian presented musical environment that NYSIP created prompted her to learn more about her heritage Kurdistan and Palestine.” selections. Messages were also delivered by after the program: “I am a quarter Armenian by blood, but I have always felt that Introductory remarks will be rendered by Parish Council Chair Arden Karian and Craig I am more Armenian in my heart. Since the end of the program, I have taken it Dink’s widow, Rakel, representing the Hrant Koresian, chair of the 50th Anniversary upon myself to start taking Armenian lessons so I can learn to read, write and Dink Foundation in Istanbul. Committee. speak the language. NYSIP has made me appreciate where I came from even more Khalidi is a Palestinian-Lebanese American “I could not have been more proud of the way than I already did.” historian of the Middle East and professor of our committee honored all of the men and While interns in New York were taking their first steps into the professional world, 20 Modern Arab Studies at Columbia. He is direc - women of the past 50 years, who dedicated students from Austria, Bulgaria, Lebanon, The Netherlands, Russia and the United States tor of the Middle East Institute of Columbia’s their lives to making sure that we had an were also gaining valuable work experience in the Yerevan Summer Internship Program School of International & Public Affairs, also Armenian Church in Chicago,” Koresian said. (YSIP). Interns in Yerevan were placed in a diverse range of companies and institutions, known for editing the scholarly Journal of “Fifty years ago I took part in the consecra - including the Armenian British Business Chamber, Armenian Monuments Awareness Palestine Studies . tion of St. Gregory and I was honored to par - Project (AMAP), Byblos Bank and Storaket Architectural Studio, as well as medical cen - Dink was best known for advocating Turkish- ticipate in the 50th anniversary celebration last ters and non-profit organizations. Armenian reconciliation, marked by human weekend,” said parishioner George Nahabedian. After spending the summer discovering their homeland through YSIP, many rights in Turkey. He was often critical of “It was a wonderful weekend and something I interns have returned to work on special projects. A 2011 YSIP participant, Turkey’s denial of the Genocide and was prose - will always remember.” Shushan Sargsian, returned to the program this year as the activities coordinator cuted three times for denigrating Turkish poli - Parishioner Linda Zakarian added that the because of the wonderful experience she had as an intern: “As activities coordi - cies while receiving numerous death threats celebration was a tribute to “a small group who nator in 2014, I had the opportunity to work with AGBU in Yerevan. It was an from Turkish nationalists. built this church as their legacy.” see INTERNS, page 7 “Who can forget the man and his allegiance The banquet meal was prepared by Carrie to his beloved heritage?” Parsekian added. “He Nahabedian, an internationally recognized chef, lived for it and ultimately died for it.” and her cousin Michael Nahabedian. The two The program is free and open to the public. operate Chicago’s renowned Naha and Brindille Seating is limited. restaurants. “It was such an honor to be part of our church’s 50th anniversary celebration,” they said. “St. Gregory is our home, and to think that our ancestors had the vision, strength, and commitment to build a home for all the Armenians in Chicago, makes us very proud.” The parish now known as St. Gregory the Illuminator Church was formed in Chicago in the early part of the 20th century. Under the guidance of various clergy, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in a local Episcopal church. It was not until 1925 that the Armenian commu - nity purchased its first permanent house of wor - ship at the corner of Hoyne Avenue and Augusta Boulevard. In the spring of 1926, Discover Armenia participants help build a new home for a local family through the Archbishop Tirayr Hovhannesian consecrated Fuller Center for Housing. the church and named it St. Gregory the Illuminator. Rashid Khalidi see CHICAGO, page 6 6 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 8, 2014 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Celebration at Holy Martyrs Armenian Church

BAYSIDE, N.Y. — On Sunday, October 5, joined in the Holy Badarak out of respect for Committee chairman, welcomed everyone Information Center, who also stated that he Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, was their brethren who were being ordained. and said that he hoped that these young men not only knew the altar servers but also their the guest celebrant at Holy Martyrs Armenian At the conclusion of the blessing ceremony would continue to serve the church wherever parents and grandparents. Findikyan remind - Church for the ordination and blessing of a special gontag from Karekin II, Catholicos they may be. Gregory and Anie saw to it that ed each of the young ordinands that their new altar servers. During the Divine Liturgy, the of All Armenians, was presented to Deacons all details of the event were properly covered. title is not a “trophy” but something they will congregation reveled as they witnessed the Hagop Sason Demirjian and Hagop Yagliyan Parish Council Chairperson Pat Apelian need to continue to work at. ordination of two deacons (Alexander for their lifelong service to the Armenian Aitken toasted to everyone’s good health Towards the end of the program, the tbirs Calikyan and Karnik Kiliciyan) and five sub - Church. “All these blessings are great oppor - before the newly-ordained deacons had an sang two songs, Sardarabad and Holy deacons (Ara Arsenian, Armen Arsenian, tunities for our Church to show that we are opportunity to reflect upon the day’s events. Translators Hymn , under the direction of Fr. Nicholas Calikyan, Vahe Gemdzian and continuing in Christ’s mission in this parish,” Both Dn. Alex and Dn. Karnik thanked those Abraham. When they finished singing, Arthur Ipek). said His Eminence, during the morning homi - in attendance for their love and support dur - Gregory Manuelian presented Fr. Abraham a In addition, the Holy Order of tbir was con - ly. He also referred to the Book of Acts and ing their journey to the diaconate. A beautiful handmade hand-cross on behalf of all the ferred upon seven young men (Brandon how it states that when the number of PowerPoint slide presentation, prepared by newly ordained in appreciation of his teaching Ajamian, Christopher Cetin, Armen Christians began to increase, the Apostles Nirva Aydin, was shown to the guests, docu - and dedication to the youth. Demirjian, Andrew Halajian, Gregory C. were not able to reach out to all. Jesus asked menting each ordinand’s spiritual life within The Primate closed the celebratory lun - Manuelian, Robert Naldjian and Stephen His Apostles to go and pick out seven men of our Armenian Church. Following the short cheon with noteworthy observations, stating Sirounian); two choir members (Vartan good repute, full of wisdom and the Holy video, the Primate presented each deacon, that 100 years ago during the 1915 Genocide, Esenyan, Andrew Yenicag) were ordained as Spirit and bring them to ordination. Just as sub-deacon and tbir a certificate officially 98 percent of the Armenian clergy were mar - tbir, four choir ladies (Hilda Haroutunian, the Apostles helped choose the newly- announcing his ordination rank. Gregory tyred. But this new generation of newly Tamar Kayserian, Hilda Sheshedian, Meline ordained deacons, the archbishop asked the Saraydarian then introduced guest speaker ordained are living proof that the Armenian Yaziciyan) had their veils blessed, and the new congregation if Alex and Karnik were worthy Jennifer Morris, director of Youth and Young Church continued to grow and prosper and choir co-director’s (Ruthann Turekian to become deacons. “Arjhanee en?” he asked. Adult Ministries at the Eastern Diocese. She replace all those who were killed a century Drewitz) shabig was blessed. Drewitz, a long- The congregation, in one voice, rejoiced yes! proudly stated how she knew almost all the ago. time choir member, was the choir director at Following the ordinations and blessing ser - young men from their involvement in St. This event was made possible through the Sunday’s service and pianist and musicologist vice, an elegant luncheon was held in Vartan Camp or ACYOA Sports Weekends. generosity of the Piranian Family in memory Sahan Arzruni was the organist. Kalustyan Hall. Master of Ceremonies was She encouraged them to stay involved in the of the late Poozant Piranian, and all those It is worthy of note that many altar servers Gregory Saraydarian, who introduced each Armenian Church wherever their walks of life whose donations helped make the celebratory and deacons from different parishes in the speaker and skillfully kept the program on may take them. Also speaking was the Very event very special for our guests and ordi - New York metropolitan area and out of town queue. Gregory Manuelian, the Ordination Rev. Daniel Findikyan, director of the Zohrab nands.

Chicago Parish Marks 50 Years Edward D. Jamakordzian, Jr. d/b/a

CHICAGO, from page 5 nation service, Archbishop Barsamian pre - In the ensuing years, the community grew sented the newly ordained altar servers with and spread out across the Chicago metropol - hand-carved wooden crosses from Armenia. Edward D. Jamie, Jr. itan area. In response to these changes, in “This weekend we celebrated not only the 1959 the Parish Assembly voted to erect a building of our beautiful church five decades ServiFnguthne eentrireaAlrmCenhianaCpomemlunity new church and cultural hall in a location in ago, but also the commitment of a new gen - Any Hour • Any Distance • Any Location closer proximity to the majority of the parish - eration of Armenians who will write the next Call (718) 224-2390 Toll Free (888) 224-6088 ioners. chapter of this community’s history,” Jebejian Under the direction of Haig Pedian, the said. “It was a time to look back with grati - Bus. Reg. 189-06 Liberty Ave., Hollis, NY 11412 building committee launched a campaign to tude and to look forward with hope. The lega - Consultation Office: 217-04 Northern Blvd., (Suite 23), Bayside,NY 11361 raise funds to purchase land and begin con - cy of our founders has been passed on to the

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Telephone (617) 924-7400 Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home, Inc. Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 The members of the clergy, led by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, with the young acolytes MARION BEDROSIAN 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN struction. Land was purchased on Diversey future leaders of St. Gregory the Illuminator WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN and Normandy Avenues, and on April 28, Church.” 1963, the ground-breaking ceremony was The following morning, Barsamian and held at the new site. A year later, on February Jebejian visited several elderly parishioners 16, 1964, the community witnessed the cor - who have been unable to come to church on nerstone-laying ceremony. Archbishop Sion a regular basis. In the afternoon, the Primate ENNIS M. EVENEY & ONS Manoogian, then-Primate of the Eastern met with the newly ordained acolytes for an D D S Diocese, consecrated the new church on informal discussion about their spiritual jour - Cemetery Monuments October 4, 1964. neys in the Armenian Church. Later, Barsamian and Jebejian met with parish lead - Specializing in Altar Servers Ordained ership and Diocesan Council members Lisa On Friday, October 17, Barsamian ordained Esayian and Paul Mardoian to discuss the Armenian Designs and Lettering eight acolytes. Assisting the Primate were Fr. Diocese’s new Strategic Plan and how it per - 701 Moody St. Waltham, MA 02543 Nersess Jebejian, Fr. Aren Jebejian and Fr. tains to the St. Gregory parish. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan, pastor of St. James “There was a level of energy, of excitement, (781) 891-9876 www.NEMonuments.com Church of Evanston. The altar servers — that began on Friday night,” said parishioner Hosep Utas, Jirair Balian, Harutyun Johns, Diane Abezetian. “On Sunday, it was amazing Charles Babikian, Roy Panthier, Tony Olea, to hear our acolytes chant for the first time, Reno George and Narek Ohanyan — have to have badarak led by Srpazan, and to hear been working with Fr. Aren Jebejian to learn our choir sing. I feel that this energy, this ADVERTISE IN THE MIRROR-SPECTATOR about the Divine Liturgy and prepare to serve excitement, this new breath of life will carry as acolytes. At a reception following the ordi - St. Gregory for 50 more years.” S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 8, 2014 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS Rakel Dink Will Be Special Guest at AIWA Reception on Nov. 14

ARLINGTON, Mass. — Rakel Dink, widow of the Hrant uing the humanitarian principles espoused by her late mother died when she was 8, and the following year Dink, the Armenian journalist shot on the streets of husband. she was sent to school in Istanbul. During the sum - Istanbul in January 2007, will be the special guest at a recep - Rakel Dink will be in the Boston area to make intro - mers, she attended a camp in Tuzla, a suburb of tion hosted by the Armenian International Women’s ductory remarks at the Hrant Dink Memorial Peace Istanbul, where she met her husband. Following their Association (AIWA) at the Armenian Cultural Foundation and Justice Lecture on November 13 at the Yenching marriage in 1976, the newlyweds took over the admin - (ACF) on Friday, November 14. Auditorium, Harvard University. istration of the camp and the care of countless Dink is widely admired for the courage and dignity At AIWA’s fifth international conference in Buenos Armenian children. she has exhibited in the years since her husband was Aires in 2008, she was presented with a special After the camp was closed, in 1983, Rakel Dink assassinated by a Turkish nationalist in broad daylight Humanitarian Award, in recognition of her efforts to devoted herself to the care of the couple’s three chil - in front of his office at Agos , the newspaper he had advance justice and human rights in the world. She dren. She now has also several grandchildren. founded in 1996. His funeral brought out an unprece - was also the special guest at a reception sponsored by “An Evening With Rakel Dink” is open to the public free dented number of Armenian and Turkish mourners to AIWA in Boston in early 2009. of charge and will take place at the Armenian Cultural Rakel Dink the street of Istanbul. A native of Silopi, a small town in Turkey near the Foundation, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Reservations are encour - Since that time she has dedicated her life to contin - Iraqi border, Rakel Dink was one of 13 children. Her aged by contacting AIWA at [email protected]. AGBU Celebrates Another Summer of Programs for Young Adults

INTERNS, from page 5 solidify their sense of identity, establish mean - amazing experience to see how all kinds of busi - ingful peer friendships, and better understand nesses and organizations are being run in Yerevan Armenia’s rich history and bright future. and it made me begin to think about the possibility With a goal of nurturing the diverse talents of ending up in Armenia long-term at some point of musically gifted young Armenians in their along my own professional path.” homeland, MAP united 12 participants from For Beverly Gantt, a 2012 YSIP participant, Canada, Cyprus, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria, the YSIP inspired her to stay in Armenia immedi - United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, ately after the program’s end: “After I complet - Uruguay and the United States and brought ed the program, I knew I wanted to return to them closer to the artistic heritage of the Armenia. In 2013 I was awarded a 2013-2014 Armenian people. Fulbright grant in Armenia by the US Taking one-on-one lessons with renowned Department of State. After the completion of professors from the Komitas State Music my grant, I returned to Armenia once again and Conservatory and attending lectures on the am currently employed as a teacher at both the ancient Armenian notational system [ khaz ], American University of Armenia’s Extension in addition to Armenian classical, jazz and Program and the Armenian National Lycée minstrel genres, the students focused exclu - after Anania Shirakatsy.” sively on Armenian music, which they show - Musical Armenia Program (MAP) cased during the Gala Concert at the Together with the AGBU Musical Armenia Naregatsi Arts Institute at the close of the Program (MAP), the YSIP interns traveled to session. Alik Jébéjian, a young flautist from A NYSIP intern hard at work at the NYU Medical Center. Nagorno-Karabagh for a long weekend, partici - Cyprus, notes the importance of these pated in the AGBU Antranik Scout Camp’s bon - lessons in her experience: “My teacher taught fire night and lived in the brand new AGBU me how to express my feelings through my Vahe Karapetyan Residence Hall. This strong instrument, my flute, and most importantly, cross-program cohesion helped the students how to live out my music, especially

HOLYAn Armenian Christmas LAND Pilgrimage to the A Musical Armenia participant practices the kanun. Armenian music. I still am so overwhelmed ing on projects in their own cities to bring by the amazing welcome we had from AGBU. recognition to Armenian composers. JANUARY 12 22, 2015 MAP 2014 was a way to reconnect with my Discover Armenia roots — my homeland — through what I love Also in Armenia this summer were a record doing most: playing music.” number of participants in the Discover Armenia Though MAP is one of the youngest AGBU program, which has been bringing together programs, it has already established itself as an A SPIRITUALLY-UPLIFTING 10-DAY JOURNEY 7KHFRVWRI  SOXVDGPLQLVWUDWLYHIHH  diasporan youth from all over the world for 11 to the Holy Land. SHUSHUVRQLQFOXGHV entry point for the professional world and for years to connect with their heritage over the ? Roundtrip airfare from JFK to Tel Aviv, via El Al Airlines repatriation. Some alumni made the decision to VISIT THE HOLIEST SITES OF OUR FAITH, course of three weeks in their ancestral home - (depart January 12, return January 22) call Armenia their new home and continue including guided tours of Jerusalem, Jericho, ? $FFRPPRGDWLRQVDW-HUXVDOHP·V1RWUH'DPH+RWHOGRXEOH land. Among the main goals of the program is Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, the occupancy (single rooms available for an additional $550) their involvement with the program; other MAP Jordan River, Tiberias, and Qumran. for youth ages 15 to 18 to form lifelong bonds ? Buses, driver, guide, entrance fees students were offered professional contracts in with their global peers and return home with a 7285-(586$/(0·6$50(1,$148$57(5 ? Breakfast and dinner daily Armenia and Europe. Still others are now work - the Sts. James Armenian Monastery and the ? All gratuities and taxes greater sense of responsibility toward their Armenian Patriarchate, and be received by His 3HUSHUVRQFRVWZLWKRXWDLUIDUHLV SOXVDGPLQLVWUDWLYHIHH Armenian community. Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, the This year, 44 teenagers from Canada, France, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem. Seeking Advertising )RUGHWDLOV, contact Fr. Mardiros Chevian, the pilgrimage Lebanon, Russia, Syria and the United States 75$9(/727+(&,7<2)285/25'·6%,57+— FRRUGLQDWRUDW  RUHPDLOGHDQ#VWQHUVHVVHGX helped build a new home for a local family %HWKOHKHP³WRFHOHEUDWH&KULVW·V1DWLYLW\ZLWK Representative a Christmas procession and a midnight Divine 4XHVWLRQVDERXWUHJLVWUDWLRQ can be directed to Educational through the Fuller Center for Housing, a US- Liturgy on January 18-19. 2SSRUWXQLWLHV7RXUVDW  H[W

MENINO, from page 1 who though not as educated as many of his sub - ordinates, understood leadership and in the process rejuvenated a lagging city and made sure that every segment of the community could take part in that success. For the Armenians, Menino played a critical role in the creation of the Armenian Heritage Park on the edge of the city’s historic North End neighborhood. Initially, when the project was presented to Menino, he had opposed it. However, after studying it further, he not only changed his mind but became an advocate for it. Thus, the website of the Armenian Heritage Park features a tribute to the late mayor, includ - ing a video of his comments at the official open - ing of the park in May 2012. Middlesex Country Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, speaking on Monday, recalled the bravery of the mayor. “I knew him for a long time before” the Heritage Park negotiations, he said, through his law school roommate and very close friend, the late Brian Honan. Honan was elected to the Boston City Council, becoming friends with Menino. Tragically, Honan himself died of can - cer in 2002. Koutoujian said at the first meeting with Menino about the park, his initial response was “How are you going to pay for it? His sec - ond question was how are you going to main - tain it?” After a couple of negotiation sessions, Koutoujian said, during which it was made A host of dignitaries cut the ribbon to officially open the Armenian Heritage Park in Boston. They are, from left, Middlesex County Sheriff Peter clear to the mayor that all the funds for the Koutoujian, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian and Armenian Heritage Foundation Chairman James Kalustian. creation and maintenance of the park would be raised privately and after he knew that the North End neighborhood was eager to have the park, Menino became a proponent of the speech,” he noted. he loved the job more than anything. Armenian Heritage Park, visit idea. Menino became mayor in 1993 when as pres - Everyone should be so lucky to love his job www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PP9mxWvUtE “He was always in touch with his community. ident of the Boston City Council he took over as much as he did.” (Portions of an obituary from the New York He was one of our greatest supporters in that for the departing Mayor Raymond Flynn, who To see Menino’s complete speech at the Times were used in this article.) period,” Koutoujian said. had been named US ambassador to the Vatican. Koutoujian recalled that during the May He was dismissed early on as an “urban 2012 opening of the park, Menino was in excru - mechanic,” but he consolidated his power over ciating pain. “The ceremony was very long and two decades. In the process, he helped trans - he was in a great deal of pain. We offered a form Boston into a thriving economic and cul - number of times the opportunity for him to tural center and a magnet for high-tech compa - leave and he said he didn’t want to do so. His nies. own ethnic background made him feel sympa - He left his imprint on the skyline, especially thetic to our experience.” downtown and in South Boston, where empty He added, “It was a really powerful example warehouses and a decrepit waterfront gave way of his commitment to our Heritage Park and to to glassy condos, corporate offices and upscale our people.” restaurants. On that memorable May day, Menino stood He spent his whole life in Hyde Park, where with a whole host of dignitaries, from Governor he was born. Patrick to Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard He never aspired to higher office, which Nalbandian and the highest ranking members helped account for his longevity in the office he of the Armenian Church. In his address, he paid loved. He admitted he was not a visionary. tribute to the Armenian immigrants for enrich - “Visionaries don’t get things done,” he said. ing the state and the city. “We’re a city of immi - Rather, he focused on plowing the roads, fixing gration and this is a strong part of our city,” the streetlights and cleaning up the parks. Menino said. “I’m not good-looking,” he once said. “I can’t The day of the ribbon-cutting was an excep - speak well. I’m not smart.” But he added: “I’m tionally rainy and blustery one. Menino joked, driven. I have the opportunity to change peo - “God upstairs is sending holy water. I didn’t ple’s lives.” know He would have this much holy water!” His proudest accomplishment, he told the One of Menino’s hallmarks was his desire to New York Times in 2012, was making the city meet his constituents and walk on the streets of more hospitable to immigrants and minorities, every part of the city as much as possible. As particularly after the violent upheaval in the Koutoujian said, “there have been surveys that 1970s over court-ordered busing to integrate show 60 to 70 percent of the residents of the the public schools. city met him and shook his hand. I don’t think “My number one thing is bringing racial har - we will ever see that again.” mony to the city,” he said. Another example of his character, Menino was born on December 27, 1942, in Koutoujian said, was how he took his beloved Hyde Park. His grandparents had emigrated wife, Angela, on a long-promised trip to Italy from Italy. even though his body was wracked with pain. Menino graduated from high school in 1960 Unfortunately, the couple had to cut the trip and briefly attended night classes at Boston short as his health was taking a rapid turn College but dropped out. He later regretted that for the worse. decision, and in 1988, at age 45, earned his Koutoujian worked with Menino in the after - bachelor’s degree from the University of math of the Boston Marathon bombing of Massachusetts, Boston. 2013. Koutoujian recalled how he was on Out of high school, he sold insurance for Arsenal Street in Watertown when Menino Metropolitan Life. He met his future wife, arrived by car and came out in a wheelchair Angela Faletra, in 1963 when they were playing but he summoned his strength to get up to tennis on adjacent courts. They married three speak. He singled Menino out for “a speech years later and had two children, Susan and that was historic” at the Cathedral of Holy Thomas Jr. In addition to his wife and children, Cross on April 18, in the presence of President he is survived by a brother, David; a sister, Barack Obama as well as Gov. Deval Patrick Carolyn Phipps; and six grandchildren. and a host of dignitaries. “He grabbed onto Concluded Koutoujian, “While some say it the podium and delivered a magnificent is too bad he didn’t have a longer retirement, S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 8, 2014 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS Human Rights Journalism Focus of Annual Heritage Park Lecture

MEDIA, from page 1 clanking enterprise of society” is “as vital as oxy - Stephen Kurkjian, the next speaker, took time ground,” much like soldiers. He paid special trib - introduced the speakers. She spoke about the gen.” to pay tribute to Ben Bradlee, the former execu - ute to the Boston Globe , his former home for role of journalists and presented figures that “The craft of gathering information and tive editor of the Washington Post , who had died decades, where his work as the head of the inves - showed how risky their jobs were around the telling them to audiences is under assault,” he on October 21. He praised Bradlee for support - tigative Spotlight Team won him several Pulitzer world. Intentional murder, she said, is “the num - said. “Ask yourself why a country would kick a ing his newspaper going after the Pentagon Prizes. ber one reason” journalists die. “Of the 40 jour - journalist out. It is simple: It is easier to oppress Papers and Watergate. “There is an incredible force for good govern - nalists killed this year,” she said, “83 percent cov - an ignorant people. It is easier to keep people Kurkjian also paid tribute to the former mayor, ment in this city,” he said, praising the Globe for ered human rights. It is an increasingly danger - pacified. When people don’t know what their ous beat.” state is up to.” LEO GOZBEKIAN PHOTO LEO GOZBEKIAN PHOTO Even worse, “the killers go free in 9 out of 10 He focused on the Internet both as a means cases,” she said. for getting information out faster to more people, In some countries, such as Turkey, “even as well as a means for anyone with a bit of tech - reporting there was a genocide is punishable.” nological savvy to create and disseminate false “The role of journalists is providers of infor - information, such as those battling climate mation and ideas, being engines of change” and change or stirring up fears of epidemics. In addi - those are areas that can boost the economy, she tion, he said, technology now eats into the staffs said. of most newsrooms. The resulting disconnect She did not focus on the US or Europe but sin - shows an increasing distrust in the press. gled out Syria, China, Kirgizstan and the zealots “One person in the US has died of Ebola, yet

LEO GOZBEKIAN PHOTO millions of people are living in fear,” he said. “We need a press to gage the risk.” “Junk info makes my job harder,” he added. Speaking of other countries, he said, “My col - leagues in Mexico, Russia, Venezuela, former Stephen Kurkjian Ray Suarez Soviet states [among others] have a healthy dis - trust of institutions,” he said. One example vali - dating that mistrust, he said, was in China in Thomas Menino, for being “such an important exposing the alliance between the Federal 2002, when SARS, the contagious and danger - part of the city and our Armenian community.” Bureau of Investigations and gangsters including ous upper respiratory illness, was emerging. One (See story on Menino starting on Page 1.) Whitey Bulger as well as the pedophilia scandal reporter who knew of an outbreak did not report He recalled the mayor’s answer, after the in the Boston Catholic Archdiocese. it because he heeded the government line that umpteenth call to his office on the Armenian Thomas Mucha, the editor of the GlobalPost, letting the people know would cause a panic. Heritage Park, in the hopes of getting the the Boston-based digital news organization, Suarez also expressed his anger toward “data process started: “You people just never give up,” dwelt on the fate of one journalist from his orga - smog,” about the vast amounts of information, Menino told him humorously, adding, “I can’t nization who was beheaded by IS, James Foley. Mayor Martin Walsh and Dr. Carolann Najarian “bombarding” readers with “claims and counter - wait to break ground.” “It is my strong contention that giving voice to claims.” He also paid tribute to Faneuil Hall itself, call - the voiceless matters. Jim would have loved to be He also railed against “false equivalency,” ing it a “hallowed place, the cradle of liberty,” part of the conversation tonight,” he said. in the Islamic State (IS), among others. which ostensibly appears as unbiased journalism, and recalled being in the hall for the swearing in He spoke at length about GlobalPost and the The first journalist to speak, Ray Suarez, whose giving equal time to two sides of an issue. of new US citizens. niche it serves, sending reporters to hot spots dulcet voice was a staple on public radio for years “People are so afraid of being accused of biased Keeping in line with his tribute to Bradlee, he and “little visited corners of the planet” to get and who is now the host of “Inside Story” on Al that they are in danger of becoming irrelevant,” praised the role of the US press going back to the story. He also addressed the volatility in Jazeera America and “America Abroad” on Public he said. the 19th century, when journalists took on slav - much of the world, which his outfit focuses on, Radio International, forcefully spoke about the He closed with the following advice: “Read ery and the robber barons and later supported from corners of Brazil, to the Syrian civil war, importance of journalists in open societies. carefully, watch carefully and hope you got a labor reforms and social welfare and on through where more than 190,000 have died and around “Basic information about the whole messy, good source.” to the 20th century and the coverage of the 9 million have fled, as well as uprisings in Libya Vietnam war, women’s and civil rights as well as and South Sudan, the plight of the Yezidis in snooping out government secrets. Syria and the rise of Boko Haram in Nigeria. “I am the son of a survivor of the Armenian “There is a great need for this kind of report - Genocide. I know full well what a free press can ing,” he said. mean to an oppressed people,” he said. The opening speaker was Najarian, who paid He referred to the coverage in the New York tribute to her father, Avedis Abrahamian, a sur - Times of the Armenian Genocide. As a result, he vivor of the Armenian Genocide, who inspired Living Legacy & Tribute said, the American people became aware of the her desire to address injustices around the world Support Armenian Heritage Park’s Ongoing Care and Maintenance plight of the American and raised millions to and to sponsor the annual lecture series. help them. A reception followed at the Millennium He called reporters in war zones “boots on the Bostonian Hotel.

Armenian Heritage Park on the Greenway: Living Legacy & Tribute

BOSTON — Recognized for its innovative design that both celebrates and commemo - rates, Armenian Heritage Park prominently located on Boston’s Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, is a living legacy for children and grandchildren, and fitting tribute to parents and grandparents. The realization of the Park and its endowed public programs has been made possible with thanks to the generosity and commitment of individuals, foundations and organi - zations. Presently, the Campaign for Armenian Heritage Park is completing its final phase to raise funds to build the endowed fund for the Park’s ongoing care and maintenance. Two Ways to Support: Annually, the cost of year round care, landscaping and maintenance of the Park is close Outright Gift to $80,000. The Greenway Conservancy is under contract to care for and maintain the Online : ArmenianHeritagePark.org park, which is being impeccably cared for. To date, $1.2 million of the endowed fund’s goal of $2 million has been raised. By Mail : Check , payable to Armenian Heritage Foundation , to Contributions may be made on line at ArmenianHeritagePark.org or by mail with check, Armenian Heritage Foundation, 25 Flanders Road, Belmont, made payable to the Armenian Heritage Foundation, to the Foundation, 25 Flanders MA 02478 Road, Belmont, MA 02478. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent of the law. All supporters will be acknowledged in the Commemorative All contributions received by June 1, 2015 will be acknowledged in the Book . Commemorative Book. Supporters will be acknowledged in the category of giving that combines all contri - butions. The categories of giving include in addition to categories of $50,000 and above Estate Planning - $25,000+; $10,000+; $5,000+; $2,500+; $1,000+; $500+: $250+; $100+, up to $100. We ask what you inform the Foundation in writing if you have A reception will be held during November 2015 for all supporters. included the Park in your will or estate plans, so that you may If you have included Armenian Heritage Park in your estate plans, inform the receive an invitation to join the Legacy Society of Giving . Armenian Heritage Foundation in writing so than an invitation may be extended to you to join the Legacy Society of Giving. If you have a question or would like to arrange a visit, please call Jim Kalustian If you have a question or would like to arrange a visit, call Jim Kalustian 781-643-7758; 781.643.7758; Charles Guleserian, 617-484-6100; Haig Deranian 617-489-9465; Charles Guleserian, 617-484-6100; Haig Deranian 617-489-9465; Walter Nahabedian 781- Walter Nahabedian 781-891-7249; Astor Guzelian 781-326-5764 ; George 891-7249; Astor Guzelian 781-326-5764; George Elanjian 781-888-2227 or Barbara Elanjian 781-888-2227 or Barbara Tellalian 617-803-8785 Tellalian 617-803-8785 For information on programs, visit armenianheritagepark.org. ArmenianHeritagePark.org 10 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 8, 2014 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS New Chairman Claims Probe Clears Pasadena Genocide Memorial Committee of Impropriety

PASADENA, from page 1 the north side of Pasadena’s Memorial Park, nity foundation. claimed to be a certified treasury professional Monday morning. “We have raised about 50 which traditionally has only ever been used to Paparian announced his resignation from and that the title appeared under the educa - percent of the money we need. I think Bill con - honor war veterans. It is scheduled to be com - the PASAGMC in a press release on September tion part of his Linkedin profile because it was tributed a great deal to the project, but I think pleted and dedicated in April 2015 to mark the 29. Board members were unaware of the name of a course he was taking. He said he he may have forgotten this is for the commu - 100th anniversary of the genocide. According Paparian’s intentions to step down and did not make the edit on his profile and had no nity and not for any one person.” to Melekian, the group has so far raised about Melekian — who now chairs the board — said he idea who changed it. The PASAGMC has been raising money for $200,000. was informed about Paparian stepping down An official at CSUN told the Weekly that an Armenian Genocide memorial since 2012. The memorial’s design, created by Art after being contacted for comment by the Gevorkyan graduated from the college with a The memorial honors the 1.5 million people Center College of Design student Catherine Weekly . bachelor’s degree in political science, not pub - killed in the Armenian Genocide by the Menard, will include a tripod from the tip of “California law requires that the board of lic administration, in 2009. Ottoman Turkish Regime from 1915 to 1923. which drops of water will fall into a carved directors carry out their responsibilities in Gevorkyan worked as a paid contractor and Along with the Jewish Holocaust and the stone basin. Every drop — 1.5 million a year — good faith and with such care, including rea - as an intern with the city of Pasadena, accord - enslavement of African Americans, the symbolizes a teardrop for a life lost in what has sonable inquiry, as would be used by an ordi - ing to city Budget Director Richard Davis. An Armenian Genocide remains one of the darkest come to be known as the Great Crime. nary prudent person,” Paparian said in his official in Sierra Madre said he was a volunteer moments in human history. To this day, the Melekian said that the group has confirmed statement. “It is my belief that the board has there five years ago, and another official in Turkish government denies the events ever that no money was given illegally and that the failed in that fiduciary obligation owed to the West Hollywood was not immediately available happened. money does not stay in the committee’s hands. community.” for comment. The $400,000 monument will be placed on Instead, he said, it is turned over to a commu - In his statement, Paparian claimed that some A PASAGMC webmaster allegedly removed of the professional background information Gevorkyan’s bio after discovering the alleged provided by PASAGMC Treasurer David discrepancies with his resume. After he report - Gevorkyan proved to be untrue, including his ed the information to the board, the PASAGMC work as a certified treasury professional, and severed all ties with the webmaster and took his past work as a city employee in West no action on the allegations. Hollywood, Sierra Madre and Pasadena. Paparian said he substantiated the claims “I have proudly served the Pasadena, West through a background check performed by Hollywood and Sierra Madre communities,” another municipality, which noted alleged dis - Gevorkyan told the Weekly . “The accusations crepancies in Gevorkyan’s professional and that I have never worked there are false. I educational background on an application for would proudly work in any of these places an advisory committee in Glendale. again. I never claimed to be a full-time employ - Paparian said Gevorkyan also failed to file ee. I never made the claim that I was in a rela - the proper documents with the state Attorney tionship with a city that I was not in and I have General’s Office’s Registry of Charitable never claimed to receive money that I did not Trusts, which is required before groups can earn. These are great cities doing wonderful legally accept charitable donations. things and, if called upon, I would serve any of After the information about Gevorkyan was them again.” made known to other board members, According to documents found online, Paparian at the time said “their response was Gevorkyan has been serving as an audit com - no response.” missioner for the city of Glendale since June A defense attorney by profession, Paparian 11, 2013. He is also a Bond Oversight became the city’s first — and only — Armenian- Commissioner for the Glendale Unified School American mayor when he served in that posi - District, according to the city’s website. tion from 1995-97. Greek and Armenian Michiganders Raise Funds for Writing at thetruthmustbetold.com, blogger During that time, Paparian successfully cam - Ara K. Manoogian claimed that Gevorkyan pro - paigned for a memorial dedicated to soldiers Rep. Peters’ Senate Campaign vided possibly misleading information about who fought in Vietnam to be placed in SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — On Thursday, October 30, representatives of the Armenian and both his work history and education. Memorial Park. Greek communities of Southeast Michigan, led by Raffi Urlian, Charles R. Yessaian and Ted According to Manoogian, Gevorkyan said he “I am the first-born son of a survivor of the Andris, visited Rep. Gary Peters (D-MI) and his chief of staff, Eric Feldman, in their Senate had a bachelor’s degree in public administra - Armenian Genocide and have dedicated myself Campaign office, ahead of the November 4 election, in order to discuss issues of importance tion from Cal State, Northridge. He also to the pursuit of justice for the Armenian to the respective communities including: Genocide Recognition, the Nagorno Karabagh stale - claimed to have been in the Berkeley Executive nation all of my adult life, and this was a major mate, the illegal occupation of Cyprus as well as the plight of Christians in Syria and Iraq. Program (EIP) at UC Berkeley and was a mem - focus for my 12 years as an elected official,” In addition, this group presented a sizable donation to Peters’ race for the Senate being ber of the Association for Financial Paparian said. “For the past two and a half vacated by long time Pro-Armenian and Pro-Greek senator, Carl Levin. Professionals. years I have worked tirelessly on the Armenian This joint effort of support for candidates by the Detroit Chapters of the Armenian Although he initially claimed he was a certi - Genocide project.” Democratic Liberal party, the Armenian National Committee of America and the Greek com - fied treasury professional (CTP) on his The memorial has been controversial since it munity marks a proud moment for the respective organizations in their communities. LinkedIn account on October 11, that distinc - was first proposed in 2012. In August of that Pictured are, from left, Charles R. and Tulie Yessaian, Ted and Dolly Andris, Congressman tion was removed from LinkedIn by October year, a contingent from the Turkish consul in Gary Peters, Phil Mooradian, Paul Kulhanjian, Eric Feldman and Peter McElroy. 14. Los Angeles drew the ire of Pasadena’s Gevorkyan told the Weekly that he never Armenian community during an August 2012 visit to Pasadena when they called the pro - posed memorial offensive. Paparian had a public feud with former City Council candidate Chris Chahinian, who broke off from the PASAGMC. Chahinian formed the Armenian Community Coalition (ACC) and pro - Sponsor a Teacher in Armenia and Karabagh 2014 posed a separate memorial to the victims of the Genocide. The ACC memorial is also expected to be completed by 2015. In an article pub - Since its inception in 2001, TCA’s ‘Sponsor lished in the Weekly in December 2012, Paparian called Chahinian’s submission “a warmed-over reject.” a Teacher’ program has raised over $596,000 Chahinian would not comment on the con - troversy involving PASAGMC. and reached out to 4,864 teachers and The ACC is currently raising money for a float in the 2015 Rose Parade which will be school workers in Armenia and Karabagh. dedicated to the survivors of the Genocide.

£

K Yes, I want to sponsor teachers in Armenia and Karabagh to continue helping them to educate the children, our future leaders. I would like to have the teacher’s name and address. K $160 K $ 320 K $ 480 K other $ ————————— Name Address City State Zip code Tel:

Make check payable to: Tekeyan Cultural Association – Memo: Sponsor a Teacher 2014 Mail your check with this form to: TCA Sponsor a Teacher 5326 Valverde, Houston, TX 77056

Your donation is Tax Deductible. S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 8, 2014 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 Arts & Living

Two Legendary Sixth Annual Youth (TOM VARTABEDIAN PHOTO) Musicians Are Talents Concert at Feted by Carnegie Hall Community Thrills Audiences FAIR LAWN, N.J. — Friends of Onnik & By Florence Avakian John organized a tribute dinner to honor two of the community’s most beloved Armenian per - formers: Onnik Dinkjian and John Berberian, NEW YORK — The sixth annual Direct Help on Saturday, September 27, to a sold out capac - for the Armenian People (DHAP) concert which ity with more than 300 people. was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Although the event was scheduled to start Armenian Genocide, took place on Saturday, at 6:30 p.m., to everyone’s amazement, excit - October 11, at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, ed guests started arriving 30 minutes early featuring the Armenian Youth Talent finalists. and clamoring for photos with the two guests Opening the much awaited occasion, concert of honor. The champagne hour lasted nearly host Harut Minasian related the importance of next year’s solemn commemoration, saying, “Today, we are living proof of our strength and will to survive.” Then it was time for the 31 gifted musicians, from ages 10 to 18 to light up the stage and Six-year-old Gracie Stepanian dances up a storm with the Siroun Ensemble while bat - shine Starting the recital were the eight young tling an illness that refuses to take their toll. violinists of the Armstring Ensemble, including Zovinar Aghavian, Aren Arakelian, Arpie Bakchian, Anthony Degoyan, Nicolas Degoyan, Griifyn Kang, Lilit Kldjian, and Nicole Mark. Life-Affirming Armenian They offered a poignant rendition of Komitas’ beloved Keler Tsoler . Later in the program, they played a rousing and well-synchronized John Berberian and Onnik Dinkjian perform. Rhythms Help Heal Asturias by Albeniz. Tinkling the ivories with impressive technique two hours as four generations of friends and Tiny Dancer and expression were Nareg Balian, Alin family mixed and mingled, hugged and Khrimian, Nicole Khrimian, Arianna Mesrobian, Kalina Mesrobian, Dimitri Shaposhnikov, Sophie mugged for the photographer and videogra - WHITINSVILLE, Mass. — If dancing is the best medicine, you won’t have to con - Shchuchinov, Ani Tchorbadjian, Haroutyun pher capturing all the special moments the vince Gracie Stepanian otherwise. Tiratsuyan and Andrew Zeroogian Wu. night would hold. The feeling in the room The 6-year-old continues to battle a lingering illness from the day she was first Khachaturyan was center stage as many of was palpable as many in the room had over born. In and out of hospitals, pain, discomfort and influx of medical prescriptions these gifted pianists presented some of his 60 years of shared milestones and memories have tormented the young girl. demanding and well-known compositions, among them. It was a magical evening by all In short, they have not worked any better than an Armenian dance with the including Toccata, Folk Dance, Sonatina, accounts. Siroun Ensemble based out of Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church in Whitinsville, where Dance of the Rose Maidens and the melodical - A very traditional Armenian dinner and her grandfather, Rev. Aram Stepanian, is ly beautiful Adagio from “Spartacus.” dessert followed. As dinner service started the pastor. Komitas and Khachaturyan were again the winding down, some touching retrospectives Once she slips into her costume, Gracie By Tom Vartabedian choices of several singers who also tackled with of the lives of the two musicians Stepanian becomes revitalized, spinning ease compositions by Berberian, Haroutunian, began. Nikki Berberian-Whittlesey, Kristi and twirling to her heart’s content. Just Offenbach, Spendiarov, displaying their excel - Berberian-Markarian and Adam being with the other children and sharing a role makes for one tiny miracle. lent phrasing, and musicality. The performers Berberian presented a beautiful reflection of “Just look at the smile on her face when she dances and you’ll get an idea,” said her included Zovinar Aghavian, Anja Avsharian, their father’s life, taking turns to speak. dad, Ara Stepanian, who was just ordained a deacon. “She has fought through all of this Nicholas Bompart, Finella Hesin, Sonya Hesin, This was followed by Ara Dinkjian, who pre - and enjoys the spotlight when she’s performing. It has worked wonders with her.” Daniel Manucharian, Anna Mehrabyan, Julia sented a moving tribute to his father, Onnik. Her instructor, Kristi Markarian, founder and choreographer of Siroun, calls Naldjian and Serena Tchorbadjian. The evening culminated with a special and Gracie Stepanian “a shining star” in the group. Laura Navasardian, who confidently strode well-deserved honor. The honorees were pre - “Her love for Armenian dancing shines through every step she takes,” said see TALENT, page 13 sented with a formal proclamation from the Markarian. “When she wasn’t with us for this year’s Whitinsville picnic due to med - Armenian Minister of Diaspora for their ical complications, we all sensed a void. Her beautiful spirit and contagious smile were missing.” Back she came a couple weeks later to make her presence felt at a North Andover picnic. The costumes worn on this day were imported from Armenia. Paintings Exhibit “Not only did Gracie dance but she performed as if that little body never endured a thing,” added Markarian. “She heard the music, saw her audience and like any At Ararat-Eskijian natural performer — turned on her dancing shoes.” The members of the ensemble embraced the young girl before her grandmother Museum Yeretskin Margaret was able to give her a hug, followed closely by her husband. It was a proud moment. MISSION HILLS, Calif. — Ararat-Eskijian The Siroun dancers are a group of girls ranging in age from 4-16 who perform Museum is presenting an art exhibition titled throughout New England. Recently, during an ordination banquet in Rhode Island, “Armenia through Paintings History and oud virtuoso Johnny Berberian was entertaining the crowd of almost 300 with his Landscapes” at Ararat-Eskijian Museum 15105 instrument. Mission Hills Road, Hasmik Mgerdichian John Berberian and Onnik Dinkjian receive While all fell silent to hear his music, Gracie Stepanian decided to leave her seat awards. Gallery. and dance solo, never losing a step and moving as if it were rehearsed. The audi - Drawing from the collection the curator of ence that day received a double dose of pleasure. the Armenian Art Gallery, Viken Makhyan will worldwide promotion and as maestros of the “It’s moments like these that bring out joy and heart-pounding love,” said her display and sell variety of Armenian artists preservation of traditional Armenian folk dad. “We’re truly blessed.” work; the works of Meruzhan Harutyunyan, songs. A dark pall fell over the family when Gracie Stepanian was barely 6 months old. Eduard Sarkisyan, Angela Sarkisyan, Hagop Berberian and Dinkjian were visibly moved What followed was five years of tests, medication, procedures and hospital visits, Sukiasyan,Artavazd Papikyan, Hovsep throughout the evening and each took the topped off with prayers. The initial diagnose was bladder reflex, similar to acid reflex Papikyan, Hagop Ishkhanian, Alexander microphone to express their sincere and hum - common in children. Grigorian, Gevork Avakian, Valdimir Grigorian, ble gratitude for the honor presented to them It wasn’t until years later during an ultrasound that she was diagnosed with an Garush Hovsepyan, Vartditer Karapetyan, by their Armenian community. inflamed kidney that needed repair. A “Da Vinci robot” was used for the procedure. Suren Pipoyan, Alexander Gevorkyan, Mikael It was a dream come true for Bert Bedrosian, What appeared all well and good took another turn for the worse. Giurjyan, Havet, Gervasya Vardanyan,Sergey chairman of the Friends of Onnik & John “One of the greatest reliefs each time was her ability to bounce back and dance,” Sirgaganyan, Flora Baghdassaryan, Rubik Committee, who conceived, spearheaded, said her father. “It was like a light switch. We wouldn’t be in the parking lot yet and Mkrthyan, Zarzand Harutyunab, Vladmir planned and produced this once in a lifetime she was her joyous self while we were heartbroken knowing it wasn’t over yet.” Ayvazyan and Tigran Tokmajyan. event. Guests rose to their feet in standing Weeks after kidney surgery, back she came to dance again after being discharged There will be a reception opening on Friday, applause after the two delighted the crowd by from Children’s Hospital. Soon after, on came further tests when her situation November 14, 7 to 10 p.m., and showings on performing two numbers to bring the very became aggravated. Saturday, November 15, 12-6 p.m. and Sunday, evening to a close. More photos can be seen see DANCER, page 12 November 16, 12-6 p.m. at http://diran.smugmug.com/YourPortraits/ The event is open to the public and admission Dinkjian-Berberian is free. 12 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 8, 2014 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING

Life-Affirming Armenian Rhythms RECIPES Help Heal Tiny Dancer Lamb and Eggplant DANCER, from page 11 sometimes not at all. Right now, she’s in full Parents Ara and Renee set up a constant recovery mode and her demeanor is that of a vigilance by her bedside after being told how happy little girl.” Meatball Pita Sandwiches very sick their daughter was and unsure She is back at school and on the dance floor, about the cause, much less the solution. For ready to perform at the next call. Sometimes, “Even people who claim they do not like eggplant love these easy meatballs,” says Christine eight days, they slept in the same hospital it’s the other way around — a role reversal so to Vartanian Datian. “You can use a small ice cream scoop to shape them quickly.” room where their daughter had been con - speak. fined. “Gracie has a very special connection with PREP AND COOK TIME: About 1 hour. 3. Spoon out and discard any fat from “It’s hard to relive that week in the hospital God,” her father said. “She loves seeing her Yield: Makes 6 servings pan. Stir in the tomato or marinara sauce because there was so much pain and anguish in daddy on God’s stage — just like I enjoy seeing and Worcestershire, scraping up browned our daughter’s life that Renee and I felt help - her on the dancing stage. It’s done wonders for INGREDIENTS bits from bottom of pan and turning meat - less,” said Ara Stepanian. “Answers come slow, both of us.” 1 large egg, lightly beaten balls to coat. Bake until sauce is steam - 1 1/2 pounds ground lean lamb or beef ing, 3 to 5 minutes longer. 2 cups finely chopped eggplant 4. Spoon meatballs into a bowl and scrape 1/3 cup each chopped onion and minced sauce over them. Spoon meatballs and parsley sauce into pita bread and tuck in bell pep - 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts per rings, if desired. 1/2 cup Italian-style dried bread crumbs 1/4 cup grated parmesan (or Romano) Go to: cheese http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/lamb- 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced eggplant-meatball-pita-sandwiches/print/ 3/4 teaspoon each sea salt and black pep - per This recipe originally appeared in the JAN - 3/4 teaspoon each dried basil and dried UARY 2005 issue of Sunset. oregano For more recipes, go to: 2 cups tomato or marinara sauce http://search.myrecipes.com/search.html 1 teaspoon Worcestershire (to taste) ?Ntt=datian 6 fresh pita breads (5 in. wide), cut in half http://www.thearmeniankitchen.com. Green or red bell pepper rings (optional)

PREPARATION (Christine Vartanian Datian is a native of 1. In a large bowl, mix the egg, lamb, egg - Fresno, California, and resides in Las plant, onion, parsley, pine nuts, bread Vegas, Nevada. She has worked in crumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, pep - Fresno, San Francisco, Reno, and Las per, basil, and oregano. Shape the mix - Vegas in advertising, marketing, gaming, ture into 1 1/2-inch balls and place them and government subcontracting, and has 1 inch apart in an oiled 12- by 17-inch bak - served as a copywriter and technical writ - ing pan. er. She is a graduate of California State 2. Bake meatballs in a pre-heated 425° University, Fresno (CSUF), and holds a oven until they are well browned, about Master of Arts Degree (MA) in News 20 to 25 minutes. Editorial Journalism from CSUF.) Grace Stepanian and a fellow Siroun dancer

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Armenian Church & the Armenian Genocide,” at the CALIFORNIA Armenian Cultural Foundation, 441 Mystic Street, Arlington, 6 to 8 p.m. Food and refreshments will be NOVEMBER 15 — AMAA-Haigazian University served. This event is free and open to the public. Celebratory Banquet in honor of Dr. Mihran Donations are kindly accepted. Please RSVP to Luann Agbabian and George R. Phillips, Esq.; Saturday, Ohanian (617) 510-6612 or [email protected]. November 15, 2014, 6 pm, Beverly Hills Hotel, $200; DECEMBER 5-6 — Trinity Christmas Bazaar, Friday, 12-9 Information: Julie Aharonian 818-368-5266; Katia p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Holy Trinity Armenian Kermoyan 818-242-5064. Church of Greater Boston, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge. NOVEMBER 22 — Armenian International Women’s Featuring delicious Armenian dinners, a la carte menu Association, Los Angeles Affiliate present Luncheon and take-out meals; booths and vendors; Armenian honoring Lily Ring Balian, recipient of the 2014 Ellis gourmet foods, delicacies and pastries; raffles, and Island Medal of Honor, Beverly Hills Hotel, 9641 Sunset more. For further information, contact the church office Blvd., 11:30 a.m. Reception; 12:30 Luncheon. Donation: at 617.354.0632. $100.00. For RSVP and info contact Houry Aposhian DECEMBER 6 — Lowell Gomideh anniversary celebra- (818)957-7020 or Cindy Norian (310) 277-4490. The Armenian International Women’s tion, 6 p.m., St. Gregory Armenian Church, 158 Main Association (AIWA) will present “An St., North Andover; dinner, entertainment, program, MASSACHUSETTS speaker, David Boyajian, “The Survival of Armenia: Evening with Rakel Dink,” on Friday, Dangers and Opportunities;” admission, $20 adults, $10 NOVEMBER 14 — “An Evening with Rakel Dink,” November 14, at the Armenian students. Details, Tom Vartabedian, (978) 373- humanitarian and widow of slain Amrenian journalist Cultural Foundation, 441 Mystic St., 1654 or [email protected]. Hrant Dink. Open to the public, free of charge, 7:30-9 Arlington, Mass., from 7:30 to 9 p.m. DECEMBER 14 — Erevan Choral Society and Orchestra, pm., Armenian Cultural Foundation, 441 Mystic St., Rakel Dink is the widow of Hrant Dink, Christmas Holiday Concert, 7 p.m., Holy Trinity Arlington. RSVP: 617-926-0171 or [email protected] the founder and editor of Agos news - Armenian Church of Greater Boston, 145 Brattle St., NOVEMBER 15 — The 39th Annual Luncheon/Auction paper, who was assassinated in 2007 Cambridge. Save the date; details to follow. of the Armenian Women’s Welfare Association at the Burlington Marriott Hotel, Burlington, MA @ 11 AM outside the office of his newspaper. Mistress of Ceremonies: Cindy Fitzgibbon, WCBV-TV5 The program and reception are free of NEW YORK Auctioneer: Jordan Rich, WBZ 1030 News Radio Funds charge and open to the public. An DECEMBER 7 — 8th Annual ANC Eastern Region raised at this event support programs at the Armenian RSVP is recommended, at 617-926- Banquet, Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, NY. Freedom Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jamaica Plain, MA 0171 or [email protected]. Award Honoree: former Manhattan District Attorney and the Hanganak NGO Health Clinic in Stepanakert, Robert Morgenthau and the Morgenthau family; Vahan Nagorno-Karabagh for seniors in need. Founded in 1915, Cardashian Award Honoree: ANCA activist Alice the A.W.W.A. Inc. will soon be celebrating its 100th year Movsesian. Tickets $250. For reservations and informa - of service to Armenians. For more information about the tion, visit www.anca.org/erbanquet or 917.428.1918. event or for tickets, please call Karen Hovsepian @ 617- Social Hour (mezza) 6:15 p.m. Dinner 7 p.m. $14 per 898-8619 or e-mail [email protected] person, St. James Armenian Church, Charles Mosesian RHODE ISLAND DECEMBER 1 — St. James Men’s Club, Monday, Cultural & Youth Center - Keljik Hall, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Speaker: Chris Nishan Garabedian, President, CEO Watertown. Ladies are welcome. NOVEMBER 8-9 — Saturday and Sunday, Sts. Sahag and director Sarepta Therapeutics. Topic, “The Age of DECEMBER 4 — Annual Holiday Reception featuring a and Mesrob Armenian Church, 70 Jefferson St., Genetic-Based Medicine is Here, from Muscular special presentation by Dr. Rouben Adalian, director Providence, will hold the 84th annual Armenian Food Fair Dystrophy to Ebola.” Losh Kebab and Kheyma Dinner of the Armenian National Institute (ANI), on “The and Bazaar.

Sixth Annual Youth Talents Concert at Carnegie Hall Thrills Audiences

TALENT, from page 11 Vagharshag Ohanian, composer and pianist on stage carrying her cello which was bigger Karen Hakobyan, pianists Lucine Badalyan and than her, delighted the audience with Etude Karine Poghosyan, and violinist Diana Vasilyan. Concentranto by Ayvazyan. Flutists Arya and In the program brochure, messages of con - Sareen Balian showed their musical fluency in gratulations were addressed by Armenian compositions by Khachaturyan and Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag Djerbashyan. And Andrew Eurdolian displayed Barsamian, Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy his technical expertise and lyrical intonation in Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Tekeyan Cultural Association, Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, and Metropolitan Opera Diva Lucine Amara, and renowned pianist and composer Sahan Arzruni. In her inspirational mes - sage, Dr. Svetlana Some of the young performers Amirkhanian, dedicated pres - ident and founder of Direct Help for the Armenian continues to keep our spirit and integrity high.” the award “will make me work harder.” Then Dr. Svetlana Amirkhanian People (DHAP), related, The ambassador then presented the with obvious emotion, he said, “This medal “Especially this year, part of Naregatsi Medallion and certificate for out - belongs to my parents and teachers.” our heart is crying for our standing contribution to Armenian culture to Among the major philanthropists who sup - Mozart’s lengthy and demanding Allegro lost Armenians, and part is joyous for our tal - well-known baritone soloist Vagharshag ported this year’s Direct Help for the Armenian Aperto. ented youth. We Armenians don’t have oil, but Ohanian who has been instrumental in forming People concert were Artemis Nazarian, the Following the presentations of these young we have wonderful talent as you have seen and conducting adult and children’s choral AGBU, an Anonymous Donor “in honor of tal - talents, which were met with a standing ovation tonight.” groups, as well as a young instrumental ensem - ented children who support and love the by the audience, each young performer received She paid tribute to the “great help and con - ble. Ohanian who has performed on several Armenian culture,” and Edward and Carmen a certificate and a monetary gift from the tribution” of Marina Bagdasarova, and intro - international stages, including Avery Fisher Gulbenkian “for the talented young musicians, AGBU in recognition of their special contribu - duced Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Hall, Carnegie Hall, also has received a degree some of whom have had grandparents or great tion. Nations Zohrab Mnatsakanian. of Professor from the International Academy of grandparents perish during the Genocide, and The judges of the 2014 DHAP auditions The Armenian diplomat said he was “moved Education from Yerevan’s Haybusak University. who performed in their eternal memory, pre - included Director of the St. Vartan Cathedral to see the young talent demonstrated through In his message, Vagharshag Ohanian serving the endurance of the Armenian nation Choir Khoren Mekanejian, baritone soloist the power of music which has always kept, and expressed his deep appreciation, and noted that and culture.” 14 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 8, 2014 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

COMMENTARY Mirror Erdogan: Master of Political Duplicity

population is left in Kobani, let two terrorist groups destroy Spectator By Edmond Y. Azadian each other. Erdogan’s government is trying to implement the same poli - cy of duplicity with Israel but certainly not for too long. His Any politician claiming to exercise moral principles has to angry outbursts against Israel are intended for two main pur - be cast as a hypocrite. World history has never witnessed a poses: to comfort his conservative power base at home and win war to uphold some moral principles yet almost all wars have kudos from the Arab street, which can be converted into lucra - EstablEisshteadbl1is9h3e2 d 1932 been waged under the cover of moral principles, religious and tive business in the Arab world. human rights and above all, under the cover of promoting The Financial Times , which has dedicated a supplement to An ADL Publication An ADL Publication democracy. Turkey in its September 22, 2014 issue, writes, “In August of Media outlets during the last decade or so have been harping 2014, Mr. Erdogan, speaking at a presidential campaign rally, as on about how the Arab Spring grew out of popular uprisings in Israel bombarded targets in Gaza that was to kill 2,100 the Middle Eastern countries against dictators. After trumpet - Palestinians, he said, ‘Those who condemn Hitler day and night EDITOR Alin K. Gregorian ing that lie so loudly and for so long, the manufacturers of that have surpassed Hitler in barbarism.’” lie remained as the only believers while the people at the receiv - The same article, further down, underlines the contradiction ASSISTANT EDITOR ing end of that Spring only witnessed death, destruction and between Erdogan’s words and actions, stating: “Not withstand - Aram Arkun bloodbaths. And mind, only the secular governments were top - ing the acrimony, trade between the two countries continues to pled, while the medieval potentates remained under additional new highs. Israel and Turkey bought a record of $5 billion of ART DIRECTOR Marc Mgrditchian protection from those very same powers which concocted the each other’s goods in 2013.” legend of the Spring, which, incidentally created further may - The Financial Times also indicates that Turkish energy links hem for the region. have grown 20 percent in 2014 as compared to 2013 and that Only opportunists, manipulators and political jugglers could an energy deal is on the drawing board to build a pipeline uti - survive and thrive in that kind of atmosphere. One such politi - lizing offshore Leviathan Field in the Mediterranean. SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: cal animal has proven to be Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, No matter how much the western media may portray the Edmond Azadian whom the West considered the right statesman to facilitate Arab world in denigrating terms, the Arab countries have their plans, adorning him with the most gratuitous qualifica - already detected the hypocritical policy of Erdogan’s govern - CONTRIBUTORS: tions, such as “mildly Islamist,” or “moderately religious,” and ment and they have already lodged a sobering response during Florence Avakian, Dr. Haroutiune so on while the latter used and abused the religion and the epi - Turkey’s recent campaign to gain a non-voting membership in Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Diana thets of democracy to further his own agenda, at the expense the United Nation’s Security Council, where Ankara failed mis - Der Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, Kevork Keushkerian, Harut Sassounian, of the naiveté of his handlers. Erdogan turned out to be the erably. Foreign Minister Çavusoglu justified the defeat by Hagop Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian master of political duplicity and from now on his words and announcing, “We will not give up our principles for votes.” No actions need to be measured under that paradigm. one has yet questioned what those principles are. CORRESPONDENTS: It is true that under Erdogan Turkey became an economic Although Armenia is a small fish in Turkey’s political pond, Armenia - Hagop Avedikian powerhouse and regional military superpower, but Turkey’s Erdogan and his ventriloquist, Ahmed Davutoglu, are planning Boston - Nancy Kalajian growth had to serve the ambitions of its ruler, who dreamt to to use the same deceptive means. The protocols, which were Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian revive the “glorious” Ottoman Empire and sitting at the top of much in Ankara’s favor, were not ratified by that country’s par - Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach the pyramid of power to play the caliphate of modern times. liament after so much fanfare. Of all the statesmen, Hillary Contributing Photographers: First, he used the Gulenists to destroy the secularist power of Clinton stated that the ball is in Turkey’s court. And still it Jacob Demirdjian and Jirair Hovsepian the Kemalists. Once he achieved that goal, he began to purge remains there, neglected. the courts, the military and the police of those very same Mr. Erdogan, after emphatically stating that “our ancestors Gulenist elements. did not commit a genocide,” eventually deigned to extend a The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published In the meantime, Turkey’s Achilles’ heel is the Kurdish issue, dubious condolence to the survivors and the children of those weekly, except two weeks in July and the first which may eventually lead to the country’s territorial partition. “deportations.” week of the year, by: While entertaining the Gulenists and purging the Kemalists, he In preparation to preempt the impact of the Armenian Baikar Association, Inc. opened a dialogue with the Kurds. He did not consider any log - Genocide’s centennial, the Turkish government has sent out 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 ical or legal impediment to negotiate with the jailed leader of feelers to different Armenian communities in fact-finding mis - Telephone: 617-924-4420 the Kurds, Abdullah Oçalan, offering some vague promises to sions. Those facts will help the Turkish government to formu - FAX: 617-924-2887 disarm the military arm of the PKK. Now that he Kurds have late its stand on he Genocide issue to deflate Armenian been fighting a life-and-death battle against the Islamic extrem - activism. It was an early sign of that campaign to engage veter - www.mir rorspectator.com ists of ISIS, Turkish army is bombarding the Kurdish forces an journalist Etyen Mehcubian as Davutoglu’s senior advisor E-Mail: editor@mirrorspectator .com within the country first, by denying any help to the beleaguered “to deal with issues of democracy.” The Turkish government is For advertising: [email protected] Kurdish forces under siege in Kobani, across the Turkish bor - trying to get credit that for the first time a non-Muslim has been der and second, to weaken the Kurdish armed resistance in assigned to that high position. But turning the tables, we need preparation for future negotiations. to ask that if Turkey is not a racist country, why is it that a non- The case of Kobani is a turning point, and revealing case Muslim has not been allowed to reach such a position before? about Turkey’s standing within the US-led coalition against We have to wait and see what kind of spin the Turkish gov - SUBSCRIPTION RATES : ISIS. Although Turkey has nominally joined the coalition, it is ernment will put on the Genocide issue. That will impact also working at cross-purposes. The irony and Turkish duplicity President Obama’s position. reside in the fact that Erdogan’s government not only is refus - In the meantime, the actions of Armenians in the homeland U.S.A. $80 a year ing to fight against the coalition-designated enemy, namely and in the diaspora will be commensurate with the clout they ISIS, but it has also banned the US bases in Turkey from car - have internationally. Canada $125 a year rying out their mission. On top of all this travesty, Turkey has Mr. Erdogan and his prophet, Ahmet Davutoglu, have the Other Countries $190 a year been arming the ISIS forces and facilitating their barbaric unwarranted presumption that they are shaping history. But atrocities in Kobani, Mosul and other occupied territories in their actions and their policies speak to the contrary. The motto Iraq and Syria. of “zero problems with neighbors” proved to be an illusory bal - Under immense pressure form Turkey’s allies, the foreign loon. Actually, it ended up with “zero neighbors with a multi - © 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator minister, Mevlut Çavusoglu, stated cynically that no civilian tude of problems.” Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA and additional mailing offices. ISSN 0004-234X LETTERS

POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount Auburn Middle Eastern Revolutions and Us St., Watertown, MA 02472 Other than the editorial, views and opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily To the Editor: the beneficiaries, turned out to be the great - republic being doomed to the fate of the first reflect the policies of the publisher. The Arab Spring revolution, the Velvet est sufferers of these events. one. Indeed we may end up with the last Revolution, the Orange Revolution, whatev - Recently, in our homeland of Armenia, republic ever. er revolution…they have all produced only demonstrations began taking place asking for Do we have issues that need correction one thing — catastrophe. People in Iraq are a change of regime, reminiscent of the start of and improvement? Of course we do. crying to get back the days of Saddam the “revolutions” in the Middle East which Corruption, emigration and the encourage - Hussein. Libyans would love to have concluded with disastrous wars. A serious and ment of foreign investors are but a few. The Copying for other than personal use or Muammar Ghaddafi back. Most Syrians honest look at the policies of the existing solutions to our problems are not easy nor internal reference is prohibited without want all foreign fighters to go to their own regime in Armenia will result in the conclu - straightforward. Those parties going to the express permission of the copyright owner. Address requests for reprints or homes so that they can regain their previ - sion that its orientation in foreign policy, streets for demonstrations, which may lead back issues to: ous peace, albeit under Bashar Assad’s dic - choosing the better of the evils, is a pragmat - to destabilization, would do better in orga - tatorship. Figuring out the beneficiaries of ic one. In fact, it is the obvious and only path nizing study groups on the highest techni - Baikar Association, Inc. the hellish turmoil created in some of the to follow if we are to keep the existing bound - cally specialized level and come up with 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 Middle Eastern countries is a matter of aries of this minimal piece of land remaining practical and implementable proposals, speculation. However, one thing is clear: the from our vast historical homeland. Any change which they can offer to the people natives of those countries, far from being of policy in this respect may result in our third –Edward Diratzouian S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 8, 2014 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 COMMENTARY

behavior alienated almost every state in the Middle East. Genocide Memorial Church in Der Zor, the Jordanian gov - Turkey’s love-fest with Syria quickly turned into outright ernment was instrumental in the construction of an hostility, and Ankara’s relations with Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Armenian Church on the banks of the Jordan River! Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and especially • During his brief visit to Iran, Armenia’s Prime Minister Israel, became antagonistic. Hovik Abrahamyan met President Hassan Rouhani and My Turn These regional tensions with Turkey may have played a signed a series of agreements on energy, agriculture, and role in the enthusiastic welcome the four Armenian digni - culture. Abrahamyan transmitted President Sargisian’s invi - By Harut Sassounian taries received from the highest ranking officials of Iran tation to President Rouhani to visit Yerevan next April 24, and Jordan where they had warm and fruitful discussions on the Armenian Genocide Centennial. The prime minister, regarding their mutual interests and concerns. Here are the accompanied by seven cabinet ministers, also met Iran’s Iran & Jordan, Alienated from highlights of their visits: First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri, Foreign Minister Turkey, Warmly Welcome Four • President Serge Sargisian met with King Abdullah II, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Petroleum Bijan Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, Senate President Abdel Namdar Zanganeh, and Isfahan Governor Rasul Zargarpur Armenian Leaders Raouf al-Rawabdeh, and Speaker of the House of who praised the contributions of the Armenian communi - Representatives Atef Tarawneh. During the visit, the may - ty to the development of Isfahan. Armenians boosted their historical ties with the Arab ors of Yerevan and Amman signed a sister city agreement. • Aram Catholicos met with Iranian Parliament Speaker and Muslim world last month with the simultaneous visits The leaders of the two countries decided to establish inter- Ali Larijani who hailed the positive role played by the of Armenia’s President and Jerusalem’s Armenian parliamentary friendship groups and expand their cooper - Iranian-Armenian community: “Iran has always held the Patriarch to the Kingdom of Jordan, and visits by the ation in the fields of tourism, energy, agriculture, and Armenian community in high regard and many friendly Armenian Prime Minister and Aram Catholicos of Lebanon health. President Sargisian thanked the Jordanian leader - relations have been in progress between Iranian Muslims to the Islamic Republic of Iran. ship for welcoming Armenian refugees during the 1915 and Armenians.” They also discussed the Turkish govern - While such foreign visits are commonplace, the excep - Genocide and paying special attention to the needs of the ment’s negative role in the region. Aram Catholicos also tionally warm reception accorded by Shia Iran and Sunni Armenian community of Jordan today. The Armenian pres - met with the Governor of Isfahan and leaders of the Islamic Jordan to four Armenian leaders reflects these Islamic ident voiced his gratitude for the decree issued in 1917 by Organization for Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue. countries’ close relationship with Christian Armenians and Sharif al-Husayn Ibn Ali, who urged the Muslim faithful to On behalf of President Rouhani, Ali Younesi, Special displeasure with the Turkish government’s radical Islamist protect the Armenian survivors of the Genocide “as you Assistant to the President on ethnic and religious minori - policies. would defend yourselves, your properties, and children.” ties, hosted a dinner in honor of the Catholicos. Speaking Only a few years ago, many Arabs and Muslims hailed President Sargisian also paid tribute to the late King at a conference in New Julfa on Armenian Genocide Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Erdogan — now President — Hussein who had sent urgently-needed humanitarian aid to demands from Turkey, Aram Catholicos declared: “irre - as a modern-day Sultan who was championing their nation - Armenia shortly after the 1988 earthquake. The president spective of the circumstances and the elapsed time, we al and religious aspirations. In 2010, Jordan, Lebanon, then attended the historic consecration of the St. Garabed shall continue to demand justice for our martyrs.” Syria and Turkey decided to form a joint free trade zone to Church by Jerusalem Patriarch Nourhan Manougian near The coincidental visits of the four Armenian leaders to strengthen their economic cooperation. Soon after, by sid - the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. The land for Iran and Jordan reinforced the strong positive ties between ing with the Muslim Brotherhood and Jihadists’ murderous the sacred site of the church was graciously donated by the the two Muslim countries and Armenia and Armenians, rampage against Kurds, Yazidis, Shias, Alawites and Jordanian government. It is ironic that while Turkey aided and highlighted Turkey’s further isolation in the Middle Christian minorities, Erdogan’s hegemonic and erratic and abetted ISIS terrorists’ destruction of the Armenian East. Great Political Significance of Translation Movement

ver the course of the history of the Armenian Church, Armenians have should not only keep and preserve the heritage that has been left to us but also be spiritually canonized apostles dedicated to the enlightenment of Armenian cul - committed to handing it down to the coming generations by making it even more abundant and ture and Armenian people. That is why the Days of St. Sahak, St. beautiful. Mesrop Mashtots and St. Parthev — our first translators — have special With the rapid rates of globalization, and despite the powerful existence of our independent importance in the list of Armenian religious holidays and are thus motherland, the political instability of Armenian people (especially in the Middle East) and the marked with special significance. dissentient policy of the dark forces pose a serious threat to not only our motherland and peo - In early 5th century, the forerunners of the Armenian Translators ple but also to our language and literature. We live in politically bitter times on the threshold paved the way for a cultural-historic movement that came to have of the Armenian Genocide centennial. Today, the Armenian Diaspora is experiencing many dif - O exceptional importance in the history of the Armenian nation. The ficulties again, as if history were repeating itself in various disguises. Thus, it is the duty of all invention of the Armenian alphabet proved to not only have historic our intellectuals, teachers and conscious Armenian individuals to assume the role of the significance for the Armenian people but also served as the core impetus of our existence and Translators and to save Armenians from newly set traps. national-ecclesiastical unity. In order to preserve at most the memory of the immortal work our immutable Translators What historic significance does this utmost important cultural, enlightening and national- have done we should commit ourselves to loving and spreading the Armenian language, ecclesiastical movement bear for the Armenians? Armenian alphabet and literature and spare no effort to struggle against any dilution of the The Armenian Alphabet was invented during a period of our national history when the auton - Armenian language. The morning prayer of each Armenian parent should be accompanied with omy and independence of Armenian state - love for the Armenian language and culture so that their children can develop respect for the hood were on the line and when the language when going to school. by Baydzig Kalaydjian Hellenic and Assyrian cultures posed a To date, the blessed memory of our ancestors fills Armenian students and individuals with threat to the Armenian Church, hanging enthusiasm, thus it is our sacred duty to keep and preserve the spiritual heritage that has been over it, just like the Sword of Damocles. passed on to us and remain committed to the conviction that “language and faith unite and This heavy and menacing political threat obliged the Armenians to take the plunge and invent keep the nation.” their own alphabet and engage in a struggle for national independence. Under the canopy of our independent Armenia and under the care of the chairs of Armenian During the course of their history, Armenians, whose fate was that of an apple of discord Studies of Armenian educational institutions that have managed to remain stable, our mother between the two powerful states, had started showing great impotence in late 4th century. tongue should shine even more and be enriched just like those Indo-European languages which Byzantium and Assyria were both committing efforts to dismay and demoralize Armenians. add to their lexicological and literary works year in and year out. Unfortunately, the Armenian Back then, Christianity was just a religion in Armenia that was dependent on the whim of reality tends to lay bare painful realities and to silently watch the “strangulation ceremonies.” Greeks and Assyrians — it didn’t play a major role in the everyday life of Armenians and so it It is high time we realized that only in case of a powerful motherland we will be able to survive was unable to unite all the various factions of the Armenian nation around it. There was a need as Armenians and to erect a barrier against threats jeopardizing Armenian language in the to “stitch together” domestic forces — in those days the church was the main internal backbone. Armenian Diaspora and our motherland. The strengthening of Armenia should not remain on Armenian language and ceremonies were ways to fortify the church. It was necessary to elimi - paper; it’s a deed to which every Armenian should have their contribution by independently nate the use of Assyrian and Greek from the Armenian Church and schools and to invent our enriching the national literature, developing the mother tongue, preserving the Armenian culture own national written language. It meant having our own alphabet and literature. Writing and and in the end, demonstrating themselves as Armenians in both Armenian and foreign arenas. creating literary works in our mother tongue was to have great significance in strengthening It will be the best and greatest respect to the blessed memory of our Translators. the country’s domestic relations and forces. This is where the great political significance of the Translation Movement lies. Viewing our rich history through the lens of hindsight, we should state the fact that for cen - turies our marvelous language and rich body of literature have served as a national movement, Notice to Contributors encouraging and preserving the Armenian identity for the politically detached and diasporans residing in foreign lands. The welcomes articles, commentaries and community news from Armenian Mirror-Spectator The Armenian language and literature have played a major role in the preservation and con - our readers. In order to assure the accurate and timely publication of articles submitted, please solidation of national identity both in the past and now. Today, more than ever, the commem - note the following policies: oration and inspiration of the Feast of the Holy Translators imposes a sacred duty on each — All articles submitted should be typed, double (or triple) spaced and printed in a type size large Armenian individual, state official, clergyman, intellectual, teacher, parent and relative to cher - enough to be clearly legible (10 point or larger). Submissions that do not conform to these spec - ish our marvelous language as the apple of the eye not only in the Diaspora but also in our ifications will be assigned lowest priority. fatherland and the entire world. Today more than ever, we should demonstrate an earnest — Articles sent by fax are acceptable, e-mail submissions are encouraged. — All submissions should include the name of a contact person and a daytime telephone number. approach to Armenian language in order to combat the “incursion” of foreign languages and — Deadline for submission of all articles and advertising is 12 noon on Monday of the week of customs into Armenian schools, homes, churches, cultural centers and markets as well as the publication. effects denationalizing schools, to rear the new generation enriching it with the Translators’ — Photos will be published without charge at the discretion of the editors and art director. Photos soul and spirit and to spread the Armenian alphabet and literature around the world. will be returned only if a self-addressed and stamped envelope is included. Over the past decades, we have tended to introduce our nation to foreigners stating we are — The will publish only one article about an upcoming organizational event. For major spe - M-S the first Christian nation on earth and have our own alphabet and literature, etc. These are his - cial events, exceptions may be made only by special arrangement with the editors. toric facts but bragging about the virtues of our forefathers means we are deprived of our own — Telephone numbers, ticket prices and other details (at the discretion of the editors) will not be merits. Our forefathers have fulfilled their holy duties to their motherland and Armenian peo - included in press releases, but should be reserved for calendar listings and advertisements. ple, and have bequeathed priceless heritage to us — an identity that fills us with pride. We 16 S ATURDAY , N OVEMBER 8, 2014 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR