OCTOBER 31, 2020 MMirror-SpeirTHEror-SpeARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXXI, NO. 16, Issue 4658 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 IN BRIEF

Third Ceasefire Has 2 Azeri Broken by POWs; 17 (PanARMENIAN.Net) — The Armenian side has two Azerbaijani prisoners of war who have Azerbaijan as been interrogated, according to Rafayel Vardanyan, Head of the Department of Criminalistics at Armenia’s Investigative Committee. Death Toll “They are kept in conditions that comply with international humanitarian law, receive appropriate Mounts medical care and food,” Vardanyan told reporters on Tuesday, October 27. STEPANAKERT (Combined Sources) — Vardanyan said 17 servicemen from the Fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Armenian side are currently kept in Azerbaijan. zone reportedly spread on Tuesday, October It was reported earlier that an Armenian civilian 27, to an area adjacent to Armenia’s border named Azniv Baghdasaryan was captured by the with . Azerbaijani military on October 7. The Armenian Defense Ministry accused the Azerbaijani army of shelling its border Georgia Bars posts and wounding several Armenian ser- vicemen in the morning. The Azerbaijani Ambulances Headed to side used artillery and combat drones, it said, adding that one of those unmanned Armenia aerial vehicles was shot down over TBILISI (News.am) — Georgia on October 26 Armenian territory. blocked a batch of ambulances from entering A ministry spokeswoman, Shushan Armenia through the Upper Lars border checkpoint Stepanyan, said Armenian army units and between Russia and Georgia, reported the Telegram border guards had to strike back in response. channel of Infoteka 24. They inflicted “considerable losses” on the Stranded in bunkers in Artsakh The ambulances were been sent by the Armenian Azerbaijani side, she wrote on Facebook community of Russia as humanitarian aid. early in the afternoon. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry denied ‘You Do Not Know What violating in the ceasefire in that area. It said Trump: that Armenian forces themselves opened “intense mortar fire” at its troops stationed Tomorrow Will Bring’ ‘Incredible People’ in the Zangelan district bordering Armenia’s LONDONDERRY, N.H. — President Trump at a southeastern Syunik province and north- –Artsakh Refugee campaign rally on October 25 made further com- western Iran. plimentary remarks about Armenians, calling them The reported shelling took place near the By Mateos Hayes YEREVAN — As the latest chapter of the “incredible people.” He exclaimed: “You know Armenian-Iranian frontier which has long Special to the Mirror-Spectator Nagorno-Karabakh conflict enters its fourth Armenia? We’re working on that, you know, we’re been protected by Russian border guards. week, it takes a heavy toll on its participants. working.” He said, “Go back and tell your people. Russia also has up to 5,000 soldiers sta- Estimates of casualties sustained during the conflict vary wildly, with conserva- We’ll get that straightened out.” tioned in other parts of Armenia in line with tive estimates pegging it as low as two thousand, whilst some claims put the Later the same day, he tweeted his congratula- number as high as five thousand. Another toll the conflict has taken is in the tions to the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan form of displaced peoples. As many as 75,000 refugees, nearly 90 percent of on an attempted renewal of the ceasefire. Artsakh’s population of women and children, have been forced to leave their homes, whether they be in border towns such as Martakert or comparatively safer cities such as Stepanakert. Eurnekian Gives $3.5 M see REFUGEES, page 4 To Armenia Fund BUENOS AIRES (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Argentine billionaire businessman of Armenian descent Mercury Public Affairs Cuts Ties with under Pressure Eduardo Eurnekian is donating $3.5 million to WASHINGTON (Politico) – The lobby- Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan. Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, the Fund’s Executive ing firm Mercury Public Affairs has cut In the weeks since the long-running Director Haykak Arshamyan said Tuesday, October 27. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visits an ties with the Turkish government fol- tensions between the countries flared “Argentinian Armenian entrepreneur, philan- injured soldier. lowing a pressure campaign by on Sept. 27, Armenian-American Armenian-American activists incensed activists have worked to deprive thropist and member of the Board of Trustees of by Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan in Azerbaijan and Turkey of what Aram the Hayastan All Armenian Fund, Eduardo bilateral treaties that commit Moscow to ongoing hostilities with Armenia. Hamparian, the executive director of Eurnekian, has joined the Fund’s “We Are Our defending Yerevan against foreign aggression. The firm’s decision to scrap its $1 mil- Armenian National Committee of Borders” global fundraising initiative by donating Shortly after the outbreak of the war in lion contract with Turkey is a victory for America, described as some of their $3.5 million,” Arshamyan said. and around Karabakh on September 27, Armenia in a conflict that’s playing out most potent weapons: their Washington Russian President Vladimir Putin said that in Washington as well as the disputed lobbyists. see CEASEFIRE page 3 region of Nagorno-Karabakh along see TIES, page 5 INSIDE Balakian Is Founding Member of Komitas in Writers Movement Against Trump Latvia HAMILTON, NY — Several months ago, Peter Page 12 By Aram Arkun Balakian helped found a group called Writers Mirror-Spectator Staff Against Trump (WAT, writersagainsttrump.org), which includes a number of noted Armenian- American authors. The group has nearly two thousand members in all. Its forceful mission statement does not mince words, pro- INDEX claiming “We believe that this presidency is uniquely dangerous to our present and Armenia ...... 2-4 future society.” Arts and Living ...... 12 Balakian expounds on it as follows: “We are American writers — now 1,900 of us Community News...... 7 — who have come together to work for change in November’s election. We devote Editorial ...... 18 our lives to language and thinking and ethics. We who founded the organization are International ...... 6-7 in agreement that Trump’s presidency has been mired in corruption, incompetence, see TRUMP, page 10 2 S ATURDAY O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia COVID Cases in Armenia Surging

YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenian influx of infected people. He said that other safety rules set by the government. Canadian Legislators hospitals are increasingly struggling to Armenian hospitals may soon be unable Many people stopped taking these pre- cope with the pandemic due to a con- to treat all patients in urgent need of cautions after the start of the deadly war Seek to Expel Turkey tinuing surge in new coronavirus infec- From NATO tions, Health Minister Arsen Torosyan warned on Sunday, October 25. OTTAWA — Members of the Legislative Assembly A resurgence in cases officially regis- of Ontario requested to expel Turkey from NATO tered in Armenia began in mid- and discuss the recognition of the Republic of September and accelerated after the Artsakh, the Armenian National Committee of outbreak on September 27 of the war in Canada reported this week. Nagorno-Karabakh. They slammed the ongoing Turkish-Azerbaijani The Armenian Ministry of Health aggression against Artsakh. reported in the morning that 2,314 peo- On September 27 Azerbaijan, with the support of ple have tested positive for COVID-19 in Turkey, launched a massive attack against the the past 24 hours, compared with 1,371 (Nagorno Karabakh), by using cases registered on October 15. It had all its ammunition, targeting also the civilian infra- reported 850 single-day cases during structures both in Artsakh and Armenia. There are the previous peak of the pandemic in confirmed reports that there are mercenaries in the late June. Azerbaijani army brought from Syria by Turkey for The ministry also reported 23 more fighting against the Armenian side. deaths caused by the disease, bringing the official death toll from COVID-19 to 1,180. Catalonia Parliament As of Sunday morning, there were Statement Calls for End 25,412 active coronavirus cases in the A COVID patient in Yerevan country of about 3 million. More than To War in Artsakh 800 of these patients are hospitalized in a serious or critical condition, Torosyan life-saving medical aid if the spread of that has overshadowed the pandemic. YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The Parliament of said, adding that about 450 others are the disease continues unabated. Torosyan acknowledged that the con- Catalonia adopted a statement on October 21, call- awaiting hospitalization. “If we are unable to hospitalize every- tinuing war has contributed to the sec- ing for an end to military operations in Nagorno In an interview, the minister said that one there may be [coronavirus-related] ond wave of COVID-19 infections. “I Karabakh, condemning the attacks by the the health authorities are now scram- deaths outside hospitals,” Torosyan don’t know to what extent, but it has Azerbaijani armed forces on the civilian population bling to increase the nationwide hospi- warned. He again pleaded with definitely aggravated the situation,” he and supporting the constructive talks between the tal capacity to deal with the increased Armenians to wear masks and follow said. sides aimed at the peaceful settlement of the conflict which should be based on the expression of will of the majority of the people of Nagorno Karabakh, the Armenian Embassy in Spain said. Pashinyan Speaks with Pompeo on Only Artsakh Solution Is Independence: De Zayas Azerbaijani Ceasefire Violation YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Former UN Independent Expert Alfred de Zayas is confident that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict has only one solution – the international recognition of the independence By Aram Arkun of Artsakh. Mirror Spectator Staff “The tragedy of Nagorno Karabakh has only one solution: the international recognition of the inde- YEREVAN – Prime Minister Nikol pendence of Artsakh – same as the international Pashinyan, according to the official recognition of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo,” de website of his office, held a telephone Zayas said on Twitter on October 22 conversation with US Secretary of . State Mike Pompeo this week and Former Presidents of pointed out that Azerbaijan broke the recent ceasefire agreement reached in Armenia Meet Washington D.C. Mane Gevorgyan, the press secretary YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenia’s former of the prime minister, was asked by the Presidents Levon Ter-Petrosian, Serzh Sargsyan and Mirror-Spectator whether she could met for the first time in many provide any additional information years to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, it about this conversation. was announced on Wednesday, October 21. She confirmed that PM Nikol Ter-Petrosian’s spokesman, Arman Musinyan, said Pashinyan drew the attention of the the meeting was necessitated by the current “worry- Secretary of State to the fact that it ing situation” in the conflict zone. was Azerbaijan that violated the cease- Musinyan said Ter-Petrosian, Sargsyan and fire agreement. He pointed out that Kocharyan were joined by two former Karabakh Azerbaijan launched another offensive presidents, Arkady Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan. before the ink of the agreement Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan He gave no other details of the meeting. Ghukasyan and Sahakyan held on Tuesday, October 20, separate meetings with Ter-Petrosian reached in Washington was dry. This is and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Foreign Minister Meets with Pelosi already the third ceasefire agreement On Monday Pashinyan discussed the hostilities in brokered by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs that was violated by Baku. and around Karabakh with leaders of Armenia’s WASHINGTON — On October 23, in the framework of the working visit to main opposition parties. Newspaper reports said that There is no doubt that Turkey encour- the United States, Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan held ages and instigates Azerbaijan to do it. they talked about not only the situation on the an online meeting with Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the United States ground but also possible solutions to the Karabakh The Prime Minister also assured the House of Representatives. Lilit Makunts, the Head of the Armenia-US Secretary of State that after signing conflict that could be proposed by international Friendship Group of the National Assembly of Armenia also participated in mediators and Russia in particular. the ceasefire agreement he gave an the meeting. order to the Armenian armed forces to Edmon Marukyan, the leader of the opposition During the conversation, Mnatsakanyan expounded on the large-scale war Bright Armenia Party, claimed on Wednesday that refrain from any response to the fire unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh since September 27, and the fol- from Azerbaijani troops unless the lat- Pashinyan has also held a meeting with at least some lowing humanitarian situation. Minister Mnatsakanyan stressed that of the former Armenian presidents. ter are moving forward towards the Azerbaijan’s pre-planed aggression is accompanied with numerous war Armenian positions. There is no reason Pashinyan’s press secretary, Mane Gevorgian, did crimes, including the indiscriminate targeting of civilian population and not confirm the claim. “If such a meeting takes place for Armenia to violate the ceasefire infrastructure, religious and worship sites by using weapons prohibited by and resume hostilities. there will definitely be an official statement on it,” international conventions. she told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. In this context, Gevorgyan said, According to Mnatsakanyan, the direct involvement of Turkey in military Prime Minister Pashinyan asked The ex-presidents’ trilateral meeting is noteworthy hostilities by Azerbaijan, which is expressed in Turkey’s political and military given the long history of mutual antagonism between Secretary of State Pompeo: “Who do support to Azerbaijan and the deployment of foreign terrorist fighters in the you think is interested in reshaping or Ter-Petrosian on one side and Kocharian and conflict zone, is a threat to regional security and peace. Sarkisian on the other. even abolishing the Minsk Group co- The Foreign Minister of Armenia expressed gratitude to the US House of chairmanship?” He added that we are Representatives for the recognition of the , especially not interested in it at all, while emphasizing the personal contribution of Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Azerbaijan and Turkey do not conceal their intentions on this matter. S ATURDAY O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 ARMENIA

Destroyed buildings in Stepanakert Ceasefire Broken as Death Toll Mounts

CEASEFIRE, from page 1 Human Rights Defender applies to the interna- According to Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign The situation in the conflict zone was the Moscow will fulfill its defense obligations to its tional community and human rights organiza- Affairs, the main subject of the discussion was main focus of Macron’s talks with Sarkissian. A South Caucasus ally. He noted at the same time tions to take immediate actions for adequately the situation in Artsakh resulting from the statement by the Armenian presidential press that “the hostilities are not being carried out on reacting and stopping the Azerbaijani atroci- Azerbaijani large-scale aggression. Minister office said the two leaders agreed on the need the territory of Armenia.” ties,” Beglaryan’s statement concluded. Mnatsakanyan informed the US Secretary of for an unconditional implementation of It emerged this week that the commander of Armenia urged the United States on Monday State about the war crimes committed by the Armenian-Azerbaijani ceasefire agreements that Karabakh’s Defense Army, Lieutenant-General to react strongly to what it called Azerbaijan’s Azerbaijani armed forces during the hostilities, were brokered by Moscow and Paris earlier this Jalal Harutiunyan, was replaced by another gen- failure to respect yet another agreement to stop which are manifested by the deliberate target- month. eral, Mikael Arzumanyan, late on Monday after the war in Nagorno-Karabakh which was bro- ing of the civilian population of Artsakh, humil- The statement cited Sarkissian as saying that being reportedly wounded in action. kered by Washington. iating treatment of civilians and prisoners of Turkey’s military support for Azerbaijan is “fur- Karabakh authorities did not specify the cir- “It’s now clear that once again it has not war, beheadings and murders. ther escalating the situation and endangering cumstances in which Harutiunyan suffered the proved possible to implement a ceasefire [agree- Pompeo expressed his condolences. regional peace and stability.” injuries. They said that his life is not at risk. ment,]” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in Mnatsakanyan highlighted that the French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian Nearly 60 percent of Nagorno-Karabakh’s a video address to the nation aired in the Azerbaijani aggression is accompanied by the said last week that “the only country which population has been forced to flee homes since evening. “I cannot say at this point what the direct involvement of Turkey, which is mani- isn’t calling for respect of the ceasefire is the start of the war with Azerbaijan one month reaction of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair fested in its immediate military-technical sup- Turkey.” ago, Artak Beglaryan, Karabakh’s human rights countries [the U.S., Russia and France] and port and transferring of foreign terrorist fight- However, Turkish Vice-President Fuat Oktay ombudsman, said on Monday, noting that an their presidents will be. But you must know ers to the region. According to Minister told the CNN Turk broadcaster on October 20 estimated 90,000 civilians have been relocated that the Armenian side has done everything to Mnatsakanyan, Azerbaijan’s decision to turn that Ankara will not hesitate to send troops to to other parts of Karabakh or have taken refuge adhere to the ceasefire.” itself into Turkey’s zone of influence and a Azerbaijan if such a request is made by Baku. in Armenia. “I hope that official representatives of the U.S. hotbed of international terrorism is a serious HRW Accuses Azerbaijan The shelling has targeted Stepanakert and will answer these questions. Have they clarified as threat to regional security. Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused most other Karabakh communities, causing a result of whose actions the ceasefire has been He added that the violation of the ceasefire Azerbaijan on Friday, October 23, of repeatedly extensive damage to local homes and public violated? If so, what consequences will there be agreements by Azerbaijan and the continuation using widely banned cluster munitions in the infrastructure. Most of Stepanakert’s remaining for the party that has violated it?” he said. of hostilities against the people of Artsakh once shelling of civilian areas in Nagorno-Karabakh. residents now live in basements and other Pashinyan charged that Azerbaijan is contin- again demonstrate Azerbaijan’s goal of resolv- “During an on-site investigation in Nagorno- bomb shelters. uing its offensive military operations in the con- ing the issue by military means. Karabakh in October 2020, Human Rights According to Beglarian’s office, the fighting flict zone because it wants to force Armenia and Both sides reiterated the need for the imme- Watch documented four incidents in which has left nearly 40 Karabakh civilians dead so Karabakh to capitulate. The Armenian side has diate implementation of the agreements on ces- Azerbaijan used cluster munitions,” the U.S.- far. One of them lived in a village near been “maximally flexible” in negotiations medi- sation of hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh based group said in a report. Stepanakert that was reportedly shelled on ated by the U.S., Russia and France and pre- conflict zone, as well as the continuation of the The report says that HRW researchers have Monday despite an Armenian-Azerbaijani cease- pared to agree to a “painful” compromise-based peace process within the framework of the identified the “remnants of Israeli-produced fire agreement brokered by the United States. solution to the Karabakh conflict, he said, Organization for Security and Cooperation in LAR-160 series cluster munition rockets” in the Beglaryan noted that his office is preparing a adding that it now has no choice but to contin- Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Karabakh capital Stepanakert and the town of second report on the inhuman treatment of ue fighting against the “Azerbaijani aggres- President in France Hadrut and examined damage caused by them. dead bodies of Armenian soldiers and prisoners sion.” President Armen Sarkissian on October 23 “Azerbaijan received these surface-to-surface of war by Azerbaijani armed forces. Videos cir- Russia Welcomes US Efforts visited France to meet with French President rockets and launchers from Israel in 2008– cularte one injured Armenian soldier being Speaking ahead of the Washington talks, Emmanuel Macron. “Our objective is clear: to 2009,” it says. shot point blank, while another exists of two Russian President Vladimir Putting Putin see the ceasefire applied,” French government “The continued use of cluster munitions – Armenian soldiers being beheaded. expressed hope that the United States will con- spokesman Gabriel Attal said after Macron met particularly in populated areas – shows flagrant Azerbaijani armed forces fired Smerch cluster tribute to Russian efforts to get the conflicting with Sarkissian in Paris. disregard for the safety of civilians,” said warhead at Nngi village of Artsakh, where many parties to respect a ceasefire agreement that “The President [Macron] is working closely Stephen Goose, the head of HRW’s arms divi- displaced civilians from neighboring communi- was brokered by Moscow on October 10. with [Russian President] Vladimir Putin for sion sector. ties had found shelter, on Monday. A similar “humanitarian” truce agreement this,” tweeted Attal. “The solution to this con- “The repeated use of cluster munitions by ‘‘As a result of the strike three women were brokered by France on October 17 has also not flict can only be found in appeasement. That is Azerbaijan should cease immediately as their injured, as well as a residential house was total- been observed. why it is imperative that Turkey cease its dan- continued use serves to heighten the danger for ly ruined. Other houses and infrastructures of Peskov said that Moscow is continuing to gerous provocations in the region.” civilians for years to come,” Goose said. the village suffered damages to different extent. closely monitor the situation in the Karabakh Shortly after the outbreak of large-scale hos- London-based Amnesty International also The fact that there are no military objects in conflict zone. “We still believe that there can tilities in and around Karabakh on September condemned the use of cluster rockets against the vicinity of that village, as well as the use of only be a peaceful solution to this problem,” 27 Macron accused Turkey of recruiting jihadist residential areas in Karabakh following the prohibited cluster missile of mass destruction in said Putin’s spokesman. fighters in Syria and sending them to September 27 outbreak of large-scale hostilities densely populated area show that the On October 23, Foreign Minister of Armenia Azerbaijan. “I urge all NATO partners to face up between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces. In an Azerbaijani armed forces had criminal intent to Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met with US Secretary to the behavior of a NATO member,” the French October 5 statement, it described the practice target the civilian population and facilities. The of State Mike Pompeo in Washington. leader said on October 1. as “appalling and unacceptable.” 4 S ATURDAY O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA

we would be back soon to clean it all up,” she added. But as so many others of her generation in Artsakh had to live the weeks came and went, the prospect for the Gayane’s quick through the fighting of the 1990s as a child. However, Artur, ‘You Do Not return to their home became grim. an Artsakh man who has devoted his time to help evacuate Gayane lost her brother to a drone attack in the war’s early families from Stepanakert, compelled her to prepare to leave days, and was able to briefly return to Stepanakert to pay her the city: “He warned that the Azeris planned to strike the city last respects: “All the time I was back, the sirens blared, and with powerful weaponry… I had 20 minutes to pack up and Know What they continued to hit the city constantly. When I went, the leave with my kids. My mom encouraged me to leave, and that whole community came to mourn my brother’s death.” But as was a decisive moment for me.” the security situation has become increasingly precarious, conventional funerals have become impossible. “Now, people The Value of Peace don’t have time to even keep the body. It must be buried Arev left the city along with her relative, Loucine A. and her Tomorrow quickly, and less that a handful of people can attend the ser- family. A 39-year-old housewife, Loucine was similarly disori- vice. When my neighbor died, his wife and children couldn’t ented by the morning attack. “We never expected an attack go to Artsakh to mourn him, because it wasn’t safe,” she said. on Stepanakert. For us, the war felt distant before,” she said. Tragically, such realities are becoming increasingly com- Despite this, Loucine had grown used to the sounds of bat- Will Bring’ mon. tle, having lived through adolescence during the ’92 war: “We Despite this, Gayane hoped for victory, and prayed that this were used to the bombings, so we weren’t afraid as children. will be the final war, so that the people of Artsakh would no You can say that I took those years lightly.” REFUGEES, from page 1 longer have to live with fear and uncertainty. “I feel we will But as a parent, Loucine found her experience to be In addition to those that took refuge in Armenian cities on win, but I don’t know how we will go back and cope with all markedly different: “Its terrible, because you fear for your chil- the Artsakh border such as Goris and Vardenis, many have the loss and go on.” dren. I immediately understood I couldn’t stay in also made their way to Yerevan. These beleaguered families Having endured heart wrenching loss over the course of Stepanakert… when I saw the fear and trauma on the faces of have been readily hosted by the city’s hotels, by relatives, by this war, Gayane is painfully aware of the precariousness of life my children.” charitable organizations, and even by strangers. One of these in a warzone. “In Artsakh, everything you do or want to do When full-scale war resumed on September 27, Loucine families is that of Gayane S. As a Stepanakert resident, Gayane has to take the war into account. You must always weigh the rushed into the bunkers with her children, quickly grabbing was in the thick of the heavy enemy shelling and UAV attacks pros and cons, as you can lose everything in an instant. You anything useful such as clothes, water, snacks, and medication on the first days of the war and was forced to flee. do not know what tomorrow will bring,” she said. for her 17-year-old daughter. Loucine found herself torn apart In the wake of a surprise attack in which the Azeris with worry, fearing for her son who was staying with his launched swarms of drones against Artsakh, the women and Arev’s Story grandmother, and for her husband who was on the front as children of this family found themselves in Yerevan. They were Arev A. is a 35-year-old housewife, who fled her house in the fighting began. forced to leave behind their male relatives who went straight Stepanakert along with her children, taking refuge in the Loucine was eventually able to reunite with her son at his to the front. Happily, this beleaguered family has found shel- home of a Yerevan resident who has generously opted to host grandmother’s house: “Since we were together, things became ter in the home of a very generous friend in Yerevan, and them. Arev, like countless residents across Artsakh, awoke calmer, and we began to see the reality, that a war had start- Gayane has been residing in a compound in Armenia’s capital around 7 a.m. on a serene morning of clear blue skies to the ed,” she said. city ever since. sounds of battle: “We live in the highest part of Stepanakert, Loucine left the next day along with her children with the Gayane, 37, vividly remembers the day her life changed for- and from far we could feel our walls shaking as bombs deto- help of Artur. ever: “Early in the morning, we heard thunder from the clear nated in the distance. At first, we thought the booming The decision to leave left her conflicted, as it meant leaving skies, and we understood that these are the sounds of war. My sounds were those of thunder, but when we saw the clear her brother and husband — both in the army — behind: “It was husband immediately spotted an Azeri UAV being shot down.” skies, we knew it couldn’t be.” really hard, because I had no time to think. I battled with my Gayane was quick to wake her children and lead them to the The specter of swarms of attacking drones still remained thoughts on the decision to leave the whole way to Yerevan,” bunker in their home’s garden. The bunker had been con- vivid in Arev’s recollections. “Every hour in the afternoon and she added. structed during the fighting of the 1990s, and Gayane’s fami- night we saw one [drone] or we heard them and saw some get For Loucine, the entire event underscored the stark realities ly had opted to keep it intact when they bought their resi- shot down. This, along with the deafening sound of Artsakh of life in a warzone. Life in Artsakh is rife with difficulties dence in downtown Stepanakert: “Our neighbors were quite howitzers exacerbated the sense of fear in the city: “every- brought on by conflict: “people are still trying to overcome happy with that decision. They came to the bunker when the where was panic,” Arev recalled. the consequences of the first two wars, and finding employ- bombardment started.” Gayane, along with her daughter, Because her mother lived in the city center on the fifth ment to provide for your family, and good education for your Anna, and her neighbors prayed as the boom of guns contin- floor of one of Stepanakert’s many apartment blocks, Arev’s kids is really hard.” ued. husband went to get her mother and bring her to their home. Nevertheless, Loucine believes that living in such a precar- However, the bunker was small and damp, its walls made of Arev could not allow her children to go outside and play, and ious situation allows her a unique and valuable perspective. sand. Soon, Gayane’s children complained of nausea, and they they soon became fearful and restless. “My youngest daughter “You understand how valuable peace is, and you understand could not stay in the bunker. As the air raid sirens continued said she didn’t want our house to blow up, and that she did- the price that comes with that peace,” she said. She hopes to blare, the bunker shook as Artsakh’s howitzers fired in n’t want her father to go to heaven,” she said. The fighting that those living in the appreciate this real- retaliation. When Gayane’s husband told her to prepare to similarly took a toll on Arev’s eldest son, a boy of 7 who is very ity, and support Artsakh in any way they can, whether it be leave the city with her children, she never imagined she would sensitive to noise. “He couldn’t take the sounds of bombard- morally or materially. be gone long. “I was sure we would come back soon. We had ment and started to cry,” she added. “When you live here, it is like being on the frontline of the tracked dirt into the house from the bunker, and I was sure Arev initially had no intention of leaving the city. She, like war between light and dark,” Loucine added. Gagik Tsarukyan Freed on Bail

YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Gagik Tsarukyan, a wealthy busi- 100 million drams ($206,000). nessman leading the opposition Prosperous Armenia (BHK), Calls for the release of the head of Armenia’s largest parlia- was released on bail on Thursday, October 22, almost one mentary opposition force grew after the outbreak of the war month after being arrested on charges rejected by him as politi- cally motivated. A Yerevan court allowed inves- tigators to arrest Tsarukyan on September 25 three months after the Armenian parliament domi- nated by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s allies lifted his legal President Bestows immunity from prosecution. The National Security Service Order of Fatherland (NSS) claims that he “created and led an organized group” that Medals bought more than 17,000 votes for the BHK during parliamen- YEREVAN (Armenpress) — President Armen Sarkissian tary elections held in 2017. signed an order on October 22 bestowing the Order of Tsarukyan strongly denies the Fatherland upon Colonel Garegin Poghosyan, the accusations. He and his party Commander of a military base of the Armenian Armed maintain that Pashinyan ordered Forces; Major-General Andranik Piloyan, the Commander the criminal proceedings in of a military base of the Armenian Armed Forces; and Lt. response to the BHK leader’s General Tiran Khachatryan, the First Deputy Chief of the calls for the government’s resig- General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces for “exclusive nation. Pashinyan and law- services rendered for the defense and security of the enforcement authorities deny that Fatherland and selflessness and valor in combat opera- the case is politically motivated. tions.” A Yerevan judge refused to Gagik Tsarukyan Earlier, on October 20, PM Nikol Pashinyan had allow Tsarukyan’s pre-trial arrest announced bestowing National Hero titles upon the two on June 21. Armenia’s Court of active duty generals. Those who receive the National Hero Appeals overturned that decision on July 8, ordering a lower in Nagorno-Karabakh on September 27. BHK figures and title also receive the Order of Fatherland. court to hold new hearings on the matter. other opposition politicians said that it would strengthen A judge of that court sanctioned Tsarukyan’s arrest on national unity in the face of what see as an existential threat September 25. The same judge agreed to grant him bail worth to Armenia and Karabakh. S ATURDAY O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 INTERNATIONAL Armenians Call on to Act International News

Group, has the EU chairmanship and sits on the UN Security Azerbaijani Prisoner of By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach Council.“ Concretely, Uyar listed a series of steps to be taken: Germany must actively initiate talks between the warring par- War Says Turkey Calls Special to the Mirror-Spectator ties; denounce Turkey’s role and impose sanctions; in light of its historical responsibility, take political responsibility for the Shots in Azerbaijan — Representatives of the Armenian government future by recognizing Artsakh; provide aid; and, investigate YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Azerbaijani prisoner and the church have issued urgent appeals to the German war crimes by Azerbaijan. He concluded by expressing his of war Emin Beskalin Zahiroglu, receiving medical government and Bundestag (Parliament) to intervene in fear that the conflict could spill over into Germany, and treatment in a hospitals in Artsakh, on October 22 search of a diplomatic solution to the ongoing war in recalled the arson attack on an Armenian embassy car last provided details of how military specialists from Nagorno Karabakh. But, to date, Berlin has declined the invi- summer. Turkey control the Azerbaijani aggression against ation, suggesting that Armenia and Azerbaijan handle it Bishop Isakhanyan was on hand “to condemn the war.” Artsakh. themselves. Prayers for peace, he said, take place daily in , the Photographer Davit Ghahramanyan released Both the Ambassador to Germany, Dr. Ashot Smbatyan, seat of the diocese, in parallel to those in Armenia. He issued footage in which the Azerbaijani prisoner tells that 3 and representatives of the church, as well as members of a passionate appeal for peace, for which there was “no alter- officers had come with them for training sessions, the Armenian community in Germany, appeared last week native;” this is not a sign of weakness, he said, but a means adding that they are from Turkey. in events organized by the Bundespressekonferenz, an of protecting creation. “There is no just war,” he went on, ‘’It was obvious from the style they talked and the independent German journalists association, to present “every war in unjust.” Rejecting the notion that this is a reli- military uniform. The trainings were mainly con- their views. gious war, he recalled the centuries of peaceful coexistence ducted according to the program prepared by them, Speaking on October 20, Smbatyan reviewed the history of among Muslims and Christians. He himself was born in Iran, which lasted 10-15 days. They are still in our com- the conflict and listed war crimes committed by Azerbaijan, and said he harbored no hate for Azerbaijanis. “I want these mand centers and without their instructions our which is deploying weapons provided by NATO member two peoples to live peacefully side by side.“ He recalled his commanders make no independent decisions,” Turkey as well as foreign mercenaries. Smbatyan warned that participation in demonstrations in Yerevan in 1988, at the Zahiroglu said. a “humanitarian catastrophe“ was looming and human lives age of 24, for a peaceful solution. He demanded politicians — both Azerbaijani and Armenian — were being destroyed. He find solutions, with a willingness to compromise, in the recog- called for stopping Turkey’s interference and issued a plea for nition that the war must be ended at all costs. Specifically, he Russian, Turkish FMs concrete steps to be taken to contribute to a peaceful solu- said Germany should monitor the Line of Contact. tion. Dogan Akhanli highlighted the role of Turkey, noting that Again Discuss Karabakh Antranig Aznavour, representing the Central Council of there is also a threat against the minorities inside Turkey. MOSCOW (RFE/RL) — Russian Foreign Minister Armenians in Germany (ZAD), criticized German press With historical insight, he warned against the danger that Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut accounts that deny Karabakh’s right to independence, in Germany could again ignore the elimination of Armenians. Cavusoglu again discussed international efforts to utter disregard for the right to self-determination. Germany A day later, the same journalists association hosted an stop the war in Nagorno-Karabakh in a phone call on “is calling for de-escalation but lacks determination,“ he said; event with the Ambassador of Azerbaijan, Ramin Hasanov, Tuesday, October 27. Berlin should put Turkey and Azerbaijan in their place. He joined by a human rights lawyer, Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim “The ministers emphasized the absence of alterna- called for economic sanctions and an arms embargo, and Heintze. Speaking to an even smaller number of journalists, tives to a peaceful resoluation of the conflict, the urged the media, parties, the government and civil society to Hasanov gave the Azerbaijani version of events: the need for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption become active: denounce the Azerbaijani aggression and Armenians had provoked and Azerbaijan had responded in of a negotiating process within existing mechanisms Turkey’s role; and acknowledge Karabakh’s legitimate right self-defense. There was no question of self-determination, but of the OSCE Minsk Group,” read a statement to self-determination and independence. of Azerbaijan’s claim to territorial integrity. Armenians were released by the Russian Foreign Ministry. Georgi Ambarzumyan, president of the AGBU-Germany, the occupiers and Azerbaijan was merely “liberating its own “They particularly noted the inadmissibility of also criticized the press for its “equidistance,“ noting that territory.“ Dr. Heintze supported this, arguing that the internationalization of the crisis and involvement of only the tabloid BILD-Zeitung had denounced Azerbaijan Armenians in Karabakh were a “national minority,“ with no foreign militants in it,” it said. as aggressor. Ambarzumyan recalled the clause in the rights to self-determination, but only to minority rights. According to the statement, Lavrov and Cavusoglu 2016 Bundestag resolution recognizing the genocide (Kosovo was an “exception“ to this principle.) also discussed the conflicts in Syria and Libya. which acknowledged Germany’s historical responsibility, In answer to a series of hostile questions. Hasanov reject- For their part, the U.S. and especially France have and stressed that this refers not only to the past, but to the ed all allegations of war crimes, as “Armenian propaganda.” criticized Turkey’s role in the ongoing military con- present; Germany has a responsibility to defend Armenian The were no jihadists from Syria or Libya, because flict. The French government said last week that life. Azerbaijan, with its huge, modern, well-trained and well- Ankara’s “dangerous provocations” are hampering In discussion with journalists, the Armenian spokesmen armed military, “did not need them.” Turkey was a brother the mediators’ efforts to stop the fighting and restart lamented the lack of active interest shown by German politi- state, but was not involved at all. Azerbaijan had every right Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks. cians and press, as indicated by the fact that only BILD- to purchase weapons from Turkey (and Israel), though most Turkish leaders have also called for Ankara’s Zeitung has a correspondent in Karabakh, and only the right- of its arms came from Russia. Asked why independent human involvement in the peace process that has long been wing extremist Alternative for Germany party has visited the rights groups were denied entry to the conflict zone, mediated by the U.S., Russia and France. A region — a visit neither the embassy nor the ZAD had any- Hasanov answered, the government could not guarantee spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin reit- thing to do with. (Another sign of disinterest on the part of security during a war. erated on Tuesday that this cannot happen without the press was the number of journalists present at the event; What would be the response from Berlin? Armenia’s consent. one could count them on the fingers of one hand.) On October 22, Deutsche Welle news agency reported that Smbatyan concluded by expressing his thanks to Germany, on a German government statement in which it “calls on France and the United Nations for mediating a ceasefire. But Armenia and Azerbaijan to respect the agreements reached Iran Vows to ‘Severely more is required; humanitarian aid is urgently needed. Asked on 10 and 17 October 2020, regarding a humanitarian cease- by a journalist whether Russia would agree to an initiative fire between the two countries, to immediately end all hostil- Counter’ Terrorists Near launched by Germany, Smbatyan replied, that Germany is ities and to avoid further casualties at all costs.“ The foreign Border part of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and ministry statement noted that “Armenia and Azerbaijan have Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). committed to facilitating humanitarian assistance,“ and that TEHRAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Iranian Deputy In the afternoon, another group of Armenians convened in it was now vital that they “immediately resume efforts Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas the same venue, this time featuring representatives of the towards finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the con- Araqchi this week set off on a regional tour, as Iran’s church, Bishop Sevropé Isakhanyan, Primate of the Diocese flict, based on the fundamental principles of conflict resolu- special envoy. of the Armenian Church in Germany, and Ilias Uyar, Cologne tion.“ According to Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed lawyer and representative of the Diocese. Writer Dogan Would that be possible? On October 27, the opportunity to Khatibzadeh, Araqchi first visited Iranian border Akhanli also participated. do will present itself. In a highly unusual initiative, the regions to see first-hand the latest developments on Ilias Uyar opened with an urgent call for German interven- Korrespondenten-café in Berlin has invited Dr. Ashot the ground. tion, given the “impending humanitarian catastrophe,“ and Smbatyan and Ambassador Ramin Hasanov, to appear Araqchi’s tour was to take him to Baku, Moscow, complained that nothing has come from Berlin except together in a meeting with journalists. It will be the first time Yerevan and Ankara, Khatibzadeh said. appeals. Germany, he said, enjoys the trust of both sides to the two share the podium, and the proceedings will be on the During his Tuesday visit to border areas in the the conflict, so why does it not act? “Germany is in the Minsk record. northwestern province of Ardabil, near the Republic of Azerbaijan, Araqchi warned the warring parties in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to prevent any harm to the security of Iranian territories. In addition, Major General Seyed Abdolrahim Mercury Public Affairs Cuts Ties with Turkey under Pressure Mousavi, the commander of Iran’s Army, said on Monday that Iran has strengthened its air defense TIES, from page 1 Mercury on Wednesday to urge the firm “to immedi- systems in the northwestern region of the country. “A lot of people have bought a lot of summer homes ately sever any business ties with the Republic of Mousavi said his army will severely counter the pres- and fishing boats and put their grandkids through col- Turkey.” (Mercury is a contractor to Los Angeles ence of terrorists on its border, Tehran lege by lying about Armenia and covering up for County, which is home to a large Armenian popula- Times reports. Azerbaijan,” he said. tion.) Thousands of terrorist mercenaries are fighting The Armenian National Committee and the Armenian California state Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon alongside Azerbaijani troops against Karabakh. Assembly of America tried to put pressure on Mercury and 16 other state lawmakers told Mercury on Thursday Armenia was the first to report on Turkey’s deploy- by holding protests outside its offices in Washington they wouldn’t engage with the firm as long as it repre- ment of thousands of Syrian fighters to Azerbaijan. and Los Angeles and urging Mercury’s clients to cut ties sented Turkey. And the Los Angeles Community College International media publications followed suit, as did with the firm if it kept representing Turkey. District informed Mercury that it would “begin to exer- reactions from France, Russia, Iran and Syria. The campaign had an effect. Kathryn Barger, the cise the 30-day termination clause” in its contract if “The tranquility of the people is of special impor- chairwoman of the Los Angeles County Board of Turkey remained a client. tance to us,” he said. Supervisors, and Hilda Solis, a supervisor and former Mercury declined to comment. The Turkish embassy Labor secretary in the Obama administration, wrote to didn’t respond to a request for comment. 6 S ATURDAY O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL Fourth Major French-Armenian Demonstration for Artsakh in Paris

nize Artsakh as an independent country. By Jean Eckian Noted French journalist Franz-Olivier Giesbert said, “It is important to fight against disinformation. Even far from the front, it is PARIS — For the fourth time during the cur- thus possible to provide support.” rent crisis, 20,000 French-Armenian inhabi- The procession then headed in front of the tants of Paris and around gathered on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ask Minister Jean- Place du Trocadéro, in front of the Eiffel Tower Yves Le Drian to come out of “neutrality” to on October 25 to demand France recognize ensure the protection of Artsakh. Artsakh. Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) Co-Chairs Mourad Papazian and Ara Toranian blasted Turkish President Erdogan for his insulting attitude towards French President Emmanuel Macron, and the imbalance between Armenian forces and those of Azerbaijan, aided by Turkey. Ara Toranian said: “The people of Artsakh are fighting for their survival and for the love of Paris Bridge March Dedicated to Heroes of Artsakh democracy and the Turkey / Azerbaijan duo are only looking for a military solution.” Several municipalities in France have decided to recog- By Jean Eckian

PARIS – On Saturday, October 24, a collective of one hundred young Armenians around Paris, all dressed in black, moved around in Paris, especially near the Turkish embassy, each bearing a plaque with the name and age of Armenian young people. soldiers who died as heroes for their homeland under the Turkish- Azerbaijani yoke. Among them, we can recognize the Deputy Mayor of Alfortville Saro Mardiryan.

France Not Planning Reciprocal Boycott on Turkish Products: Trade Minister

PARIS (Reuters) — France is not planning a Macron has paid tribute to Paty, and said population, and some accuse the authorities of Turkey. reciprocal boycott against Turkish products and France “will not give up our cartoons.” using secularism to target them. While both countries are NATO members, will continue talks and relations with Turkey Depictions of the Prophet Muhammad are European leaders have come out in support they support differing sides in the ongoing con- and its president, Trade Minister Franck Riester widely regarded as taboo in Islam, and are offen- of France. Germany expressed “solidarity” with flict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well said on Monday, October 26. sive to many Muslims. Macron after the Turkish president's com- as in Libya's civil war. “There is no retaliation on the agenda,” But state secularism — or laïcité — is central ments, with government spokesman Steffen Macron has also clashed with Mr Erdogan Riester told RTL radio. He nevertheless reiter- to France's national identity. Curbing freedom Seibert calling the remarks “defamatory” and over Turkish oil and gas exploration in disput- ated the government’s condemnation of of expression to protect the feelings of one par- “completely unacceptable” and foreign minister ed waters in the eastern Mediterranean. France Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s recent com- ticular community undermines unity, the state Heiko Maas calling Erdogan's personal attacks deployed jets and a frigate to the region in ments about President Emmanuel Macron and says. “a particular low point.” August amid the tensions. his treatment of Muslims in France. Erdogan called for the boycott in a televised Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the And in January, Macron accused the Turkish Erdogan urged compatriots on Monday to speech on Monday. Netherlands “stands firmly with France and for president of breaking a promise to stay out of stop buying French goods, joining calls around “Never give credit to French-labeled goods, the collective values of the European Union,” the conflict in Libya. the Muslim world for a consumer boycott in don't buy them,” he said in the capital Ankara. while Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte Protesters in Istanbul shout slogans protest over images being displayed in France He said Muslims are now “subjected to a also expressed his “full solidarity” with Macron. against France during a demonstration of the Prophet Mohammad that Muslims see as lynch campaign similar to that against Jews in “Personal insults do not help the positive Sunday against French President Emmanuel blasphemous. Europe before World War II,” adding that agenda that the EU wants to pursue with Macron’s comments about caricatures of the In a televised speech, he urged world leaders “European leaders should tell the French pres- Turkey,” he wrote in a tweet. Muslim prophet Muhammad. (Yasin to protect Muslims “if there is oppression ident to stop his hate campaign.” But Turkey is not the only country to criti- Akgul/AFP/Getty Images) against Muslims in France.” Over the weekend, Erdogan said Macron cize Macron's comments. Pakistan's Prime “What is the problem of this person called Erdogan has angrily criticized French needed a mental health check for speaking out Minister Imran Khan accused the French presi- Macron with Muslims and Islam?” Erdogan said President Emmanuel Macron for pledging to so forcefully on Islam — comments that caused dent of “attacking Islam” in a tweet on Sunday, during a speech to members of his political defend secularism against radical Islam. France to recall its ambassador to Turkey for while French products have been removed from party on Saturday. “Macron needs treatment on It comes after a teacher was killed for show- consultations. some shops in Kuwait, Jordan and Qatar. There a mental level.” ing Prophet Muhammad cartoons. Two weeks before the attack, Macron have also been protests in a number of coun- “What else can be said to a head of state who Samuel Paty was beheaded on October 16 by described Islam as a religion “in crisis” and tries, including Bangladesh, Iraq, Libya and does not understand freedom of belief and who 18-year-old Abdullakh Anzorov outside Paris, announced new measures to tackle what he Syria. behaves in this way to millions of people living after presenting the images to his pupils during called “Islamist separatism.” Erdogan's calls for a boycott come after in his country who are members of a different a class about freedom of speech. France has Western Europe's largest Muslim months of rising tensions between France and faith?” S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 Community News Republic of Artsakh Sues Resolutions Defense Contractor Over War Crimes, Crimes Introduced on Against Humanity, and Azerbaijani, Genocide Committed by Turkey and Azerbaijan Turkish Human WASHINGTON — The Republic of Artsakh Rights Abuses filed a lawsuit on behalf of its civilian population against multi-billion-dollar defense contractor, Washington — The Armenian Assembly of L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (“L3 Harris”), in the America welcomed two human rights resolu- US District Court for the District of Columbia. tions introduced in the United States Senate Chicago firm Kerkonian Dajani LLC brought October 22 and spearheaded by Senator Bob the suit alleging that L3Harris aided and abetted Menendez (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along extrajudicial killings, and torture committed by with Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bob Turkey and Azerbaijan against the civilian popu- Casey Jr. (D-PA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Dick lation in Artsakh. Other plaintiffs named in the Durbin (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Jack suit are individuals who either were severely Reed (D-RI). injured or are the next-of-kin of civilians killed by As highlighted by Senator Menendez, the shelling and drone strikes. resolutions “require Secretary of State Mike The complaint alleges that, since 2019, Pompeo to detail Azerbaijan’s and Turkey’s L3Harris has sold electro-optical/infra-red sensors human rights abuses throughout the South to Turkey for its cxand continued to do so with Caucasus, within their own countries, and, in the knowledge that Turkey and Azerbaijan would Turkey’s case, in Syria, Iraq, and Libya.” In use them to commit crimes against civilians. addition, the “resolutions also require infor- Recent reports indicate that Turkey and mation on what role U.S. security assistance Azerbaijan use Bayraktar TB-2 drones in their may be playing in these abuses to inform Sister’s Place, Glendale whether the United States should restrict or Community Fundraising In Los Angeles Even Non-Armenians Are Coming Together To Help Artsakh

"In light of the September By Ani Duzdabanyan-Manoukian 27th assault on Artsakh Special to the Mirror-Spectator and the Armenian people, we commend the introduction LOS ANGELES — It is only 4 p.m. but the Gevorgyan family barbecue stand of these resolutions on Foothill Boulevard in Tujunga, California, sold out all the food they made spearheaded by Senator for today. This is one of the many charity events organized by American Armenians to support people in Artsakh and Armenia, who are struggling Menendez, along with the with the immediate consequences of the war started by Azerbaijan on support of his colleagues” September 27. Tony and Tigran Gevorgyan, respectively a student at Glendale Community Bryan Ardouny, Armenian College and a recent graduate of the University of Irvine, California, came up Assembly Executive Director . with the idea of selling Armenian-style barbecue and kabob made with their mom’s recipe, keeping it a secret from their parents. Everything was set up end security assistance and arms sales to when the boys introduced the project to Louisa and Arsen. those countries. Both resolutions invoke “But we are Armenians, we have to interfere. We are helping the kids with statutory authority under section 502B(c) of the preparation, cooking and simple advice,” smiles Louisa as she says, “and the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA).” besides, this helps me to distract myself a little from the horrible stories that "In light of the September 27th assault on we hear from Artsakh. At least this way we can help our brothers and sisters.” Artsakh and the Armenian people, we com- attacks on Armenian civilians. The customers are mostly Armenians. Most of them return after the first mend the introduction of these resolutions According to the lawsuit, Azerbaijan and time. “The encouragement is huge. It makes us go on,” says Tony. spearheaded by Senator Menendez, along Turkey’s drones have also targeted civilian infra- During these three weeks, the Gevorgyan family is living on a new daily with the support of his colleagues to shine a structure, including residential areas, schools, schedule. After work and on the weekends, the whole family is cooking and sell- bright light on the human rights abuses churches, and hospitals in a total of 120 civilian ing barbecue. After finishing being committed by two of the most authori- settlements. The lawsuit also details Turkey’s the fundraiser, in the evening, tarian regimes in the world,” stated Assembly role in transporting rebel and jihadist mercenary the boys join thousands of their Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. groups from Syria to Azerbaijan and the use of compatriots in the marches and Among other provisions, in addition to internationally banned cluster munitions against protests in different parts of requesting all available information concern- civilians. Los Angeles, while their par- ing violations of human rights and funda- On October 5, 2020, the Foreign Affairs ents stay home to prepare the mental freedoms by the governments of Ministry of Canada, where L3Harris operates a food for the next day. All pro- Azerbaijan and Turkey, the resolutions subsidiary corporation, halted all exports of cer- ceeds go to the Armenia Fund require information pertaining to “whether tain electro-optical/infra-red sensors to Turkey (Hayastan All Armenian Fund). United States-built F–16s have been used by due to reports as to their use by Azerbaijan and the Government of Turkey in the South Turkey in the Artsakh war. The United States, Sister’s Place Caucasus since conflict in the region escalat- where L3Harris has its headquarters, does not Karine Vardan united forces ed on September 27, 2020, in a manner inim- have such a ban in place. with the photographer Lilit ical to internationally recognized human The lawsuit was filed in part under the Alien Mansuryan to gather different rights," as well as information on “the likeli- Tort Statute, which allows claims by non-citizens venders of art works, handcraft hood that United States security assistance, for violations of international crimes, including ornaments, jewelries, clothes, as defined in section 502B(d) of the Foreign war crimes, crimes against humanity, and geno- food and Armenian pastries for Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 17 2304(d)) cide against U.S. corporations. Plaintiff Republic a fundraiser in Sister’s Place, and including training and equipment provid- Shahen and Karine Vardan, the owners of of Artsakh is a small state populated by ethnic ed under section 333 of title 10, United a cozy, hidden garden in Sister’s Place Armenians that declared its independence in 1991 see FUNDRAISING, page 11 States Code, has been and will be used in the when the Soviet Union collapsed. It is located South Caucasus by the Government of between the Republic of Armenia and the Azerbaijan in a manner inimical to interna- Republic of Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus. tionally recognized human rights.” 8 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Throngs of Demonstrators Gather on New York’s George Washington Bridge

NEW YORK — On October 25, about 2,000 protestors gathered on the George Washington Bridge to condemn the attack by Azerbaijan on Artsakh and Armenia.

OBITUARY Telephone (617) 924-7400 Susan Baidzar Arkun Aram Bedrosian

NEW YORK – Susan Baidzar Arkun passed Funeral Home, Inc. away on October 23 at the age of 57 after a Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 four-and-one-half year struggle with lung can- cer. MARION BEDROSIAN Susan was born in Forest Hills, New York, in 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN 1962. After graduating Stuyvesant High WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN School, she went to Yale University, graduating in 1984. She then attended Fordham Law School, which she graduated in 1989. She became a corporate tax lawyer for the large international law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind in New York City. She was bright, beautiful and sharp-witted, and when young, was involved in fashion and F UNERAL H OME music. As a lawyer she did a lot of pro bono Giragosian work on women’s issues and represented James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC refugees in their asylum requests. Mark J. Giragosian Funeral Counselors Susan spoke several languages and loved traveling. She loved cats too. 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 Unfortunately, she contracted a neurological www.giragosianfuneralhome.com condition which forced her to stop working in 1999 and had other health issues. She is survived by her mother, Adrienne (Nazaretian) Arkun, brother Aram Arkun and his family, three aunts and many cousins. Nardolillo Funeral Home Est. 1906 John K. Najarian, Jr. Donation Rhode Island’s Only Licensed Armenian Funeral Director Merrit Agabian, the trustee of the estate of the late Sarah Agabian of 1278 Park Ave. Cranston, RI 02910 (401) 942-1220 Watertown, Mass. donated $1,000 to the , 1111 Boston Neck Rd. Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 789-6300 in accordance with her wishes Armenian Mirror-Spectator www.nardolillo.com S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS Silent Protest At Boston’s Faneuil Hall & Quincy Marketplace, October 24

By Ken Martin Special to the Mirror-Spectator

BOSTON — Silence marked a day of protest on Saturday, October 24, in the heart of Boston as a solid core of 250 dedicated Armenian-Americans from surrounding com- munities gave up another personal weekend to continue to keep up the pressure on the American administration and world powers to condemn the ruthless attacks of Azerbaijan with Turkey’s support on the Republic of Artsakh that started on September 27 and has grown into a full blown war. In the cacophony of sounds that dominate the touristy area, once the meeting place of the Friends of Armenia in the late 1800s when Armenians began their struggles for autonomy and independence from the Turkish , by street musicians and performers, silence would seem the last thing that might capture visitors attentions. As the time went by though, that’s just what happened as tourists and locals, out either defying or practicing pandemic advice or expressing pandemic fatigue, began commu- nicating with the protestors who held signs describing the crisis. Many had finally heard and seen news stories about the issue and wanted to know more. The silent approach was a success and the entire tourist zone took on a more somber note as the protesters, now one family, slowly marched by diners and visitors, the only sounds the shuffle of feet on the ancient cob- blestones and the flutter of the flags of the US, Armenia, and Artsakh. (All photos accompanying this article are courtesy of Ken Martin.)

10 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS

Church and Diplomatic Leaders Take Part in Ecumenical Service for Peace

(ALBIN LOHR-JONES PHOTO) Orthodox, Episcopal, and Armenian Evangelical must gather together in prayer and solidarity, By Stephan S. Nigohosian churches. Ambassador Mher Margaryan, supporting our brothers in the Armenian Permanent Representative of the Republic of Apostolic Church,” he said. Armenia to the United Nations, also attended. In an emotional speech, he continued: “This NEW YORK — In a moving gesture of soli- Somber, Yet Unifying is our Christian mandate: one of the founding darity with their Armenian brothers and sis- The Ecumenical Service had a somber yet principles of the Oriental Orthodox churches is ters in Christ, national leaders from the unifying feeling, underscoring the fact that that we are called to provide a [united] voice in Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholic, and despite coming from various denominations, all dealing with issues of common concern and wit- Protestant churches gathered at St. Vartan the faithful are interconnected through a love ness. If one member of the body suffers, we all Cathedral on October 21. They joined Bishop of Jesus Christ. The spiritual hymns of the suffer together.” He called upon world leaders Daniel Findikyan, Primate of the Eastern Armenian Church heard throughout the event to demand an immediate ceasefire and return Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, spoke to the hearts and souls of all in atten- to peaceful dialogue and negotiation, bearing in for a solemn evening prayer service. dance and served to join all attendees together mind the well-being of the people of Artsakh The event, “An Ecumenical Service for as one. This sentiment of one Christian family and their right to safe existence and freedom of Peace and Justice in Armenia, Artsakh and inspired participants to speak out against the worship. He concluded with a prayer for unity the World,” was an appeal for the condemna- injustices being perpetrated against the people in Christ: “Your cross is ours, your blood is our tion of — and an immediate end to — of Artsakh and Armenia by Azerbaijan and its blood, your suffering is our suffering. The Azerbaijan’s continued military attacks on Coptic Church stands with you.” the Armenian population in the republics of (ALBIN LOHR-JONES PHOTO) At the close of the event, Findikyan’s spiritu- Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). al guidance and leadership provided reassur- Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Director ance that an unwavering faith in God and soli- Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan Vicar darity among the international community will Fr. Simeon Odabashian, cathedral vicar Fr. New York Catholic Church’s Archbishop Timothy not allow the injustice and aggression against Davit Karamyan, and members of the Cardinal Dolan the Armenian people to continue. Diocesan clergy from local parishes also took In addition to the socially distanced worship-

part in the evening. (ALBIN LOHR-JONES PHOTO) Prayers for the welfare and protection of the innocent Armenian men, women and chil- York), Archbishop Elpidophoros (Greek dren affected by the crisis were offered by Orthodox Church), and Bishop David (Coptic Bishop Daniel (who presided over the ser- Orthodox Church). Archbishop Vicken Aykazian vice), as well as Cardinal Timothy “It was an evening of deep consolation for Dolan (Catholic Archbishop of New me, and for all our people, to see these pro- found figures of prayer standing sponsors. (ALBIN LOHR-JONES PHOTO) with us — with the Armenian “We are here at St. Vartan Cathedral this Church, and with our people in evening to help. You are not alone,” said Armenia and Artsakh,” said Cardinal Dolan. “The shield of faith, the helmet Findikyan. “These were the leaders of salvation, the sword of the Spirit: that’s our Coptic Leader Archbishop David of the Catholic, Greek Orthodox, artillery, that’s our strategy.” Oriental Orthodox, Episcopal, and Similarly, Archbishop Elpidophoros stated: many other church traditions in “Today, we continue to pray for the Armenian pers donning surgical masks present in the America, showing solidarity with people, that they may continue to cherish their cathedral, the faithful were able to participate the Armenian Church and its historic land and sacred sanctuaries. We should in the prayer vigil from home via livestream ancient Christian heritage. It was a ask ourselves, ‘What is the international com- broadcast on the St. Vartan Cathedral and rare occasion, and profoundly mov- munity doing to prevent these atrocities’? We Eastern Diocese social media platforms. ing to witness.” stand next to each other with deep respect.” Reporters and camera crews from local New Members of the clergy from other branches at prayer Also present were leaders of the Bishop David emphasized the unity of the York broadcast media outlets also attended to Serbian Orthodox, Ethiopian Christian community. “In times like these, we document the event. Balakian Is Founding Member of Writers Movement Against Trump

TRUMP, from page 1 pages along with a website.” Balakian said that website. Flores of Milwaukee; John Nichols, a major and astonishing assaults on democratic institu- hundreds of writers began signing up and post- Balakian commented on the lack of engage- political writer for The Nation magazine, asso- tions and norms, and he has displayed an overt ing their written or video statements about why ment of the US in the Karabakh peace process ciate editor of The Capital Times, and author or racism and misogyny never seen before in the this election is so important for the future of until recently as a secondary factor that might coauthor of over a dozen books; and poet and White House in the modern era. The sheer democracy. motivate Armenians. He said, “I feel, and I am graduate student Eric Jefferson. crass, self-absorbed, indecency of Trump has This moment goes beyond partisan views, he sure other Armenian American members of this In addition to the effort to get out the vote, had a damaging effect on American identity exclaimed, stressing: “There has been so much organization would concur, that parts of the Balakian said there is a plan for a possible elec- both at home and globally.” corruption and so much destruction of democ- State Department have been gutted by Trump, tion and post-election crisis, in case President WAT’s goals, according to its website, include ratic norms, values and institutions under the and US leadership in complex parts of the Trump loses and attempts to interfere with the collaborating “with organizations seeking to Trump Administration that people are really world has waned.” results. Part of the plan is to hold a national ple- encourage voter turnout, promote candidates keyed to the big values of American democra- WAT in Action nary session on the night of November 5 with who resist the Trump apparatus, protect the cy.” One of the ways WAT is working to achieve major writers which will be conducted by writer election from fraud and theft, and mobilize in Though there are no formal local or even its goal is through plenary sessions every other and film director Paul Auster. At the moment, the event of post-election trouble.” regional branches, WAT has created a network week with swing states for the presidential elec- three eminent writers, Salman Rushdie, Balakian said, “Writers Against Trump start- throughout the United States. Balakian said, tion, including Texas, Wisconsin, Florida, Rebecca Solnit, and former poet laureate and ed in the first week of August, when the emi- “We have almost 2000 writers who have joined Pennsylvania and North Carolina. In these Pulitzer Prize winner Natasha Trethewey are nent writer, journalist and political activist Todd this in name, which suggests that there is a online meetings, there is brainstorming on onboard to discuss the election results and Gitlin approached me and asked whether I groundswell of leadership coming from the lit- strategies to get out the vote, poll watching and what should happen next. thought I could bring together a few writers erary community. That is something to note.” protecting the integrity of the election. There will also be a series of local events dur- together to do some campaign work. I then This network, he said, “is being an energizer, a Balakian said, “These have been very rich 90- ing the day facilitated by bookstores and their called a few of my friends, and Todd called a few facilitator and a bonder, with all of us trying to minute sessions. We hope that they are helping partners. of his, and before long, we had a wonderful, make phone calls, send postcards, and find peo- propel energy and galvanize ideas.” Balakian speculated about what will happen very strong group of writers.” ple who can be poll watchers.” Both writers and political figures have par- with the election: “Wouldn’t it be nice if it were The Pulitzer Prize winning Balakian is a poet There are also some writers who are not US ticipated in the sessions. Among the politicians, just a normal election? Yet there has never been and writer who teaches as the Donald M. and citizens who have joined, Balakian said, out of the mayor of Durham was involved in the North so much heightened tension because of Constance H. Rebar Professor of Humanities at concern about the US and its commitments to Carolina session and Assemblyman Steve Doyle Trump’s persistent efforts to undermine the Colgate University. Gitlin, author of 14 books, is democracy. from western Wisconsin in the Wisconsin ses- legitimacy of the American election process. a professor and chair of the doctoral program in Among the well-known writers who have sion, while Rick Wilson, one of the founders of Much will be written about this, no doubt.” communications at Columbia University. He signed on to WAT are Margaret Atwood, Jericho the Lincoln Project, a group of former “I think many of us feel,” Balakian said, “that was a founding member of Students for a Brown, Maureen Corrigan, Enrique Krauze, Republicans who state they are working to the work of democratic activism will not end Democratic Society and tis third president. Tyehimba Jess, Robert Jay Lifton, Jacki Lyden, defend democracy in the US, spoke in the with the election. We hope WAT will have a By mid-August, a steering committee of ten Viet Thanh Nguyen, Joyce Carol Oates, Jayne Florida one. longer life. Our medium is language and there was formed comprised of distinguished writers Anne Phillips, Salman Rushdie, and John Balakian served as the online host for the is commitment to the belief that words matters including novelists Paul Auster, James Carroll, Turturro. Wisconsin session on October 3. As a founding and that ideas and messages can be generated Siri Hudtvedt, Askold Melnyczuk, poets There are a number of Armenian American member of WAT, he said he sent out a lot of by writers that can have meaning and value in Natasha Tretheway and Carolyn Forche, as well writers who have joined in addition to Balakian, emails and eventually a group was formed times of crisis. I think we all have a belief in the as well as younger writers Sophie Auster, Julia including Nancy Agabian, Jan Balakian, Chris which spoke on the complexity of the situation ethical value of literary culture.” He elaborated Lattimer, Shuchi Saraswat. Bohjalian, Carol Edgarian, Armine Iknadossian, in Wisconsin. He said, “The idea is that we are that this is a time-honored idea, which the “Our committee spans a couple of genera- Oliva Katrandjian, Lola Koundakjian, Nancy here to listen and gather knowledge as well as Victorians believed, and that “the present is the tions and that’s been important,” Balakian said, Kricorian, Micheline Aharonian Marcom, Peter to provide ideas and impetus.” The group moment for literary culture to stand up and get “because within a week, we went digital thanks Najarian, Aline Ohanesian, Alan Semerdjian included Assemblyman Doyle; poet and fiction to work. This certainly has been true in the to the younger members like Sophie, Julia and and Patricia Sarrafian Ward, and some of them writer Mauricio Kilwein-Guevara, who is the Armenian tradition since the period of the 19th Shuchi. WAT now had Instagram and Facebook also have posted their statements on the WAT author of five books and a play; activist Iuscely century Armenian renaissance.” S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 COMMUNITY NEWS Community Fundraising in Los Angeles: Even Non- Armenians Are Coming Together to Help Artsakh

FUNDRAISING, from page 7 Glendale. Sister’s Place is named for Karine’s four daughters, one of whom left for Armenia when the war just started. “The fourth day of the war, Inessa told me that she bought a ticket to Armenia. I couldn’t even oppose her. She didn’t let me. She told me, ‘Mom, how can I not be in Armenia now, when you yourself nurtured us this way?’ I was terrified, especially in the beginning, when Azerbaijanis were attacking Vardenis [a city in the Republic of Armenia], but I couldn’t say anything. She had made up her mind,” Karine said.

Sister’s Place, Glendale

Sister’s Place, Glendale

ones who are getting harmed the most. It’s important to all to pledge a monthly donation of $50 or more to the fund. For women, regardless where you come from and what your back- over a month now, it seems that nearly all Armenians, without ground is, to really understand the impact that it can have on any hesitation, became contributors of the All Armenian Fund in somebody’s life and the trauma that is ongoing. As a woman it’s one way or another. Establishing faith and trust again in the very painful to think that we are putting women and children in a position like that, and they can’t get the support they need,” says Tara. JPMorgan Chase The mobilization even reached major financial institutions in US. JPMorgan Chase was one of the banks that joined the cause as a result of some determined Armenian employees there. The Gevorgyan family Armine Massihi is one of the branch managers at the bank. She decided to approach her marketing director, and then the regional director, to find a With tears and pride in her eyes, Karine sat down to rest after way for the bank to contribute to the donation sleepless nights of organizing. From the beginning of the dias- campaign to the Armenia Fund (Hayastan All pora’s movement in Los Angeles, Karine was present in every Armenian Fund). Chase agreed to match up to demonstration and march, candlelight and prayer ceremony. This $1000 per employee. Armine herself started to unprecedented unity of the Armenians inspired many non- call all her colleagues from Irvine to New York. Armenians as well. Although the company is not releasing the col- YWCA Glendale lected amount, Armine is certain that it is out- “Just seeing how the Armenian community responded to this standing. crisis is amazing: the amount of resources that are being used, Garage sales, restaurant fundraisers, art pro- how people are coming together! We want to take of some of jects, single donations and even lemonade stand that stress and find even a small way in which we can be part of sales: the entire Armenian-American community, this as well,” says Tara Peterson, the CEO of YWCA Glendale, all over the US, is using its talent and energy to who organized a Community Solidarity Drive for women shelters help Armenia and Artsakh. Earlier in October the The Gevorgyan barbecue stand in Armenia. Consulate General of Armenia in Los Angeles YWCA had been working with the Women’s Resource Center and the Pan-Armenian Council of [the] Western in Armenia previously. Seeing that the center is collecting items USA announced that $3,239,500 was raised during an event held diaspora toward Armenian institutions is perhaps an even more for women and children, Tara and her team decided that it would in the consulate. important achievement than the amount of money itself — when be a perfect partnership to help them. After collecting more than $140 million, the Hayastan All even a little boy is willing to donate his entire piggy bank to the “Every time when there is a war, women and children are the Armenian Fund launched an initiative of 50+ calling on everyone fund. 12 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Arts & Living

The Power and A Critical Exclusive Beauty of Komitas Daniel Reaches Europe Varoujan: By Alin K. Gregorian Mirror-Spectator Staff An Armenian Poet RIGA, Latvia — For Armenians, Komitas In Ghent Vartabed, both as a man as well as a musician, remains a revered figure. His brilliant musician- ship, coupled with his unimaginable suffering as a witness to the Armenian Genocide and his Reviewed by subsequent institutionalization, seem to encap- Christopher Atamian sulate the story of the Armenians. Much like Hungarian great Bela Bartok, Special to the Mirror-Spectator Komitas, born Soghomon Soghomonian, was fascinated by ethnomusicology, finding and pre- Daniel Varoujan [Taniel Varuzhan] led a serving his people’s folk songs. short and tragic life. Born into poverty in 1884 At the same time, he wrote a liturgy which is in the Prknig village of Sepasdia (Sivas), performed regularly in the Armenian Church, Varoujan studied at Venice’s Mourad-Rafaelian by an all-male chorus. Its twinned power and School before obtaining a scholarship to attend delicacy seem to throw a direct line from the the University of Ghent in Belgium from 1905 church to God. to 1909. These were lonely but enlightening Komitas began working on the Divine years for a young man so far away from his Liturgy in 1892, and at least ten versions exist. native soil. Five years later in 1914 in The final version has been recorded by the pre- Constantinople he would found the group sented on this recording — dates from 1914–15 “Mehian” along with fellow writers Gosdan and was completed just before his deportation Zarian, Hagop Oshagan, and Aharon and from Constantinople, where he had settled in Kegham Parseghian. The group’s name, “tem- 1910, to a prison camp in Cankin. ple” in Armenian, referred back to the ancient On July 10, the record label Delos released Armenian pagan gods. In 1915 Varoujan was “Komitas: Divine Liturgy,” in the world-pre- deported towards Chankiri and gruesomely tor- miere recording of a mixed-voice arrangement tured to death by the . Baret Magarian A recent 2019 special issue of Revue Belge de Philologie et d’Histoire [The Belgian Review of Philology and History] sheds important light on the details of Varoujan’s stay in Ghent. It may Baret Magarian be the definitive study on the poet’s life during this period. The seven pieces presented here range from anthropological and factual accounts (van Nuffelen and Payaslian, de “My Armenian Roots Account for Messemaeker and Verbruggen) to literary and theoretical ones (Beledian, Nichanian). Some Exotic Flavor in My Writing” are eloquent and deft, others rather dry and for- mal. Together they form a fascinating look at YEREVAN/FLORENCE — Writer and composer Baret Magarian was born in the great poet’s life and psyche during the peri- London and currently lives in Florence. He was educated at Durham and London od examined, as well as to the city of Ghent as Universities. Magarian has worked as a translator, musician, interviewer, journal- a whole. ist, lecturer, book representative Varoujan in Ghent was a busy if sometimes and in PR. desperate young man: he spent long days and By Artsvi Bakhchinyan In London, he was a freelance nights studying and writing brilliant verse, by Vache Sharafyan. This new version features Special to the Mirror-Spectator journalist, published fiction in became an ally of the socialist party, and the critically acclaimed Latvian Radio Choir led many magazines, wrote book implored various Armenian organizations by its artistic director, Sigvards Klava, with reviews, features, and articles which abroad to subsidize his tuition and coursework. guest soloists bass Hovhannes Nersesyan and have appeared in all the major British broadsheets. He took up the cause of working-class factory tenor Armen Badalyan. He began his career by writing features and reviews for The Times, The workers and deplored the supercilious indiffer- The recording was made at St. John’s Church Guardian, The Observer, The Independent and The New Statesman, then pub- ence of the upper classes whose members (Sv. Jana Baznica), Riga, Latvia, September 20– lished fiction in World Literature Today, Journal of Italian Translation, the online became rich off the labor of others. At first he 23, 2019. magazines El Ghibli, Sagarana, and Voyages. His poetry has appeared in the could not speak any of the local languages — The idea for the new mixed choir version Florentine magazine Semicerchio and the Australian anthology Contrappasso. Flemish or French — and was taken aback by came from Tigran Mkrtchyan, the Ambassador Magarian has published four books: The Fabrications (Pleasure Boat Studio), the comparatively cold temperament of his of Armenia in the Baltic states, who also orga- Melting Point (Italian translation, Quarup), Mirror and Silhouette (Albion Beatnik hosts. nized the premiere performance and recording Press) and Chattering with All My Favourite Beasts (Italian and English, From Peter van Nuffelen and Simon done by the Latvian Radio Choir. Ensemble). He has recorded an album of acoustic rock, composed and performed Payaslian‘s introductory essay, “An Armenian In an interview, Sharafyan said, “Music is the piano music in the vein of Alkan and Jarrett, and recently staged his monologue Poet in Ghent-One Hundred Years Later,” we universal spiritual language. It is really very “The Pain Tapestry” in Florence and Turin to great success. learn that Varoujan was already experimenting important to open the music of Komitas for the and pushing back boundaries, including classic entire world, as music of the classical com- Dear Baret, I highly enjoy interviewing people with versatile background and forms of meter and rhythm: “Varoujan rejected posers is open for all of us. Real Musical com- activities. Perhaps you can understand me, yourself having interviewed inter- the strict adherence to the modes of versifica- position has a prayer-like universality: being esting people, among them such diverse figures as Peter Ustinov, John Calder tion that existed at the time in Armenian poet- performed by the different performers, it gives and Salman Rushdie. What do you like more in that process? ry. According to him, poetry was the medium opportunity to everyone to express themselves through which nature took form and gave through the same music. And the music of I like the whole process of interviewing a person: the expression to the authenticity of (human) Komitas has such value as well. As the prayer — research and preparation, the actual interview, the audi- thought.” (P. 782, translation mine) people say the same Lord’s Prayer, though ence participation, if there is any — depends on whether In this introductory essay, the authors dis- everyone expresses it's own thoughts and wish- the interview is conducted in private or public or is writ- cuss the relationship between Belgium and the es through the same words...” ten (like this one) or aural/recorded and the publica- Ottoman Empire and point to the fact that for He added, “The soloists of the piece are tion of the interview (if it does get published). The key Varoujan and his compatriots, Europe incredible, packing power and emotion in the to revealing the person lies, I believe, in demonstrating remained the cultural example to be emulated. work. Both Hovhannes Nersesyan and Armen absolute respect for the interviewee (through the tone This piece is complemented by Pieter de Badalyan are Armenian National Opera soloists, of voice, through body language) and in allowing the Messemaeker and Christophe Verbruggen’s meanwhile they both sing in the church as well. interviewee to speak absolutely freely, with no restric- “Foreign Students at Ghent University Around Hovhannes is even a deacon and for some years tions, no aggression on the part of the interviewer and no hidden agendas. It is 1900.” The latter provides a comparative study studied at the Armenian seminary in Jerusalem. important also to try and avoid any kind of psychological guessing/deducing on the countries of origin of foreign students in Knowing both of them I would love to say that see MAGARIAN, page, 17 Ghent. It also examines why they found the city they are very spiritual, clear and open people, an attractive destination for their studies and see KOMITAS, page 13 see VAROUJAN, page, 14 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 ARTS & LIVING The Power and Beauty of Komitas Reaches Europe

KOMITAS, from page 12 events. The German release planned in October absolute silent spiritual concentration, medita- Gasparyan, conducted by Angel Gil Ordonez. It meanwhile also absolute professional and gifted promises another burst of reviews in German tion,” Sharafyan recalled. was for a concert dedicated to the 100 years singers. Somehow I feel they really chosen for language media in Europe. The recording was made before COVID-19 anniversary of the Armenian-American diplo- this project.” halted much of the artistic activity around the matic relations,” he added. While the soloists and the choir are forces to Bringing Project to Fruition world. However, for Sharafyan, the CD itself is While Sharafyan and Mkrtchyan had not met be reckoned with, the church added to the pro- The project took three years from idea to a victory. “The CD is already opening some new before this project, they knew of each other. “I duction. Sharafyan said the church is Riga’s knew Tigran’s brother and father (both won- oldest and has “amazing acoustics.” derful artists in Armenia and I had a great plea- As stated earlier, one of the major changes in sure to collaborate with both in theater plays this production is that the choir voice is adjust- where I wrote the music), but I met Tigran for ed from all male to mixed. “My aim was not to first due to Komitas Liturgy project. Now it change, but preserve Komitas’ ideas and just seems to me that we have known each other for make them as best as possible for the mixed all our lives,” Sharafyan said. choir’s nature, sound, colors... I would say my He had only praise for Mkrtchyan’s initiative. aim was to translate from the male choir to the “It's really a great fortune and privilege to have mixed choir,” Sharafyan said. such an ambassador representing the best of Mkrtchyan is happy with the fruit of his the Armenian culture worldwide and making efforts. “Since I started working as ambassador really great cultural politics. It seems that where the dissemination of Komitas’ music has been a is Tigran he is surrounded by wonderful artists, part of my mission. Every year in the Baltic literature, singers, musicians and such artistic countries the Embassy of Armenia organizes at political approach enriches the world and cre- least two dozen cultural events, during the ates relationship and strong humanistic bridges majority of which feature works by Komitas. between Armenia and other countries.” But the scale and level of this project was During the pandemic, Sharafyan said he has indeed different. Usually an Embassy’s initiative completed a “huge eight-movement Concerto relates to that country’s relations with Armenia, for piano and choir titled New Seasons for i.e. it is of regional nature and about that are orchestra and soloists, all to be premiered and discussed in the country where the project was recorded/filmed soon in Armenia and Europe. implemented (in this case, Latvia) and in the Another piece is in progress. I also did new country which introduced it (in this case, music for online theater with participation of Armenia). Surely, this project was the biggest in artists from different countries organized by the history of Latvian-Armenian cultural histo- the American producer John Blondel).” ry, because it got the attention not only of While he is gearing up for new works, his bal- Latvia and Armenia, but the wider world. This The performance at St. John’s Church in Riga let premiere, “Ancient Gods,” had been post- became a global project and a very successful poned because of the pandemic. one,” Mkrtchyan said. Mkrtchyan noted that he had heard Ambassador Mkrtchyan noted that the completion. Initially, in 2017, the Embassy of Hovhannes Nersesyan in the Armenian Opera “Latvian choir has incredible international audi- Armenia organized days of in and Ballet Theatre several years ago, and ence, is most of the time having international Riga, the culmination of which was the Riga thought that he was one of our best bass tours and can export Komitas very successfully Doms Cathedral performance of Alfred singers. Apart from that I knew that he has as well. Also, I think that the lack of transliter- Schnittke’s Choir Concerto. “At that time upon spiritual education, studied in Jerusalem ation of the Divine Liturgy had been a constant our suggestion the choir performed Lord Have Armenian Seminary and is working in the problem for foreign choirs to perform Komitas. Mercy, one of the most moving pieces of the church as a deacon. So I was certain that he We solved this issue together with Vache Divine Liturgy of Komitas. One year later, in would fit ideally in this sort of a project. Sharafyan, and I hope Komitas would have 2018, we organized the Latvian premiere of Regarding the tenor I consulted one of my best been pleased for it. contemporary Armenian composer Tigran opera friends, Gevorg Hakobyan, who strongly “Honoring Komitas is part of a wider Mansurian’s Grammy-nominated Requiem. The advised me to hear Armen Gevorgyan, which I approach adopted by me since my first day as Latvian Radio Choir and Sinfonietta Riga did did and liked very much. By the way, he is orig- Ambassador. Through cultural diplomacy we an amazing job in even exciting the composer inally from Echmiadzin, the religious center of himself, who was present in Riga dur- Armenia. So, the contexts of these soloists ing the performance. Since that work were extremely important when we approached is around 40 minutes, we requested them. Before doing so, Sigvards Klava also the choir to have some more pieces heard their various performances and approved from the Divine Liturgy of Komitas, of the initial idea to include them. altogether consisting of 10-12 min- Soloist Armen Badalyan Mkrtchyan said, “I would like to thank the utes. Once again the choir managed it supporters of this initiative of the Embassy of extremely well. At that point I Armenia in Latvia. The biggest gratitude thought that one of the biggest paths for Komitas’ music. For example I got an belongs to the Latvian Radio Choir and its con- achievements that we can register e-mail from a South African choir and their con- ductor Sigvards Klava who wished to take up would be a performance and ideally ductor. They loved the music so much that this challenge and carry our honorably and recording of the Divine Liturgy just asked me for the score to perform. I can’t wait with such success. The Ministry of Education, during the 150th Anniversary of the to hear their interpretation in the not-too-dis- Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia reacted Vardapet in 2019, which we carried tant future,” he added. very positively to this project and supported its out successfully,” Mkrtchyan noted. He continued, “I am sure that after CD implementation. The Armenian Apostolic Sharafyan added, “I have had a release many choirs will want to perform the Church supported the initial stages of the nice experience composing for mixed Komitas Liturgy. And it seams very timely to me implementation of this idea. Latvian-Armenian Ambassador Mkrtchyan choir. I would love to mention the to release the mixed choir version score with supporters- Mkhitar Mkhitaryan, Ovik Hover State Chamber Choir and for Latin transliteration... I think this must be the Mkrtchyan as well as Aram Arutyunyan sup- male choirs, including for the next step for the opening Komitas music for the ported the implementation of the project. Also have been able to enhance Armenia’s image in Estonian National male choir that won a world. I should thank my friends in Armenia, the the Baltic countries immensely. There are Grammy and is the biggest male choir in the Sharafyan is an Armenian-born composer. He Balasanyan Family Foundation which had their indeed some very strong pillars upon which our world (I was commissioned by them and wrote was a former organist at Echmiadzin’s St. role in realizing this idea.” culture rests. One of them is St. Gregory of Stabat Mater that is in choir’s permanent reper- Gayane Church, and also taught music at the Through serendipity, the ambassador found Narek, the 10th century priest and theologian tory since then), and I know and open every Armenian Seminary in Jerusalem from 1992 to the chorus. “In 2016 I was watching a BBC his- whose works are like nothing else. His every time more and more about the obvious differ- 1996. In 2000 he was chosen and commis- torical drama of Tolstoy’s 'War and Peace,’ the line emanates of sanctity and unrivaled wisdom. ences of the voicing combinations, colors and sioned by cellist Yo-Yo Ma as an official com- soundtrack of which is composed by the great Another very strong pillar is indeed Komitas natural sound acoustics of the male and mixed poser from Armenia for his Silk Road Project; Martin Phipps. I noticed that the choir was just and his work. Honoring and internationalizing choirs.” his compositions have been performed world- breathtaking. Then my wife, who is herself a the work of such figures is a must,” Mkrtchyan He stressed that during the “translation” wide by Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble. In Latvian, told me about the choir. So I started to added. from single sex to mixed sex, he strove to “ keep 2007 the Moscow Philharmonic season study more of this choir and eventually we In addition to the change in the addition of as much as possible the main Komitas sound debuted his Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow decided to have a joint program together hon- female voices, the effort by Mkrtchyan and character and to add more colors and the beau- Soloists premiered his Surgite Gloriae Viola oring the Latvian translation of Gregory of Sharafyan was to make it a true concert perfor- ty of the female voices effect.” Concerto. Narek’s Book of Lamentations in 2017. That mance rather than a strict liturgy. For Armenians, the music of Komitas remains He has composed more than 100 pieces, was the start of 4 years of intense cooperation Mkrtchyan has been delighted with the recep- special, often bringing tears to the eyes of the including operas, ballets, symphonic, choral with 3 unforgettable concerts and this historic tion. The reception has been phenomenal. listeners. When asked what the reaction of vocal and chamber music. His music has been recording of Komitas Album.” Initially the Latvian and Armenian media react- those in Latvia who had possible never heard of performed around the world by leading artists, And at the end, he added, “I think they were ed enthusiastically when the Album was Komitas or heard his music, was, Sharafyan groups, orchestras including also the Hilliard very moved, as they understood what they were released in July. After that the international noted that they were equally moved. Ensemble, Dresden Symphony, Boston Modern singing and they understood every word of the media started to write very positive reviews “During the entire rehearsals/concert/ Orchestra (led by Gil Rose), among others. Liturgy.” about the performance and the album, profes- recording processes I felt how the performers, “On March 4, 2020, my Cello Concerto #2 as To listen or purchase a copy of the CD, visit sional classical music reviewers were very posi- amazing conductor Sigvards Klava, every singer well as Armenian Odyssey suite for orchestra https://delosmusic.com/recording/komitas- tive about this CD. The reviews of the loved the Komitas music and the same feeling I specially written for this even were performed divine-liturgy/ Independent, the Guardian, the BBC Music had during the concert. The entire audience (as at the Washington National Cathedral by the (Editor’s Note: The interviews were conduct- Magazine, Australian Limelight and others were I remember the seats were sold out a month Post Classical Orchestra, cellist Narek ed before the Azerbaijani war on Armenia.) indeed in many ways very much welcome before the concert) seemed entirely inside the Hakhnazaryan, Zulal vocal trio, Jivan 14 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING Daniel Varoujan: An Armenian Poet in Ghent

VAROUJAN, from page 12 Islam. While it is certainly true that depictions Beledian then gives a delicate and nuanced how they in turn contributed to its intellectual of Islam (read: Turks) as “barbaric” by the analysis of Varoujan’s poems. In “‘I have seen and economic development. Belgians were racially biased, the authors at Europe,’ Daniel Varoujan: The Time of the In a sometimes maddening but fairly accurate some points come off as apologists for the hor- Destruction of Images,” he astutely points out historical rendering of the treatment of rific acts committed by the Ottoman govern- that Varoujan’s oeuvre is structured around Ottoman Armenians and the founding of a ment under Abdul Hamid in 1894-96 and the “the experience of the foreign” and is essential- short-lived Armenophile movement in Belgium, Young Turks in 1915-1923. ly pictorial in nature. Varoujan describes the Houssine Alloul and Henk de Smaele The following essay by Payaslian, “Daniel colorful Venice of his early youth in sensual (“Armenia in the Imagination and Politics of Varoujan at Ghent University (1905-1909),” is a terms (“Venice the blue city, the glorious Prewar Belgium”) examine the success of meticulous examination of Varoujan’s daily life Grande Dame”) and compares her to a courte- Armenians — or “Oriental Christians” as they while in Ghent and by extension that of his san “draped in aquatic ribbons” (p. 893) classmates and friends. The piece is followed by Beledian also notes that Varoujan exalts the remarkable archival lists of everything from the Armenian people “only because it is about to thirty-nine poems that he wrote while in Ghent die.” (p. 906) Towards the end of his essay he to how much he spent on household items such wonders whether the pictorial nature of as soap and hair combs, foodstuffs (butter, eggs, Varoujan’s poetry can survive the terrible mas- milk), rent and every other imaginable expense. sacres that took place in Adana in 1909. His This will no doubt fascinate cultural anthropol- nuanced analysis is a perfect lead-in to the sev- ogists and economists, but it may not spark the enth and ultimate essay in the piece, Marc lay reader’s interest. Nichanian’s “Mourning and the Gods.” Finally in the three literary sections, the A former professor at Columbia and Sabanci authors interpret Varoujan’s work from differ- Universities, Nichanian has developed a fasci- ent if equally fascinating angles. Émerance de la nating theoretical framework for his analysis of Censerie delivers a classic French explication de the genocidal impulse in his seminal Writers of texte or close reading of two of Varoujan poems Disaster, based in part on an analysis of the con- Daniel Varoujan in “The French Poems of Daniel Varoujan or cept of the witness and the interdiction of ‘The Heart of the Race’.” She analyzes them in mourning. Nichanian’s current essay revolves light of established Belgian national history and around the fact that Varoujan has heretofore In light of current events in Armenia, it is a pre- of the then nascent Armenian national history, been read as someone who glorified the past in scient and chilling message. while reading the second poem essentially as an his reference to the ancient Armenian deities: N.B: the essays in question were published answer to the 1909 Adana massacres. “We try to read him as a poet of mourning, who bilingually in French and Flemish in the In a somewhat politicized conclusion, the needs to be understood within a double con- Journal, with abstracts in French, Flemish and author notes: “This poetry carries with it more text: the one of the 19th century philological English. Textual translation of both the than simply an aesthetic value; its goal, its duty reinvention of mythology, and the one of an authors’ words and Varoujan’s are strictly mine even is to make readers think and to remind ongoing national disaster, which he himself and I bear responsibility for any inaccuracies them that the troubles of the Armenian nation mysteriously called the “nothingness of father- that result from my own negligence or lack of will continue to be a topic of discussion and land.’” (p. 933) time. were sometimes referred to — in the Turkish that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide Nichanian sees Varoujan as the ultimate poet To access the archives of Revue Belge de empire. They quite correctly allude to the eco- remains an ongoing battle.” (p. 883, translation of mourning: one who mourns the passing of Philologie et Histoire/ Belgische Tidschrift nomic jealousy that this success engendered mine) the past gods but also the death represented by voor Filologie en Geschiednis, go to: www.rbph- and to the clash between Christendom and The noted writer and theorist Krikor what Nichanian terms the “national disaster.” btfg.be

The Vahan Tekeyan School, founded in 1951, was damaged jby]Y\q theo AugustYkkljm__daf_\m] 4 explosionlgD]ZYfg in Beirut.f k][gfgea[[jakakIt primarily servesYf a\ The Tekeyanlow-income segment School of the Armenian community of and al- Beirut HELPthe Covid-19 Us pandemic. Now it is Rebuildtrying to reopen for the fall semester.

The Tekeyan Cultural Association of the US and Canada is sending aid and asks your assistance too. Make your donations by credit card at https://givebutter.com/bXn8Lm or as checks mailed to the Tekeyan Cultural Association (memo: Beirut Tekeyan School), at its headquarters (755 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown MA 02472). All administrative costs for this campaign will be borne by the Tekeyan Cultural Association of the US and Canada. For more information, email [email protected] or call 617 924-4455.

S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 ARTS & LIVING

William are fleeing violence and poverty in their homeland: “In Honduras there is no future for us. No hope.“ The two-thousand-mile long trail, controlled for the most part by armed gunmen, is dangerous. There are kidnappings, rapes, Book Review killings. At the railroad stations, helpless migrants push one another to make it aboard the cargo train they have nicknamed “La Micheline Aharonian Marcom’s Bestia.” At one point, when Emilio thinks he has lost his companions in the chaos, he franti- cally “grabs onto one of the last ladders on the The New American last car,” risking getting pulled beneath the wheels, “as the great Beast moves forward.” the conclusion of the book. The novel is an Emilio jumps from wagon to wagon, running By Dr. Arpi Sarafian account of the journey North of Emilio Ramos across the roofs of the boxcars the entire length Matias, a second-year UC Berkeley student who of the train, looking for Matilde, the “pretty is taken into custody, and eventually deported young Honduran in a grey hooded sweatshirt” In June 2020, the United States Supreme to his native Guatemala, handcuffed and in he was falling in love with. “Have you seen Court ruled to uphold the DACA Program chains, because he could not provide a valid ID her?” which provides protection from deportation to when involved in a car accident outside the pro- The horrifying journey builds to the climax of eligible undocumented immigrants who arrived tection of his city. the group’s final days in the Sonora desert at in the United States as children. Repealing the In Guatemala, Emilio feels “lonely and out of the US-Mexico border. With swollen ankles and Program would deny the 800,000 DACA recipi- place.” open sores inside their shoes, those who have ents, known as Dreamers, access to our univer- “I don’t belong here,” he thinks, and decides survived — Jonatan has been kidnapped, Pedro sities and to better job opportunities. The to return “home” to California to resume his is dying — walk through the barren desert in Supreme Court ruling was hailed by many as a studies and fulfill his dream of a “better” life. the scorching heat, “on the broiling desert victory for justice and for America. Emilio survives the harrowing journey, and home” (italics mine). He and Matilde are in love. floor,” for days with no food or drink. With her Micheline Aharonian Marcom’s recently pub- although “still uncertain of our future,” it is not They are expecting a baby boy, “The New vivid details Marcom makes their “invisible lished novel, The New American (Simon & difficult to see his odyssey as a story of “human American.” hunger and fear” visible. “The sun overhead is . Schuster, 2020), reaffirms America as a country determination and even some kind of hopeful- Nonetheless, the novel remains the story of . . pulling along with the air every bit of mois- of immigrants. ness that we might carry.” Indeed, the promise the hell Emilio and his four Central American ture from their bodies . . . They are all thirsty; “The mixing of the blood on this land con- of a new reality for him, as for many others, traveling companions go through to cross the they are all unbearably hot.” “Only God and not tinues. We are here, we remain, the new starts with the very title of the book. Emilio is border into the United States, to start their even the lizards can live here,” she writes. “The Americans,” says Emilio, a Dreamer himself, at “not afraid all the time anymore, because I am “better” lives. Pedro, Matilde, Jonatan and sun is our enemy, Emilio thinks. The sun could be God.” There are of course Las Patronas, the kind ladies who throw bags of food and plastic bot- tles of water to “the unknown weary who pass by them each day on the moving Beast.” There are the volunteers at the Houses of the Migrants who provide food, care and shelter; and the priest who “tries to discourage their crossing over” but “cannot dissuade any from continuing his journey.” “We put our faith in God. God accompanies me, father, He will care for us.” These humane souls may mitigate the pain of the tired and fearful travelers, but they have no recourse to changing the policies which appear to have little to do with compas- sion or humanity. The ongoing violence in the world — we wake up to a new conflict every day — evidences that the displacement is here to stay. There are eighty million refugees around the world today, with more violence, more insta- bility, more poverty, the only promise. Aharonian Marcom’s commitment to tell his- tory’s untold stories is nothing new. In her first three novels she had tapped into her roots, her Armenian heritage, to bring to life the 1915- 1918 massacres and deportations of Armenians at the hand of the Ottoman Turks. The New American tells the story of the journey North of Central Americans fleeing unlivable conditions in their hometowns. Marcom feels comfortable with both histories. With her empathy for her characters and deep insight into their situations she gets inside their worlds and exposes hor- rors many may not be familiar with. In her earlier work Aharonian Marcom had invoked the imagination to help her depict an inner reality. She had deviated from conven- tional narrative structures and ordinary dis- course to tell a story where there are “no straight lines.” With The New American, in con- trast, the focus is on the external — except for brief italicized interludes of flashbacks and dreams. And while her facts, her meticulously chosen details, partly based on the first-hand testimonies of her Central American refugee students, give us a truthful account of the cru- elties, they also reach into something deeper, into something more far-reaching and urgent. With the power and the beauty of her words Marcom makes us question the basic human logic of creating the conditions that force peo- ple to flee their homes, even when the fleeing means leaving one hell for another. Once in the Bay Area of Northern California, Matilde urges Emilio to write a story, “to tell what happened to us.” “Dates and statistics don’t affect people as much as a story,” she says. “Stories tell the real history, they tell how it feels.” Her words echo celebrated novelist Virginia Woolf’s, “To give a truthful account is beyond the powers of the historian. Only the poets and the novelists can be trusted to do it. Aharonian has done it. The New American has that special quality of truth only fiction can have. 16 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING

Recipe Review Tigranes the Great: Corner The Rise and Fall of An Ancient Empire

by Christine Vartanian by Joshua J. Mark

Tigranes the Great: The Rise and Fall of an Holiday Stöllen Ancient Empire (A Comprehensive Historical Biography) by Serge Momjian is an instantly Celebrate with Holiday Stöllen from For the engaging work on the life and reign of the Armenian monarch Tigranes II (the Great, r. c. Love of Apricots Cookbook 95 - c. 56 BCE) written for a general audience. The book reads like a novel through the use of The apricot has been the symbol of the Armenian nation and vic- dialogue, carefully reconstructed settings, and tory for centuries. Armenians currently cultivate around fifty apri- an excellent command of narrative form and cot varieties, which are typically harvested from the middle of June progression. until the end of August. In the Middle Ages, Armenian kings and The author presents Tigranes’ story in an knights would go to battle wearing apricot-colored ornaments accessible form and style, easy to read and called “tsirani.” One of the three colors of the tri-color Armenian unimpeded by citation. The intention is to flag is also the color of the apricot. Apricots are listed as one of the engage a reader fully in Tigranes II’s life and “healthiest foods” in the world, says George Mateljan, Founder of world. In A Note to the Reader, the author the World’s Healthiest Foods website. The California apricot, one explains the goal of the work: of nature’s nutritional powerhouses, not only has a rich history, This is not historical fiction, but a political California is the leader of apricot production in the United States. biography based on true history with real his- Over 300 growers in California, covering 17,000 acres in the San torical figures… The idea is to bring the ancient Joaquin Valley, along with many heritage orchards in the San past to life. It is hoped that this work will be Francisco Bay Area, produce over 85% of the apricots grown in the accessible to those who love history but may United States. never have read about Tigranes’ reign. (xvi) Celebrate the holidays with this traditional Stöllen by Lisa Mr. Momjian admirably succeeds in this, Prince Newman, author of the bestselling cookbook/memoir For bringing Tigranes II to life fully through clear the Love of Apricots: Recipes & Memories of the Santa Clara prose and precise description of places and Valley, now in its second edition. Lisa’s family moved to the Santa events. Mr. Momjian has a background in cre- Clara Valley in the 1960s where they settled in Saratoga on a fruit ative writing and journalism which is apparent orchard property. in his thorough research, attention to detail, For the Love of Apricots blends historic photos and images of and engaging presentation. He has published California’s apricot orchards, from today and not so long ago, when Beat for 10 minutes, gradually adding the remaining flour until the articles, novels, and non-fiction works and is the orchards covered much of the Santa Clara Valley landscape. The dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. 2015 CE recipient of the William Saroyan cookbook's more than 60 recipes range from breakfast to desserts Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8 to 10 Medal, awarded by the Ministry of Diaspora of and cocktails, using apricots in every form. minutes until smooth and elastic, adding flour as necessary to pre- the Republic of Armenia. “I’ve loved apricots all my life,” says Lisa. “They color my mem- vent stickiness. Place dough into a large, lightly oiled bowl, turning The book is a slim volume of 142 pages, divid- ories of growing up in the Santa Clara Valley. In the 1960s, to coat all sides. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm ed into 24 chapters plus an appendix that fea- orchards extended in every direction, and as a child, I assumed place until doubled in bulk (about 1 to 1 1/2 hours). Punch down tures maps and images relating to the text and they always would. Of course, this area is now known as Silicon the dough, turn out again on a lightly floured surface, and divide a chronology of Armenian monarchs. There are Valley, the world’s greatest engine of innovative technologies. Not into 3 equal pieces. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rest 10 min- a number of especially well-executed scenes and long ago, it was a magical landscape known as the “Valley of utes. sequences throughout the book, but among the Heart’s Delight.” Roll each portion into a 10 x 6 inch rectangle then fold the long best is the Battle of Tigranocerta of 69 BCE, pit- “Each Christmas, my mother made Stöllen for our family, and side over to within an inch of the opposite side. Fold the remain- ting Tigranes II against the Roman army under served it sliced, toasted, and buttered while we opened presents. ing side over and gently seal with your fingers. Place on a parch- the general Licinius Lucullus. Tigranes was the Fresh apricot jam is a perfect accompaniment.* I like the subtle ment-lined baking sheet and let rise again until double in bulk son-in-law of Mithridates VI (r. 120-63 BCE) of taste of cardamom in this recipe, which reminds me of when I lived (about 1 hour). Pontus who fought the Mithridatic Wars with in Norway where it is a traditional spice,” adds Lisa. Bake the loaves in a preheated 375° F oven for 15 to 20 min- Rome between 89-63 BCE. The Romans utes until golden brown. Remove from oven. Make the glaze and demanded Tigranes II hand Mithridates VI over INGREDIENTS: brush it over the top of the Stöllen while still warm. Note: Adding to them, and when he refused, they invaded. your choice of food coloring to the glaze gives a festive touch. For the Bread: The battle did not go well for Tigranes II Enjoy this holiday blogpost and recipe at: http://fortheloveofapri- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast whose troops were caught off-guard by Lucullus cots.com/2016/12/apricots-in-europe-for-the-holidays 1/4 cup warm water and defeated. In describing a pivotal moment, *To accompany your Holiday Stöllen, see Lisa’s Apricot Jam 1 cup scalded milk Momjian writes: recipe at: http://fortheloveofapricots.com/2016/06/now-what-do- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened A few moments later, the sound of galloping i-do-with-all-these-apricots/ 1/4 cup sugar horses could be heard from the rear of Tigranes’ 1 teaspoon salt army stationed on the riverbank. All his soldiers 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom ORDER TODAY: For the looked back and saw Lucullus’ cohorts coming at 4 to 4 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour full speed towards them… Panic spread through- 1 egg slightly beaten Love of Apricots Cookbook is a perfect out the line of his army, which began to collapse, 3/4 cup chopped dried apricots as his vassal kings and nobles deserted him in 1/4 cup golden raisins holiday gift for friends and family. Lisa will per- haste for Roman protection. As a result of calcu- 1/4 cup currants sonally sign and include a lated attacks by the Romans, Tigranes’ army dis- 1/4 cup sliced almonds special Apricot Bookmark integrated in a matter of hours and he himself 2 tablespoons grated orange peel in every cookbook she took flight northwards. (104) 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel ships. A For the Love of Tigranes II would eventually submit to the For the Glaze: Apricots Tote Bag is also Roman general Pompey the Great (l. c. 106-48 available for sale. To 1 cup confectioner’s sugar BCE) and his empire would be absorbed by order, go to: http://forth- Rome, but at the height of his reign, he com- 2 tablespoons hot water eloveofapricots.com. 1 teaspoon unsalted butter manded a vast empire and is recognized as one of the greatest kings of his age. For the Love of Apricots: Recipes & Memories of the Santa Clara Unlike other works on the topic, written for Yield: 3 small Stöllen, serving 4-6 each. (You can make 2 larger Valley by Lisa Prince Newman loaves or 1 very large loaf with this recipe.) an academic audience, Momjian’s book serves Published by Prince of the Orchards Publications, 2020, 178 as a lucid introduction to Tigranes II’s life for pages any audience with an interest in ancient history. PREPARATION: Food Photography Copyright © 2018, 2020 by Jessica Yager It was my great honor to be asked to consult on Combine the yeast and water in a large bowl and stir until dis- Photography solved; set aside for 5 minutes. Combine the scalded milk, butter, Orchard Photography Copyright © 2018, 2020 by Eric Larson the work in manuscript form fact-checking and sugar, salt, and cardamom in a large bowl and cool to lukewarm. proofreading, and I recommend the book high- Stir in 2 cups of flour and beat well by hand or use a mixer with a Go to Lisa’s Apricot Shop to purchase apricots year-round at ly. Although I have known Tigranes’ story for dough hook. Add yeast mixture and the egg. Stir in the apricots, California orchards through mail order at: http://fortheloveo- many years, when I read Momjian’s book I raisins, currants, grated orange, lemon peels, and the almonds. fapricots.com/shop-for-apricots/ found myself in suspense toward the end, eager to learn how things might turn out for the pro- tagonist. S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 17 ARTS & LIVING

Deranian’s Book on Armenian Orphan Rug in Translation

ARLINGTON, Mass. — In 2013 the Armenian Cultural Foundation These words of President Calvin Coolidge on December 4, 1925, published President Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug were made in response to Dr. John H. Finley, Vice-Chairman of the Calendar by Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian. The result of more than three Near East Relief Executive Committee, who presented the rug for decades of research and investigation, Dr. Deranian’s work traces the the Armenian orphans who “have tied into it the gratitude of tens of history of the rug and the Armenian orphans: their transportation thousands of children to you and to America. And what they have MASSACHUSETTS from Urfa to safety to the present day by the great Swiss tied into it will never be untied. . . It is sent to adorn the dearest of NOVEMBER 18 — Wednesday at 10 am, humanitarian and physician Jakob Künzler, known as the “Father of our temples, the White House of our President.” Celebrating What Unites Us! A virtual the Armenian orphans.” He details its journey to the United States, Coinciding with the release of the book, a planned December 16, cooking series, a collaboration of City of presentation to President Calvin Coolidge in the 2013 Smithsonian Institution exhibit featuring the rug, organized in Boston Age-Friendly Boston, OLDWAYS and conjunction with the Armenian Cultural Foundation and the Friends of Armenian Heritage Park to keep Armenian Rug Society, was abruptly cancelled us connected, coming together. To register, when the White House, reversing an earlier email [email protected] affirmative decision, refused to lend the iconic Afghan Cuisine Chef Sharifa Zareen, symbol of American and Armenian shared her- Sanctuary Kitchen Catering itage to the museum. Following almost a year- DECEMBER 2 — Wednesday at 10 am, long protest by the Armenian American com- Celebrating What Unites Us! A virtual munity activists, other diaspora communities cooking series, a collaboration of City of and pressure by the U.S. legislators, the Boston Age-Friendly Boston, OLDWAYS and Orphan Rug was made available for display as Friends of Armenian Heritage Park to keep us a part of an exhibit in the White House visiting connected, coming together. To register, email Center, a year later on November 14, 2014. [email protected] Indian In light of the great demand and interest Cuisine Madhu Gadia, Cookbook author, The internationally, the Armenian Cultural Indian Vegan Kitchen, and New Indian Home Foundation has welcomed the publication of Cooking; founder, Cuisine of India the President Calvin Coolidge and the DECEMBER 5-6 — SAVE THE DATE. Trinity’s Armenian Orphan Rug in other languages. A 2020 Christmas Bazaar. Saturday, German edition of the book, Präsident Calvin December 5 & Sunday December 6, 2020. Coolidge und der Armenische Waisenteppich, Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater translated by Ortrun Cramer, was published Boston. 145 Brattle Street, Cambridge MA by Hans Schiler publishing house in 2014. 02138. Questions? 617 354-0632 This year the Nairi Publishing house in DECEMBER 16 - Wednesday at 10 am, Tehran published two Armenian and Farsi edi- Celebrating What Unites Us! A virtual tions of the book under the auspices of the cooking series, a collaboration of City of Armenian Architects and Engineers Boston Age-Friendly Boston, OLDWAYS and Association of Iran. The Armenian edition Friends of Armenian Heritage Park to keep us Nakhagah Kalvin Kolije yev hay vorperi gorge connected, coming together. To register, email White House, several decades in the possession of the Coolidges and is translated by Armenouhi Badalian and the [email protected] Desserts! its return again to the White House in the mid-1980s, where it is Farsi edition, Reyis jomhur kalvin koulij va farshe yatimane armani Chef Nathan Kibarian Pastry Chef, Island Creek stored to this day. by Karine Harutounian-Dror. Both titles, available through Nairi Oyster Bar Chef/Owner, Desserts by Nathan “The beautiful rug woven by the [Armenian] children in the Publishing house, are exact reproductions of the English edition, [Ghazir] orphanage in the Lebanon has been received. This, their including the original preface as well as all the illustrations, annota- expression of gratitude for what we have been able to do in this coun- tions and bibliography. The Armenian Cultural Foundation congrat- ulates and commends the above efforts to make this small and yet RHODE ISLAND try for their aid, is accepted by me as a token of their goodwill to the The Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian people of the United States. . . The rug has a place of honor in the important book on the post-Armenian Genocide episode pertaining to the Armenian orphans in the Near East to the public. Church of Providence hosts the follow- White House, where it will be a daily symbol of good-will on earth.” ing Armenian Cultural Hour programs virtually every Friday at 7:30 pm. For infor- mation on how to watch or participate in the programs, contact the church office or check the church’s Facebook Watch page. My Armenian Roots Account for Exotic Flavor in My Writing November 6 – “Musical greetings from Lisbon” Levon Muradian, Cello ( Portugal) MAGARIAN from, page, 13 but solitude in too great a dose is contaminat- Review 31 once wrote about you: November 13 – Emma Tovmasian & one’s own insights are nearly always wrong. ing, damaging, like too much sunshine, or too “Magarian’s authentic poetic voice is strange- Vazgen Avetian (CA) in concert”Sere chi There is a tendency for all media people to much sponge cake. ly addictive, articulated with a shamelessly tseranoom”, Armenian popular songs assume they know the truth about a person You identify yourself also as a fringe theatre exotic accent.” Can this “exotics” be ascribed November 20 – “Meet with Armenian that they have worked out the real facts. This is director and actor. It will be interesting to to your origin? Doctors” – Dr. Aznif Calikyan, erroneous. They were not there when the inter- learn what kind of projects you have been in. Yes I am pretty sure that is the case. My Anesthesiologist viewee’s life was unfolding, so they can never I directed my own three-hour play at univer- Armenian roots account for the exotic flavor to November 27 – “Nor Serund” Youth Talents know what it was really like to live those events, sity that was a wonderful experience. I also my writing and its dense sense of sensory rich- from Armenia Armenian folk music and and to be that person. Of course the gifted directed some cabaret in London, at a great pub ness. songs interviewer can indeed have certain insights, theatre in Little Venice, with songs by Kurt I have listened some of your piano and gui- December 4 – Renown Armenian Bass & even brilliant ones, but one must always be care- Weill, Johnny Mercer, and others. I also direct- tar pieces. Some critics have mentioned that Songwriter Ruben Telunts in Concert ful not to seem too clever. ed Moliere’s “The Misanthrope” in the Middle your music draws on the tonalities of “Karotee Kanch” I mostly share your attitude about inter- Temple Gardens. In Florence and Turin I direct- Armenian music. How so? December 11 – World Renown “Cadance” viewing people. Florence always has attracted ed the wonderful Italian-American actor Well, I have never studied music formally and Ensemble from Armenia the British and other writers from all around Roberto Zibetti in my own monologue “The I am essentially self-taught as a pianist but I December 18 – Christmas Concert, featur- the world. How Florentine inspirations are Pain Tapestry,” which he also performed in love certain pieces by Khachaturian, by ing “Yerevan” Chorale &Orchestra, Boston, reflected in your literature? French in Pornic. The same piece was also Gurdjieff (in the transcriptions of de MA To be honest Florence plays hardly any role staged in Iceland, with Pall Palsson performing Hartmann), and by Tigran Hamasyan. These December 27 (Sunday) – Memorial in my writing. The city is fascinating and daz- — finally — in English. As an actor I mainly have pieces and their rich, pungent tonalities I love Concert “David Ayriyan”, Virtuozo zling, maddening and mysterious, elegant and done small roles in videos and film trailers, very much and I think they have seeped into my Kamancha player inscrutable. But I never write about it directly. most interestingly for Alessio della Valle in own piano pieces. I instinctively feel certain In your writing The Italian Quarantine I “Max Fortuna.” That was a great experience — keys I use are very close in character to the rich liked this quote: “Florence has become like a but a bit scary, as I had to play a mechanic sentimentality and nostalgia that I sense in the colossal movie set, after having been aban- whose role mainly took place under a car. I kept music of the Armenians that I mentioned. doned when the production money didn’t worrying that the car would fall on top of me! And generally, have you any idea about your come through, an open-air theater for no Your biography says that you worked, ancestors and their native region? family – I suppose because the events was so one.” And now? among other things, also as a nude model. My mother’s father Hovaness was the close to the tragedy and horror of the Now Florence has more or less returned to What is that experience like? Armenian priest of Nicosia. His family had set- Armenian genocide. I wish I could have spent normality, the shops and bars are all open I found nude modeling to be absolutely fasci- tled in Syria after the genocide, but then, on more time with my grandparents. I never even again, the Florentines buzz around on their nating. To me it was like taking some kind of the threat of the Turkish takeover of Syria (as met my mum’s mother – it’s so sad. scooters, the tourists are back, but depleted by hallucinogenic drug. I was aware of myself split- encouraged by the British) in 1939 he moved to Italy always has had not a large, but signifi- about 75 percent, and the wine is flowing ting into two: the me on the podium as the Nicosia. My mother’s mother Hosanah assisted cant Armenian presence. I know three freely. And yet the presence everywhere of model, and then the me who was able somehow my grandfather as a kind of social worker there, Armenian artists living in Florence. Have masks, the obsession with hand hygiene, the (because the experience was so intense and helping the needy and poor. My father was born your paths ever crossed with Armenians in queues outside restaurants and post offices unreal) to observe myself standing on the podi- in Nicosia, and his parents had settled there Italy and in general? reminds us that normality has not quite um. To make things even more complicated I after the genocide. My father and mother met Sadly I haven’t really met any other returned, and that we are all a little bit closer was also able to inhabit the point of view of the there and decided to emigrate to England in Armenians in Florence, though recently I did go to our own sense of mortality, and life’s ulti- artists who were drawing me. So the whole 1960. I was born there eight years later. to a mass at San Miniato (who was of course mate mystery and fragility. thing was extraordinary and magical, like an Unfortunately I don’t have much knowledge of himself Armenian) and I met some Armenians A writer friend of mine once said that the out of body transcendent experience, like a mir- the time before that. Maybe one day I will look then. I would like to spend more time with solitude is the writer’s best friend. Do you ror reflecting into another mirror... I am very into my history more carefully. As a child I Armenians actually. And recently I met an agree with this? glad that I did it, but I wouldn’t want to do it always felt that everything was shrouded in Armenian sculptor in Pietrasanta. So things are Solitude is necessary in order to write I think, now – my stomach is too big. mystery and the unknown when it came to my improving! 18 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

EDITORIAL Mirror Karabakh War: The Efficacy of Diplomacy

active solidarity was Greece’s Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, By Edmond Y. Azadian who visited Armenia and later flew to Moscow to discuss the cri- Spectator sis with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. France’s Macron was supportive verbally. He also pointed a Despite tremendous losses in human lives and materiel, finger at Turkey for introducing terrorist mercenaries into the morale continues to be high among Karabakh warriors. It is not battlefield. Later, when he spoke about the murder of the hyperbole when Armenian soldiers claim that they are fighting French teacher who had shown his class the cartoon of the for a historic piece of homeland, while Azerbaijanis are fighting Prophet Mohammed, an angry Mr. Erdogan advised the French EstablishedEstablished 1932 1932 to grab territory that does not belong to them. president to seek mental health. He had also accused Chancellor AnAn ADL ADL Publication Publication While war has been raging since September 27, there have Merkel of harboring a Nazi mentality. These European state- been three attempts for humanitarian ceasefires. The first was ment keep the high ground and refuse to trade insults and barbs initiated by President Vladimir Putin of Russia on October 10; with the Sultan. the next by President Emmanuel Macron of France on October Although the Armenian diaspora’s activism was able to con- 17 and the third by the United States on October 25. vince Canada to discontinue the transfer of drone parts to EDITOR Alin K. Gregorian The three co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Azerbaijan, that same activism has yet to yield results with the Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group have failed to US administration to enforce Article 907 of Freedom Support ASSISTANT EDITOR achieve a ceasefire. After the third attempt, President Ilham Act, which bans any transfer of military hardware to Azerbaijan, Aram Arkun Aliyev of Azerbaijan announced that the fighting will continue as long as the latter continues its hostility against Armenia. until all Armenian forces withdraw from Karabakh — an ultima- Armenian diplomacy has worked well under duress. It was a ART DIRECTOR Marc Mgrditchian tum for capitulation for the Armenian side. And still, the Minsk learning curve for those diplomats to operate under pressure. Group issues vague statements blaming both sides. Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan was all over the globe. Aliyev himself has lost all control of his government and army He was in Moscow negotiating with Lavrov and then in and therefore is unable to defy the OSCE co-chairs and the inter- Washington and Europe, in between giving interviews and lec- national community on his own; his arrogance is borrowed from tures. SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Armenia’s President Armen Sarkissian was well received at Edmond Y. Azadian The latter last week attended a funeral in an Armenian church the Elysee Palace in France. Before that, he had visited the in Istanbul, to pay his respects to the only Armenian member of NATO headquarters in Brussels, where he met the organiza- CONTRIBUTORS: his AK Party, Markar Yessayan. During the funeral service, tion’s Secretary General Jans Stoltenberg, with whom he gave a Florence Avakian, Dr. Haroutiun Patriarch Sahag Mashalyan managed to sneak into his eulogy joint press conference. Arzoumanian, Philippe Raffi Kalfayan, the topic of the war in Karabakh. At the end of the service, After paying lip service to the human casualties, Stoltenberg Philip Ketchian, Kevork Keushkerian, before leaving the church, Harut Sassounian, Hagop Vartivarian, Erdogan made a significant Naomi Zeytoonian statement: “Turkey has the CORRESPONDENTS: same right for a voice in the Armenia - Hagop Avedikian Karabakh conflict as Russia Boston - Nancy Kalajian does.” Los Angeles - Taleen Babayan This statement provides Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach the key to the puzzle. At Contributing Photographers: each attempt for a ceasefire, Jirair Hovsepian Turkey has tried to impose itself, first as a mediator and then as a candidate to pro- vide its military as a poten- The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published tial peacekeeping force, and weekly, except two weeks in July and the first finally it has become a player week of the year, by: on the battlefield as a spoil- Baikar Association, Inc. er. It will continue to remain 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 in that role until it achieves Telephone: 617-924-4420 its goal, but so far it has FAX: 617-924-2887 managed to create a stale- www.mirrorspectator.com mate, blocking Russia from E-Mail: [email protected] having a totally free hand in For advertising: [email protected] the Caucasus. The same scenario was enacted in Libya, where the stalemate eventually was successful to a lesser degree, because in addition to Russia, expressed his appreciation to Armenia for its participation in France, Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel were on the NATO’s peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo. He SUBSCRIPTION RATES: opposing side of the equation. added that NATO was not a participant in this war and that Now, the same action is taking place in the Caucasus, where Turkey was a respected member that hopefully could use its there already is a conflict of global proportions. power to bring peace to the conflict. U.S.A. $80 a year Turkey is forcing its way to pursue its dreams of a Turanic We are not sure if Mr. Sarkissian informed his host that empire, while convincing the West that it is performing an altru- Turkey was in the Caucasus to complete its genocidal plans Canada $125 a year istic role by encircling Russia and irritating Iran. using NATO armaments, like F-16 warplanes to kill civilians. Mnatsakanyan, Sarkissian and Prime Minister Nikol Other Countries $190 a year It is apparent that Erdogan will not rest until he succeeds in having a voice in the final settlement of the Artsakh conflict Pashinyan made many appearances on major news outlets. In with the stationing of a residual military presence. particular, Indian TV’s coverage of the conflict is interesting, Erdogan could not have chosen better timing for the war than especially since their adversary, Pakistan, has sent mercenaries © 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator to the conflict. now, when the COVID pandemic has pushed the healthcare sys- Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA Pashinyan was well prepared to present the case in Armenian tem in Armenia to the point of collapse and when the US is and additional mailing offices. because his prior attempts to express himself in Russian and involved in a stormy presidential election campaign, so much so English had backfired. However, he was unfamiliar about Indian- ISSN 0004-234X that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Donald Pakistani relations and the similarity of the Kashmir conflict Trump have nothing to offer except lip service, while thousands to be able to interject it into the discourse. in the two Armenian republics are losing their lives under the The Arab world is mostly ignored by Armenia’s leadership POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The combined Azerbaijani, Turkish and Islamic Jihadist forces. Armenian Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount Auburn despite the fact that large Armenian communities live in Armenians have grudgingly taken note that in this existential St., Watertown, MA 02472 those countries. With the current polarization in the Muslim Other than the editorial, views and opinions war, they have against them several countries aiding and abet- world pitting Turkey against Saudi Arabia for leadership of expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily ting the perpetrators of genocide. the Sunni world, Armenia would do well to focus on it. reflect the policies of the publisher. Israel’s drones proved to be the most lethal in this conflict. As President Sarkissian, however, is mindful of the influence of in past wars in Karabakh, Ukraine shipped armaments to that part of the world. His extensive interview with the influen- Azerbaijan. Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, a nation already tial Al Ahram newspaper in Egypt was eye opening for the Arab in turmoil, did manage to ship armaments, also making a mock- world. ery of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, in which Domestically, there is political solidarity. Even the three for- Armenia and Belarus are members. mer presidents, who have no love lost for each other, have come Copying for other than personal use or Georgia hypocritically announced that it was closing its air together to support the war effort. Most of the anti-Russian internal reference is prohibited without rhetoric has died down in the media, although some short-sight- express permission of the copyright space to both warring parties. But in this day and age, nothing can be kept secret; Turkey used Georgia’s airspace to supply ed politicians and journalists, with an agenda, continue sniping owner. Address requests for reprints or at Russians when Armenia needs Kremlin’s support. back issues to: Azerbaijan with armaments. To counter the hostility of these unfriendly nations, France In his extensive interview with Al Ahram, Sarkissian stated, “President Putin made it clear that Russia is going to respect and Germany sent parliamentary delegations to Armenia and Baikar Association, Inc. Karabakh. The only high level diplomat who demonstrated continued on next page 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 19 COMMENTARY

less unless they are followed up with action. All Trump has obligated to spend millions of dollars for lobbying to try to do is pick up the phone and call his buddy Erdogan and and misrepresent their dirty laundry as clean. tell him to stop supporting Azerbaijan and withdraw the Another aspect of the misinformation war is the one terrorists it recruited and transferred to Azerbaijan. waged in the pages of newspapers and social media in var- Instead, Trump has done what is in his personal interest ious countries. The Azeri government pays a fortune each My Turn which primarily includes getting reelected on Nov. 3 by year to hired pens to besmirch Armenia and glorify the dic- appealing to Armenian-American voters. tatorship of Azerbaijan. The other front is the social By Harut Sassounian Besides military action, there are other fronts in which media. Whenever, a prominent American or European Armenians and Azeris are battling each other. In the announces its public stand in favor of Armenia, a horde of United States, several resolutions have been submitted to Azeris and their paid agents hound those individuals and Azeri Soldiers Wearing Armenian the House of Representatives and the Senate to recognize pressure them to retract their statements. Uniforms May Be Shot by Their the independence of Artsakh and ban the sale of weapons There have been several reports in recent days that to Azerbaijan and Turkey. Similar steps have been taken Azeri troops are wearing the uniforms of Armenian sol- Own Troops by Armenian communities in Canada, France and diers apparently to create confusion in the battlefield. In Australia, among others. There have also been mass one such battle, it was discovered that 40 Azeri soldiers’ The U.S. Department of State announced on October protests by Armenian communities in cities throughout bodies were found in Armenian uniform. In my opinion, 25, 2020 with great fanfare the third attempted ceasefire the U.S., Canada, Australia, the Middle East and Europe. this practice, rather than confusing Armenians, will result in the Artsakh war in as many weeks. The first two cease- Armenian-Americans and elected officials pressured var- in Azeris shooting their own soldiers by mistaking them fires were violated by Azerbaijan and Turkey within min- ious lobbying firms hired by Azerbaijan and Turkey to stop for Armenians. utes of going into effect. The new ceasefire announcement their propaganda efforts. Last week, Mercury Public The Armenian government should file a complaint with was made after the foreign ministers of Armenia and Affairs announced that it terminated its lobbying contract the International Criminal Court (ICC) about the barbaric Azerbaijan flew to Washington, D.C. and separately met with Turkey. Mercury has represented Turkey since 2013. behavior of Azeri soldiers. In one video, two Armenian with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on October 23, In February of this year, Mercury signed a contract for $1 prisoners of war are shot dead by Azeri soldiers. In anoth- 2020. million to represent the Turkish Embassy. The Los Angeles er, the head of a dead Armenian soldier is cut off by Azeri This latest “humanitarian ceasefire” went into effect on City Council had urged Mercury to end its contract with soldiers. In a third gruesome video, Azeri soldiers are seen Monday, October 26, at 8 a.m., local time. Unfortunately, Turkey or it will no longer do any business with the firm. skinning an Armenian soldier while he is still alive. These the third ceasefire was also violated within minutes by A similar announcement was made by the Los Angeles are clear cases of war crimes. Azerbaijan should be con- Azerbaijan and Turkey. This indicates that Azerbaijan, Community College District. demned by the ICC and bear responsibility for these inhu- Turkey and the Jihadist mercenaries from Syria have no DLA Piper, another major lobbying firm, informed the man actions. In addition, Azerbaijan uses cluster bombs intention to stop the war until they cleanse Artsakh of its U.S. Justice Department that it no longer represents which are prohibited by international humanitarian law. Armenian population which is exactly what President Azerbaijan Railways. The Livingston Group also ended its Moreover, Azerbaijan has fired on a daily basis thousands Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly announced. Armenia and lobbying for Azerbaijan on October 13. The BGR lobbying of missiles on civilians throughout Artsakh cities and vil- Artsakh, with a population of a little over three million, firm withdrew from representing Azerbaijan’s state oil lages. Azerbaijan has also destroyed hundreds of are fighting against the combined forces of Azerbaijan and company SOCAR, according to AHVAL News. Armenian houses, schools and churches. These are blatant Turkey with a total population of over 90 million. This is Armenia on the other hand has never hired lobbying or war crimes. Azerbaijan should pay a heavy price for its bar- a battle of David versus Goliath. It also means that the public relations firms. The rare example was the Armenian baric behavior. powerful Azerbaijani military, armed to its teeth with bil- government signing a lobbying contract with the law firm On the positive side, 10 million Armenians worldwide lions of dollars of modern weaponry from Israel and of Alston & Bird (associated with former Senator Bob have been united as never before. Every Armenian realizes Russia, is unable to fight its battles without relying on the Dole) for $10,000 from Sept. 15 to October 14, 2020. It is that this is an existential struggle. Turkey and Azerbaijan Turkish military and Islamist mercenaries. Even with their not known if that contract was extended. While hiring lob- intend to commit a second genocide against Armenians. combined forces, Azerbaijan and Turkey have been unable bying or public relations firms is always helpful, the So far, Armenians have raised the unprecedented sum of to overrun Artsakh after a month-long battle! Armenian community is not as dependent on them since $150 million and millions more in humanitarian aid. The In recent weeks, Pres. Trump has mentioned Armenians they are politically active and rely on their own organiza- only thing missing is for an Armenian billionaire to make three times in his speeches during campaign rallies in tions in Washington, such as the Armenian Assembly of a billion dollar donation to support the survival of Nevada, Ohio and New Hampshire. He made complimen- America and the Armenian National Committee of Armenia and Artsakh. After all, it costs Armenia $30 mil- tary statements about Armenians, but words are meaning- America. On the other hand, Azerbaijan and Turkey are lion a day to meet its security needs.

The Efficacy of Diplomacy 200 American Fulbright Scholars Call for Artsakh’s Right to Self- Determination in Letter to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from previous page every treaty Russia has with Armenia, and this is an absolutely WASHINGTON — On October 22, 200 receipts of Fulbright nity paralyzed, we are convinced that only U.S. support for clear message.” Scholarships sent a letter to Secretary of Stgate Mike self-determination in Nagorno-Karabakh can halt the ongoing Russia is indeed worried at Turkey’s advances in the Pompeo, asking for the recognition of Artsakh’s right to self- atrocities. Caucasus. Turkish and Azerbaijani forces have been approach- determination. Nagorno-Karabakh has never been incorporated within a ing Meghri in Armenia’s southern tip, which is a prized piece of Dear Mr. Secretary, sovereign Azerbaijan. Its people have legitimately voted for territory for Turkey and Azerbaijan, because control of that We write to you as U.S. Fulbright scholars and American and declared independence, and for nearly thirty years they piece of land will connect Azerbaijan’s mainland with citizens. From remote mountain villages to cosmopolitan cap- have stewarded a functioning government of their own. A Nakhichevan, and will pave the way for Erdogan’s march to itals, the 200 of us have worked in 59 countries and across number of states, including California, Colorado, Georgia, Central Asia. six continents to spread goodwill, cultivate intellectual Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, To everyone’s knowledge, Russia has sent reinforcements to exchange, and create personal and institutional relationships Minnesota, and Rhode Island, have officially recognized this that region and even has lodged some missiles toward the con- that benefit the United States. reality. Supporting self-determination for Nagorno-Karabakh centrations of mercenaries on Azerbaijani soil. As Americans who have represented our nation globally, we would be consistent with principles upheld by the United The West would love for Turkey to engage Russia in the share a lifelong commitment to the Fulbright Program’s mis- States in South Sudan (2011), Kosovo (2008), and East Caucasus where conflagrations are already raging on the lat- sion of “fostering mutual understanding between the United Timor (2002). ter’s periphery, in Ukraine, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan. States and partner nations, sharing knowledge across com- The continuation of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict will That is why President Putin is treating the region cautiously, munities, and improving lives around the world.” intensify humanitarian crises, derail regional development, not wanting to provoke Erdogan into action, while in the mean- We now write to advance these three objectives in regard and erode democratic norms everywhere, harming our time minding his treaty obligations. to the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. national interest. While the United States is not a unilateral Armenian diplomacy can go only so far. Any diplomatic move, The war is anathema to the spirit of the Fulbright Program arbiter of other states’ disputes, it is a critical leader with if not backed by force, has limited impact. It looks like that and to the values we have worked so hard to promote. It is great leverage and unique peacebuilding capabilities. We fear diplomacy has run its course and no party in the Minsk Group clear to us that each day of fighting destroys mutual under- that choosing not to deploy these resources now would send is anxious to move militarily to impose a ceasefire. The impres- standing, knowledge, and human life across the region. a global message that the United States is disinterested in sion is that the co-chairs have been harboring the possibility of We are deeply convinced that there is a need for creative, the security of fledgling democracies such as Armenia—and Azerbaijan making some inroads and recovering territory so dynamic U.S. engagement to end the conflict. This engage- that our nation is unable to meaningfully advocate for peace that it can use it as a bargaining chip at the Geneva conference ment need not be heavy-handed or conspicuous, but it must in the face of aggressive, destabilizing actions by aspiring on October 29. be serious and innovative. Noncommittal expressions of con- regional powers. This would be an abdication of moral lead- Mr. Lavrov had plainly laid out his plan before the October 10 cern and passive adherence to broken frameworks only serve ership and a green light to those hostile to American interests ceasefire for Armenia to begin implementing the Madrid plan, to prolong the war and the irreparable destruction it engen- and values. which calls for the return of five regions held outside Karabakh ders. Another path is possible. We are confident that the United controlled by Armenia, and then two more, before any discus- Without repeating the two sides’ competing claims, it is States’ diplomatic efforts can catalyze a true settlement, final- sion is placed on the negotiation table about the status issue. clear to us that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) ly resolving the protracted and destabilizing conflict over Armenia had refused the proposal categorically; unfortunate- have a right to remain in their homes. It is also clear that the Nagorno-Karabakh. ly, just recently, army spokesman Artsrun Hovhannissyan con- people of Nagorno-Karabakh would not be safe if Azerbaijan The Institute of International Education and the ceded that Karabakh has lost the Kubatli region to Azerbaijan. ever won control of the region. This unfortunate fact is Department of State chose us to represent the United The tug-of-war will continue until the conference date. evinced by Azerbaijan’s record, from the Sumgait and Baku States as teachers, researchers, academics, and volunteers Hopefully, the Karabakh army will not cede any more territory pogroms to the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in around the world. Our deep experience advancing mutual because, to begin with, those territories outside Karabakh were Nakhichevan, and from the lionization of Ramil Safarov to understanding, shared knowledge, and humanitarian occupied for security reasons and in this case, as a the 2016 execution of Armenian civilians in Talish. The objectives—and our ongoing commitment to these values— bargaining chip at the negotiation table. events of recent weeks, including Azerbaijan’s unrelenting compel us to share this letter with you now. We call on our Armenia has too many enemies and few true friends. bombardment of civilian targets and the executions of at least nation’s diplomats to deploy every possible effort to imme- Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan has issued a public six Armenians in Hadrut, conclusively show that anti- diately end the bloodshed, and to secure lasting peace in appeal to President Putin for help. Armenian ethnic cleansing is no longer a hypothetical dan- the Caucasus by supporting the self-determination of That call says it all. ger; it is an unfolding reality. With the international commu- Nagorno-Karabakh. 20 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 3 1 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY Artsakh Protests and Counterprotests in Chicago

Tatosian’s business, Oscar Isberian Rugs in the By Harry Kezelian River North neighborhood of downtown Chicago. Standing across the narrow street from the CHICAGO – Due to its status as America’s consulate, and holding a large sign that read third largest city, the presence of both “Karabakh is Azerbaijan,” the protestors were Armenian and Turkish consulates, a thriving waving Azerbaijani, Turkish, and even Israeli, Armenian community, as well as a substantial Ukrainian, and Pakistani flags. Some also had Turkish community, Chicago is becoming a American flags and Chicago’s official city flag. hotspot for protests revolving around the war in Petrosyan remarked that a personal contact Artsakh. We spoke with Irina Petrosyan, per- of hers in the Ukrainian community had sonal assistant to the honorary consul of the informed her that the individuals holding Ukrainian flags were not Ukrainian, and that further- more, the Azerbaijanis allegedly had contacted members of the Ukrainian community offering them sums of $200 to come and join the protest. which was open for cus- tomers at the time. Tatosian in turn did not respond to protestors but went about the daily conduct of his rug business, helping customers. Petrosyan observed that whether it was the police or members of the Turkish Consulate, in its prime location in the there were many police offi- Azerbaijani protest that directed these cus- NBC building in downtown Chicago, was orga- cers present on the street. tomers to park elsewhere. At any rate, leaving nized by the local ARF. With participation from Since he knew there was the rug store’s parking spaces open allowed the the Armenian Youth Federation (the youth arm going to be a protest, “Armenian Consulate” sign to be visible from of the ARF) and the general Armenian commu- Tatosian had contacted the the street. Petrosyan stated that Azerbaijanis nity, about 400 people attended this massive Republic of Armenia in Chicago, Oscar city regarding security and Petrosyan believes were coming to take pictures with the consulate protest which in addition to protesting in front Tatosian, to inform us about recent events in that for that reason there was a heavy police sign, and seemed to want the entrance of the of the Turkish Consulate, also marched the city. presence. building and the sign to be visible from their through the streets of downtown Chicago. On Thursday, October 15, from 4:00 to 6:30 Tatosian’s customers and even delivery side. They were also taking videos. The ABC-7 TV station came and filmed the p.m., a protest was organized by Chicago’s trucks were directed to park further away from Protest at the Turkish Consulate (photo protest. As stated, Petrosyan believes that the Armenian community “in coordination with the the entrance rather than in the normal parking Vinnie Cartabiano) reason they came was because of the small ARF [Armenian Revolutionary Federation],” in spots for the rug store. Petrosyan is not sure On Saturday, October 17, a protest at the protest at ABC’s studios two days earlier. front of the downtown studios of Chicago’s However, the segment that eventually aired on ABC affiliate TV station (ABC-7/WLS-TV). The TV was “30 seconds or less” according to protest was “for coverage about the war” said Petrosyan. Petrosyan, and was organized to “demand cov- At the protest at the Turkish Consulate erage of our calls to justice” according to orga- (photo Vinnie Cartabiano) nizer Anoush Bargamian. We are informed that On Thursday, October 22, a small demon- there were only about 20 people present at this stration took place on the bridge on Harlem protest. A representative of ABC-7 News Avenue which passes over the Kennedy emerged from the building saying that the news Expressway. Armenian community members, was being filmed on the second floor and including the young Fr. Andreas Garabedian of nobody could hear the protestors outside, but the nearby St. Gregory Armenian Church of that they would accept a statement from the Chicago, stood on the overpass with signs visi- Armenian group. A press release was handed to ble to drivers on both streets. The Kennedy the ABC representative. Later, it was learned Expressway is a major commuter and trans- that ABC-7 had been filming the Armenian portation throughfare because it connects protestors from a first-floor window. downtown Chicago with O’Hare Airport, one of According to Petrosyan, the Armenian com- the busiest in the world. There is also a major munity believes that due to this small protest, “L” Train station (Chicago’s public transit) at ABC-7 Chicago was convinced to send a news this intersection. team to the protest that was to take place at the According to Petrosyan, whether they have Turkish Consulate on Saturday, October 17. been large or small, local Armenians have been Before that could happen, however, a group organizing protests and demonstrations in of about 50 Azerbaijani protestors came to the Chicago practically every week since the war Armenian Consulate in Chicago the following began. For example, the AYF organized an ear- day, Friday, October 16. Petrosyan was an eye- lier protest at the Turkish consulate on October witness to these events. The Armenian 3. Last Friday’s pro-Azerbaijani demonstration Consulate is run out of the same premises as was the first of its kind to have taken place in