THE ARMENIAN Mirrorc SPECTATOR Since 1932

Volume LXXXXI, NO. 35, Issue 4677 MARCH 20, 2021 $2.00 Lebanese-Armenian Maral Najarian Freed from Azerbaijani Prison Lands in Beirut By Kareem Chehayeb BEIRUT (Middle East Eye) — A Lebanese-Armenian woman who spent four months in an Azerbaijani prison following last year’s conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh landed in Beirut on March 10. Maral Najarian went missing on No- vember 10 following a Russian-bro- kered ceasefire between and Azerbaijan, landed in the Leba- nese capital late on Wednesday, March 10. Billboards in MA Exhort President Biden to Recognize “Up until I got — During March and April 2021, on the eve of cities in the state of , in the of on the plane [to the 106th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Peace of America. The message on this year’s billboards is “Mr. Pres- Beirut], I could not Art (www.peaceofart.org) continues its annual campaign by ident, with honor, dignity and courage, recognize the Arme- believe any of this erecting electronic billboards on busy highways in various nian Genocide.” Continued on page 7 was real,” a dis- Maral Najarian traught Najarian told Lebanese-Ar- menian radio station Voice of Van. “I kept thinking, ‘they’re going to COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Begins come and kidnap me again’.” ’s caretaker Foreign Min- ister Charbel Wehbe thanked the Ar- In Armenia Amid Rise in Cases menian, Azerbaijani and Russian gov- ernments, as well as the International By Raffi Elliott Committee of the Red Cross for facil- Special to the Mirror-Spectator itating her release following weeks of negotiations. YEREVAN — Several hundred Arme- see NAJARIAN, page 5 nians have already been inoculated against the COVID-19 virus as the country’s public health officials launch the first stage of its vaccination strategy. According to Health Boston Mayor Walsh Minister Anahit Avanesyan, the first vac- cination campaigns Rescinds Khojaly were expected to start in early February but Proclamation were delayed by sev- Confirms Strong Relationship with eral weeks due to gaps in the global supply Boston chain. Armenia is a self- By Aram Arkun Health Minister funding participant in Mirror-Spectator Staff Anahit Avanesyan the World Health Or- BOSTON — Boston Mayor Marty J. ganization’s Covid-19 Walsh announced in a letter addressed Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative to the Greater Boston Armenian com- designed to provide equitable access for munity dated March 3 that he was re- developing countries. Last year, Armenian scinding the proclamation issued by authorities signed a $6 million contract with However, with most of Moderna’s early with the initial testing dose for the Sputnik his office forKhojaly Commemoration COVAX to supply at least 600,000 doses of doses already earmarked for US consump- V vaccine, none experienced serious side Day at the end of February, and apolo- the vaccine. However the COVAX system tion, the Armenian government has instead effects, though several reported higher tem- gized for its promulgation. doesn’t allow participating countries to se- approved the Russian-produced Sputnik V peratures for up to two days after the inocu- Walsh explained why such a proc- lect their vaccine of choice, instead supply- and the British-designed AstraZeneca for lation. Vaccination will prioritize healthcare lamation was issued, writing: “Un- ing doses as they become available. distribution. Both these candidates require workers, the elderly, and other vulnerable fortunately on our part, this was done Armenia initially expressed interest in a two-step inoculation process. Avanesyan demographics. Educators, civil servants, without our typical review process, purchasing the vaccine developed by the explained that Armenia subjects vaccine rescue workers, law enforcement and mili- which includes conferring with all American pharmaceutical giant Moderna, candidates to a three-step testing process tary personnel will be the target of the sec- those potentially impacted.” Conver- which is co-founded by Armenian entre- before approving them for public use. ond phase before the vaccine will be made sations with leaders of the Armenian- preneur and philanthropist Noubar Afeyan. Of the 200 candidates who were injected see VACCINATIONS, page 2 see PROCLAMATION, page 7

OPINION WASHINGTON NEW YORK Centennial of Moscow The Armenian- The Whiskered Treaty Sealed with American Aides Old Toymaker of Armenian Blood of General Dwight Baraka Eisenhower Page 17 Page 6 Page 12 2 SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

ARMENIA NEWS from ARMENIA COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Begins Handcuffed Citizens Rally Outside In Armenia Amid Rise in Cases Parliament, Demand VACCINATIONS, from page 1 up in March, now averaging 407 daily cas- died from the vaccine. Return of POWs available to the general public. Vaccina- es. The health minister warned on March For others, their decision to get inoculat- tions will be free for government workers 11 that hospital beds are quickly filling up ed will depend on which vaccine is avail- YEREVAN (Panorama.am) — and low income individuals. despite eight facilities being reconverted to able. The Russian-developed Sputnik V A group of “handcuffed” people Armenian public health authorities say help with the influx of patients. New beds vaccine initially caused concern in Arme- on March 16 held a rally in front that the country currently has enough doses are also being set up to meet the demand nia due to its fast-tracked testing and ap- of the Armenian National Assem- to inoculate at least 15 percent of Armenia’s but “hospital space is not infinite,” the min- proval process, which some critics claimed bly building to call attention to the population by the end of 2021, but Ava- ister cautioned. was motivated primarily by a desire to be issue of the Armenian prisoners of nesyan announced last week that the gov- Around one thousand COVID-19 patients the first to market rather than public health. war (POWs) being held in Azerbai- ernment was in negotiations with Russia to are suffering conditions severe enough to However, despite mixed results in peer-re- jan. They demand that Armenia’s acquire a large shipment of the Sputnik V require hospitalization, while most of the viewed studies, it has proven to be mostly relevant state institutions immedi- vaccine in order to ramp up the process. 8190 active cases remain in self-isolation. safe for consumption. ately resolve the issue of the repa- The vaccination campaign launches Ten people have succumbed to complica- Syuzana, who works in a tech triation of POWs. amid a renewed rise in COVID-19 cases tions from the virus on Monday, bringing in Yerevan explained to the Mirror-Spec- Before handcuffing themselves, being recorded in the country, which some the total number of fatalities to 3,265. tator that she wasn’t so much concerned the citizens stuck posters to the public health experts warn might be the be- Despite this upswing in cases, author- about vaccination as she was about the lo- gates of the parliament building ginnings of a third wave of the pandemic. ities have denied rumors that the country cal Armenian laboratories’ ability to safely reading: “Either bring back the Armenia had been experiencing a steady would be going back into complete lock- provide it. “I don’t know if they have the prisoners of war or stop the nego- decline in new infection rates in the first down. Schools, businesses, and restaurants right facilities to store it at temperature, I tiations!” Meanwhile, Azerbaijan months of 2021 after registering new daily will remain open. Instead, they have urged don’t trust their sanitary practices,” she officially announced that there are cases in the thousands at the peak of last citizens to go back to stricter observation of said, adding that she’s always had her son no more Armenian prisoners in the year’s bloody war with Azerbaijan. De- social distancing measures: to wear masks vaccinated in the United States, which she country. spite concerns over the low testing rates, in public, remain 2 meters apart, and wash plans on repeating this time around. this data has also been backed up by a cor- hands regularly. The Armenian police has For Dr. Kim Hekimian, Associate Direc- Armenian Pilgrims Visit responding drop in fatalities. Most hospi- also pledged to more actively enforce com- tor of Education for the Program for Global tals which had been converted into special pliance with these rules, adding that it has and Population Health at the Vagelos Col- Dadivank and Amaras, disease control centers have since been ceased issuing fines in the months follow- lege of , this vaccine hesitancy is Accompanied by returned to their original functions. Some ing the war as many grieved losses of fam- concerning. She points to a previous pub- Russian Peacekeepers experts have speculated that these figures ily and friends. lic health initiative to provide the human may be evidence that Armenia has already Still, public health officials may face an papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to counter STEPANAKERT (Panorama. attained herd immunity. While Armenia uphill battle in the race to provide ubiqui- cervical cancer, which is a leading cause of am) — A group of Armenian pil- has officially registered 178,702 total cases tous vaccination before mutated versions death among Armenian women. The cam- grims accompanied by Russian of COVID-19 infections across the coun- of the virus make their appearance in the paign was met with mixed success given peacekeepers visited the ancient try, the real figure is estimated to be at least country. Authorities insist that vaccination that a sustained disinformation campaign Armenian monastery complex of three or four times higher, with the virus’ will remain voluntary, but the persistence convinced many would-be recipients that Dadivank in the Karvachar region spread being accelerated by the movement of misinformation about the vaccine, as the vaccine would cause infertility. which came under Azerbaijani con- of troops, refugees and aid workers during well as the virus itself has kept many Ar- “The fact that Armenia has registered so trol as result of the Nagorno-Kara- last year’s 44-day war, with most carriers menians wary about the prospects of vacci- many positive cases will help reduce the bakh trilateral statement signed on likely being asymptomatic. nation. Tamara, a wine event planner in Ye- virulence and transmission for a while, but November 9. The Russian Defense Still, despite averaging around 130 new revan, told the Mirror-Spectator that due to the country may be susceptible to new in- Ministry said in its release that as cases per day throughout January and Feb- some childhood allergies, she is concerned fection variances,” Hekimian warned, “We a result of the agreements reached, ruary, new infection rates have crept back over allegations that patients may have don’t know yet.” the servicemen of Azerbaijan free- ly allow pilgrims to the territory of the complex, accompanied by Russian peacekeepers. To ensure security, one of the observation Yerevan Eyes OSCE Role in Final Karabakh Settlement posts of the Russian peacekeep- YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenia Co-Chairmanship, which will be able later on Tuesday. ing contingent is located near the sees a final political solution to the Na- to lead the peace process on the basis of According to the Armenian prime architectural complex. Russian gorno-Karabakh conflict solely within principles and elements developed over minister’s press office, during the meet- peacekeepers also ensured the safe- the framework of the Organization for the years. We also need a strong, cohe- ing Linde highlighted the importance of ty of Armenian pilgrims during Security and Cooperation in Europe’s sive OSCE as an institute responsible for the work of the Minsk Group co-chairs their visit to the Amaras Christian (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairman- regional security and peace. In this con- in the settlement of the Nagorno-Kara- monastery, which is located in the , Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan text, we attach importance to the role of bakh conflict. immediate vicinity of the line of said on March 16. the OSCE Chairmanship, including the Pashinyan, for his part, stressed the demarcation between the parties in At a joint news conference with Swe- Personal Repre- Nagorno-Karabakh. den’s visiting Foreign Minister and sentative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde OSCE Chairper- UNICEF Representative in Yerevan, Ayvazyan said that Armenia son-in-Office,” views the trilateral statement signed by the top Armenian To Armenia Forced Out Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on No- diplomat under- YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The vember 9 to end six weeks of fighting in scored. Armenian government has forced Nagorno-Karabakh last fall as a docu- In her remarks the United Nations children’s ment aimed at restoring the ceasefire and at the news con- agency UNICEF to recall its per- reaffirming the security. ference Linde manent representative in Armenia, “Although it contains some provisions also hailed the Marianne Clark-Hattingh. For- concerning the peaceful settlement, work of the eign Ministry spokeswoman Anna however it does not address its key el- Minsk Group Naghdalyan said last week that the ements, and the most important among co-chairs and government decided to cut short them is the issue of the status of Artsakh the efforts of her Clark-Hattingh’s tenure of because [the Armenian name for Nagorno Kara- personal repre- Sweden’s Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in- of “shortcomings in the execution bakh], based on the right of the Arme- sentative towards Office Ann Linde with Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan of her mandate” and her “uncoop- nians of Artsakh to self-determination. finding a lasting erative work style.” She did not A final political solution to the conflict solution to the go into details. Yerevan UNICEF is possible only within the framework Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. importance of close cooperation with the spokeswoman Zara Sargsyan de- of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair- The OSCE chairperson-in-office - ar OSCE in ensuring stability and security. nied media reports that Clark-Hat- manship,” Ayvazyan said, referring to rived in Yerevan late on Monday after The Armenian premier, too, emphasized tingh “hastily” left Armenia. the format jointly headed by Russia, the visiting Baku. that the settlement of the Nagorno-Kara- Sargsyan said she remains to con- United States and that has had an The purpose of her regional visit is to bakh conflict is only possible within the tinue to perform her duties until the international mandate to broker a peace- discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and framework of the OSCE Minsk Group appointment of her replacement, ful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh the situation after the recent war with the co-chairmanship. In this regard, Pashin- while UNICEF has already named conflict since the early 1990s. leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. yan also stressed the need for the clarifi- a new acting head of its Yerevan of- “Recent developments in the region In the Armenian capital the OSCE’s cation of the status of Nagorno Karabakh fice and is now awaiting approval have underlined the need for a strong, I chairperson-in-office also met with- Ar and the exercise by Karabakh by the Armenian Foreign Ministry. emphasize, strong OSCE Minsk Group menian Prime Minister of their right to self-determination. SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 3

ARMENIA

Meeting ‘Mother Armenia,’ The Woman Behind Yerevan’s Iconic Statue

By Amos Chapple YEREVAN (RFE/RL) – In the autumn of 1960, Yerevan local Genya Muradian and her mother headed out for a shopping trip in central Yerevan that would change the face of their city. As the two women waited in line to pay for a bag of tomatoes, Muradian noticed a mustachioed man staring at her with such intensity that the frightened teenager point- ed him out to her mother. Her mother then placed the tomatoes back on their tray and strode out of the store, gripping the hand of her strikingly beau- tiful daughter. Outside on the street, the man ap- proached the two, apologized, and explained himself. The man’s name was Ara Harutyu- nyan and he had recently been com- A close-up of the Mother Armenia copper monument, missioned to create a sculptural epic which features a hemisphere coated in gold leaf that would replace Yerevan’s Stalin monument. The artist was looking for a woman who could visually rep- ing even her own hus- resent the power of motherhood and band. the “Armenian motherland” and in Muradian says Genya Muradian he believed he had found exactly that archetype. when she saw the huge Sixty-one years after that encounter, the 78 year-old Muradian, who monument unveiled today lives in a central Yerevan apartment, explained what happened she asked the sculptor after the strange encounter. why she had been given a single, stern eye- “My mother immediately refused. Then the sculptor said, ‘OK. Well, if you brow. The artist told Muradian he took some change your mind, here’s my phone number.’” creative license because “it’s the symbol of a When Muradian’s brother heard about strong woman, and that’s the strength I see in the marketplace encounter, he excitedly you.” intervened. Harutyunyan, the famous art- Muradian, who worked as a Russian-lan- ist his sister had met, was his lecturer at guage teacher, says the monument helped her the Terlemezyan College of Fine Arts. ​ through some of the immensely difficult pe- Together, brother and sister then visit- riods of her life, in part because of what the ed Harutyunyan’s studio and Muradian artist told her. posed, standing with a hand on her waist, The retired teacher says the sculptor “said Harutyunyan (1928-1999) for the first of four or five sessions with he saw power in me, but I didn’t feel it. I felt was one of Armenia’s most the artist. Muradian says she is not sure weak and easy to convince.... But I was cho- prominent Soviet-era artists about the material used, but thinks the sen as an image of strength, so looking up at artist shaped her likeness from clay. the monument reminded me that I needed to Muradian says the artist was “not at all be just as strong. That helped give me the courage I needed through my life.” talkative” and during the posing sessions Today, Muradian checks in on the monument from her apartment on most days his concentration “was so intense that it “as if on a family member” and watches with pleasure the different techniques used was a little unsettling. When he looked to illuminate the hilltop figure on national holidays. Muradian says it is upsetting to at you, it felt as if he was seeing inside see the statue not being A 50-meter-high monument to of you.” cleaned or cared for in Soviet dictator Josef Stalin that In 1967, the monument sculpted in the same way many oth- was unveiled in Yerevan in 1950. In Muradian’s image was formally un- er Yerevan monuments 1961, the bronze Stalin was pulled veiled. But for 40 years, Muradian kept are maintained. down but the plinth remained the fact that she was the model for the The monument pos- beloved statue a family secret, not tell- es a towering logistical

Muradian poses with an early version of the face of Yerevan’s Mother Armenia monument

challenge for cleaning crews. During the recent conflict with Azerbaijan, Mura- dian says she felt “physical pain” as the news was unfolding and she watched mothers mourning their children. Muradian says she understands why many young Armenians are leaving their country but hopes more can seek to “create prosperity in the homeland” rather than departing for a life abroad. (Amos Chapple is a New Zealand-born photogra- pher and picture researcher with a particular interest in the former USSR.)

Muradian looks from her bedroom window toward the Mother Armenia monument 4 SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL NEWS Central Bank Chief Says Shenorhavor Tzenundehd Many Loans to Killed Soldiers and Relatives Written Off (Happy Birthday) Heide Rieck! YEREVAN (Panorama.am) — A large number of loans of Armenian Muriel Mirak-Weissbach soldiers killed in the recent Artsakh Mirror-Spectator Staff war and their relatives were written BOCHUM, — Under normal circumstances we off, Chairman of Armenia’s Central would have organized a huge birthday party. There would have Bank Martin Galstyan told a news been music — Armenian music — and poetry and dancing, conference on March 16. He not- shish-kebab, with all the trimmings, paklava and Ararat cognac. ed that loans together worth about Friends would have come from all over Germany — Armenians, 2 billion drams have already been Turks, Kurds, Germans, young and old, colleagues and students, written off. as well as family members. No one would want to miss Heide “According to our estimates, Rieck’s 80th birthday party. these processes will continue; the But these are not normal times, so friends had to scotch any system will write off about 3 billion plans for such a gathering. Lockdowns are not conducive to fes- drams of loans for the families and tivities. And yet, celebrate we must. The best substitute we came relatives of our killed and wounded up with was a tribute to our friend, and in an Armenian publica- soldiers at its own expense, without tion; for among the many, many friends of Armenia there are in receiving any support,” he added. Germany, Heide Rieck is at the top of the list. He said that a government-draft- I remember well how it all began. It was a cold January day in ed bill adopted by the National Cologne, in 2013. Guests of the Turm Theatre were glad to be in- Assembly states that if banks write side, out of the cold. The play they had just seen was chilling but off or somehow assist in repaying it ended with a warm kiss. “Anne’s Silence” was a monodrama loans of people, their liabilities composed by the German-Turkish author Dogan Akhanlı, who are neutralized. had fled political repression in his homeland. His play tells the story of a Turkish-German girl Sabiha, who has been engaged in European Parliament Turkish nationalist political rallies. After her mother’s death, she Condemns Turkey’s discovers that she was Armenian, and the drama depicts Sabiha’s struggle to come to terms with her identity. Her recovery of her Use of Mercenaries in Armenian roots unfolds as a process of confrontation with the Karabakh truth of the 1915 Genocide, in part reflected through the story of . Actress Bea Ehlers-Kerbekian, who provided the BRUSSELS (PanARMENIAN. concept for the play, portrayed Sabiha and all other characters Net) — The European Parliament in a tour de force performance. Her Armenian heritage lent her has firmly condemned Turkey’s use added insight into the psychological turmoil experienced by the of Syrian mercenaries in the Na- protagonist. Heide Rieck gorno-Karabakh conflict. In a res- Heide Rieck was in the audience, and it was the first time she olution marking 10 years after the had found herself among Armenians. She stayed for the round uprising in , the parliament on table discussion that followed, during which the question arose, testimony of forced laborers during the second World War. In March 16 cited the Organization whether or not the German government would ever recognize her 2012 novel, Aber die Schatten… (But the Shadows...), she for Security and Cooperation in the Armenian genocide. As a participant, I ventured to say that follows the life story of a man from an extended Jewish-Christian Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group co- they might indeed do so; after all, there were two years to go to family, who, though spared in the Holocaust, lives forever in its chair countries — Russia, France the centenary, and “a lot could happen.” Heide was profoundly shadows. In addition to novels, she has published numerous col- and the United States — as saying moved by the play, the stunning performance and now this note lections of short prose pieces, like her Herzverlies. 17 Episoden that Turkey has transferred Syrian of optimism, which, she later wrote, “inspired me to dedicate von Trost und Liederlichkeit in 2006 (Heart Dungeon. 17 Epi- mercenaries to Karabakh. three years to reading and writing about the fate of the Armenian sodes of Consolation and Chaos) and the very recent Am Rand – Armenia was the first to report on people and to introduce Armenian culture to my region.” She Innere Landschaften und ein bisschen Wüste (2020) (On the edge Turkey’s deployment of thousands would bring the production to Bochum a year later. – Internal landscapes and a little bit of desert). She has won two of Syrian fighters to Azerbaijan. As a result the German-Armenian Culture Project came into prizes for poetry, is a member of the Union of German Writers, International media publications being and the three years have stretched into seven, with no end the European writers group Die Kogge, and is spokeswomen of followed suit, as did reactions from in sight. In the coming days or weeks, her new book will appear, the Bochum Writers. France, Russia, and Syria. The compiled and edited together with her colleague, Azat Ordukh- In this most recent book, she records her very first meeting Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army anyan, director of the Armenian Academic Society (AAV 1860), with an Armenian. He is a young scientist in Vienna for a con- has already unveiled footage from the oldest Armenian organization in Germany. The new volume, ference; they meet in the hotel dining room at breakfast and ex- the interrogation of two such ter- titled Wurzeln in der Luft: Völkermord und Lebensspuren (Roots change few words; schedules prevent further contact, there is an rorists captured on the front. in the Air: Genocide and Footprints of Life), is an anthology of appointment and she has an early morning departing flight. It is The resolution called on Tur- personal stories, written by children and grandchildren of the a brief encounter, a cameo appearance, but one that will have key “to withdraw its troops from Genocide generation. Most of the 20 accounts are by Armenians, far-reaching impact on her future work. Northern Syria which it is illegally but there are also Pontic Greeks and an Assyrian, Turks and Ger- Heide Rieck is above all a poetess; even her prose works are occupying outside of any UN man- mans. The book is just the latest contribution to educating the poems in disguise. And the German-Armenian Culture Project, date; condemns Turkey’s illegal public in Germany, especially youth, introducing them to the which she and Ordukhanyan have led over the years, is a highly transfers of Kurdish Syrians from history and culture of Armenians and thereby building bridges poetical endeavor. In 2014, as a prelude to commemorating the occupied Northern Syria to Turkey between the two peoples. centenary of the genocide, they organized an “Armenian Cultural for detention and prosecution in Author Rieck was well equipped, both personally and profes- Autumn.” Ordukhanyan explained, the intent was to celebrate violation of Turkey’s international sionally, to undertake such an ambitious cultural enterprise. Born Armenian life. “We want to show that we are still alive, making obligations under the Geneva Con- in 1941 in Stettin (today Szczecin, ), she and her family music, creating, working, producing. We want to present our cul- ventions; urges that all Syrian de- were forced to flee in 1945 to Krefeld, a city on the Rhine. Ex- ture.” From August 15 to November the program featured mu- tainees who have been transferred pulsion, deportation and war are not vague historical references sic dance, lectures, book presentations and a public colloquium. to Turkey be immediately repatri- but lived realities. Her love for literature and drama developed The renowned Armenian folk dance ensemble Geghart opened ated to the occupied territories in early, and she studied acting at the Keller Theater; later she set the program, the German translation of Dr. H. Martin Deranian’s Syria; is worried that Turkey’s on- up a students’ theater group at the Pedagogical College, where book, President Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug, going displacements could amount her own first plays were performed. In 1963, she moved to the was presented, and academics in the humanities gathered for a to ethnic cleansing against the Syr- Ruhr region and taught theater and pedagogy there as well as in round table discussion on the fate of Armenians from Iraq and ian Kurdish population; stresses France. Theatre continued to be central in her teaching experi- Syria now forced to flee again: “Out of the Diaspora into the that Turkey’s illegal invasion and ence, during which she developed and produced more than 70 Diaspora.” occupation has jeopardized peace plays with her pupils. When the German Shakespeare Society held its annual sym- in Syria, the Middle East and the Since 1999 she has been a freelance writer, has published 12 posium in Bochum, and chose the theme of violence in Shake- Eastern Mediterranean; firmly con- books and contributed to over 20 anthologies, her works span- speare’s plays, Rieck organized a session for literary readings demns Turkey’s use of Syrian mer- ning several genres, from poetry and short stories, to essays and by an Armenian, a Kurdish poet, Akhanlı and German-Jewish cenaries in conflicts in Libya and novels. Many books have been translated into other languages, authoress Jay Monika Walther. Nagorno-Karabakh, in violation of and she has travelled widely. On tours in , Poland, Russia, For the events marking the centennial of the genocide, Rieck international law.” Mexico and South Korea, she presented her book Doch seht wir and Ordukhanyan drafted plans for an “Armenian Spring” in Bo- leben –Vom inneren Widerstand -- Zwangsarbeit 1939-1945 chum. And springtime is the time for planting. On April 18, 2015 (Vechta 2005: Yet look, we are alive -On internal resistance – Lord Mayor Dr. Ottilie Scholz laid the foundation stone for a Forced Labor 1939 – 1945), containing the literary and artistic see BIRTHDAY, page 5 SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 5

INTERNATIONAL

Social Assistance Movement Helps -Armenian Community Survive Covid ISTANBUL (Nor ) – Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the Istanbul-Armenian com- munity has seen the rise of a social assistance or social solidarity movement, encouraged by Patriarch Sahag Mashalyan. The focus of the movement is for the Ar- menian community of Istanbul to pool its resources in order to provide aid to the less fortunate Armenians and the Armenian neighborhoods of the city, which has been crucial during the pandemic. The Patriarchate recently released statistics on the activities of the past year in re- gard to the official program instituted by the Church for this purpose. “The Social Aid Committee of the Patriarchal See of the Armenians of Turkey, formed under the auspices and with the blessing of Patriarch Sahag II Mashalyan, con- tinues to widen its useful activities. The leaders of the committee presented to the patriarch the statistics of the first year of aid work which was realized in thepan- demic period through the investment of the charitable bodies of the churches as well as benefactors, beginning Report of the Social Aid Committee in March 2020. According to the report, 6,483 boxes of necessities of the 276 families served by the charitable bodies of The leaders of the committee also conveyed their pro- were given to about 2,000 families for their daily needs. the churches was widened to 420 families to which aid posed plans for 2021. The Patriarch thanked the mem- This were families who were in dire straits due to being was supplied six times in the course of the year. In addi- bers of the committee, who are working on a volunteer immigrants, unemployed, or otherwise bereft of a social tion, 243 computers were donated for the needy students basis and on the honor system, as well as the auxiliary safety net. Aside from these provisions, the general list among our children who are engaged in distance learning. benefactors.

Ararat an apple from a poet’s tree awakens Shenorhavor Tzenundehd (Happy Birthday) Heide Rieck! in the heart of children the love of poetry! This, too, is Armenia.” BIRTHDAY, from page 4 the city archives building. and flown to Yerevan,” Rieck later wrote. Rieck has never missed an opportunity German-Armenian Friendship Garden. Days later, Rieck presented a reading of “There they were picked up by Armenian to introduce Armenian culture to a German Just a week earlier, Ordukhanyan had been poems by Paruyr Sevak, from a new Ger- friends in their car. Helpers dug, planted public. In March 2016, she published an in Yerevan-Avan, Narekatsi district, to in- man translation that she had co-authored and watered the young trees in the pres- article on the traces of Armenian culture augurate a friendship garden. After plant- (Paruyr Sewak, Und sticht in meine Seele ence of the mayor and numerous photog- in Germany, a subject that Ordukhanyan ing the first tree there, he received 155 – 24 & 4 Gedichte Armenisch-Deutsch. raphers, and I watched as Armenian oaks has researched at length. If some Ger- saplings to take back home — the number Schiler-Verlag 2015). On April 24 official were planted next to them — in front of the mans knew that the great musicologist and represented the 155 years of existence of commemorations took place in several monument commemorating the victims of composer Komitas studied in at the the Armenian Academic Society, which German cities. Artist Lisa Stybor opened the war in Nagorno Karabagh.” Humboldt University, where a commem- was founded in 1860. In January, Norbert the “Trail of Tears,” an exhibition of works At the city school, they discovered that orative plaque was placed in 2013, few if Lammert, then president of the German created during a trip to historic Armenia, German was the most popular among for- any would have known that the Armenian Bundestag, had met with Bochum citizens where she documented historic 1915 sites. eign languages offered. Children greeted presence began with the spread of Chris- and decided to place the donation of plants In May a book, Die Armenierin, (The Ar- them with recitations of poems by Heine, tianity in the 4th century AD. Relics of for Armenia as well as the garden in Bo- menian Woman) by Thomas Hartwig was Goethe and Schiller in excellent German. Armenian doctor and martyr St. Blasius chum officially under his patronage. Lam- presented. Rieck presented the book of Sevak’s po- were brought to Germany and it was the mert was to lead the parliamentary debate In September, Rieck invited Ordukha- ems in translation, her own contribution missionary Servatius of Armenia who pro- later in April on the issue of genocide rec- nyan for an open dialogue, entitled “Gar- to intercultural exchange. She had the claimed Christianity in Rhineland and Low ognition. dens of Friendship link Orient and Occi- opportunity to visit the Sevak Museum Countries in the same century. Churches Letters went out to schools, parishes dent – Yerevan and Bochum.” After that, in Sangakatun, and planted a rose bush in Cologne, Bonn and Siegburg bear his and other local institutions, offering -Ar she continued planting trees, this time in in front of the house where he was born. name. It was an Armenian-Byzantine prin- menian trees for their premises. On April Armenia. Together with Ordukhanyan, she She recalled that children helped plant it. cess Theophanu who married German Em- 18, school children arrived with picks and flew to Yerevan and on October 17 opened “Each of them held an apple or a pear in peror Otto II in 972, in St. Peters in Rome. shovels to join the effort, the mayor plant- the garden in Yeghegnadzor. their hand — from the trees that the poet In 2017, Rieck and Ordukhanyan orga- ed the first tree, and others followed there, “The German beech, juniper and pine himself had planted — a gift that certainly nized an event at the Evangelical church in as well as at the local zoo, the museum and trees were donated by German friends they will never forget: not far from Mount Bochum-Linden, entitled “Armenia in Lu- ther Year”— the centenary of the Protes- tant reformation that was the occasion for an ambitious program of events through- Lebanese-Armenian Maral Najarian Freed from Azerbaijani Prison out Germany all year long. One central NAJARIAN, from page 1 According to the party, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry called element of the debate was the historical Born and raised in Lebanon, Najarian moved to Armenia in on ambassadors in Armenia, Russia, and Iran for information significance of Luther’s translation of the August 2020, just weeks after the devastating Beirut Port ex- on her case. They said she would be released within the follow- bible into German. Few, if any Germans, plosion. ing two days, although that failed to transpire. could know that an Armenian religious She claimed her Armenian citizenship and moved to Artsakh Najarian, 49, said on March 11 that she had contemplated figure had preceded Luther by centuries. (Nagorno-Karabakh) enclave. self-harm after seeing several razor blades in one of the bath- Renowned Armenologist Prof. Armenuhi After hostilities flared between Armenia and Azerbaijan, she rooms at the prison. Drost-Abgarjan was invited to present a temporarily moved back to the Armenian capital for the dura- Meanwhile, Najarian’s sister, Sossi, feared she would return lecture on the “Invention of the Armenian tion of the six-week conflict. in a “worse condition.” Alphabet and Bible Translations in the Upon returning to Nagorno-Karabakh the day of a Rus- “When her [Maral’s] daughter told me Wednesday morning Mother Tongue in the 5th Century.” Al- sian-brokered ceasefire, Azerbaijani forces arrested both Na- that she was coming home while I was at work, I was so over- most 1,000 years before Luther, Mesrop jarian and family friend Viken Euljekian. whelmed with emotion – my manager told me to take the day Mashtots had translated Bible into the Ar- The Azerbaijani foreign ministry told MEE on 11 February off,” she told MEE. menian vernacular, and, as she demonstrat- that Euljekian was being held on a number of charges including “We burst into tears when we saw each other. It’s a miracle ed, the two employed similar methods. “terrorism,” but did not respond to questions about specific ac- that she’s home.” Heide Rieck has a lot to celebrate on her cusations against Najarian or details of the charges against her. Najarian’s family said she had been transferred to a hospital birthday, and Armenians have good reason They confirmed she was detained, adding that she had an to run medical tests and see a therapist. to join in with a toast – Ararat cognac, of “unofficial marriage” with a family friend. The United Nations has expressed concern about the alleged course. We raise our glasses (albeit at a dis- On February 13, Hagop Pakradounian, the president of the mistreatment of both military and civilian captives in Na- tance) with warm thanks for what she has Lebanese-Armenian Tashnag Party, contacted the Lebanese gorno-Karabakh. contributed so far to German-Armenian Foreign Ministry to enquire about Najarian and help facilitate Amnesty International has also documented torture and ex- cultural understanding, and look forward to her release. trajudicial killings of captives. the coming years, wishing her good health, energy, and joy in her creative activities! 6 SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR Community News

Ghaplanyan New Interim Speaks About Director at Eastern Environmental Diocese’s Zohrab Risks in Armenia Information Center NEW YORK — The Diocese of for ARPA the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) announced the hiring of an Institute interim director for the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center, the By Margarita Ivanova Diocese’s research and information Special to the Mirror-Spectator facility, housed in the St. Vartan Ca- thedral complex in New York City. LOS ANGELES — Dr. Irina Ghap- Jesse Arlen has accepted the posi- lanyan, a former deputy minister of tion on a part-time basis, which went environment for the Republic of Ar- into effect February 22, 2021. Arlen menia, climate policy professional, is currently completing his PhD at and political scientist, spoke about UCLA in Near Eastern Languages Armenian environmental security at and Cultures, with a focus in Arme- a February 13 Zoom event organized nian studies. He is the author of nu- by the ARPA (Analysis Research & merous publications and papers, and Planning for Armenia) Institute. has been a speaker at many academic Ghaplanyan declared that com- workshops, panel discussions, and bating pollution and climate change interviews, including events spon- must be a community effort. She sored by the Diocese through the gave the example of the gradual re- Zohrab Center. pair of the ozone layer. “After a few “Jesse is a very promising scholar decades of active engagement from in the field of Armenian theology and the global community, and commit- early Christian studies,” said Dioc- ments from virtually every country in esan Primate Bishop Daniel Findik- the world, we see that the ozone layer yan. “He brings to the Zohrab Center is gradually recovering,” Ghaplanyan not only strong scholarly and teach- said. ing credentials, but also sincere ded- Climate change implications not ication to the Armenian Church and only affect the climate, but every A photograph inscribed by General Eisenhower states “To Lt.- its vital Christian witness and min- aspect of natural resources. Since George Juskalian with appreciation of outstanding service and with warm istry.” The Primate expressed thanks the pre-industrial period, Armenia regard, Dwight D. Eisenhower” to the former Zohrab Center director, has registered a 1.3 degree Celsius Dr. Christopher Sheklian, for helping increase, as well as a 9-percent pre- to identify Arlen for the position. cipitation increase. These extreme “I am both humbled and enthusias- climate shifts have had a negative tic about my appointment as interim impact on the , and especial- The Armenian-American director of the Zohrab Center,” said ly on the agricultural sector, Ghap- lanyan said. According to a Swiss Institute Aides of General Dwight study forecast, if the world stays on this climate change track, Armenia’s average summer temperatures will Eisenhower surpass 40 degrees Celsius (104 de- grees Farenheit). “So many layers of By Haykaram Nahapetyan the economy will be affected, not just Special to the Mirror-Spectator agriculture,” said Ghaplanyan. WASHINGTON — On May 7, 1945, a US Army Air Force (USAAF) pilot, Roland Drastic changes throughout the Jehl flew the Nazi High Command to Reims, France, where they signed the Surrender community would be necessary in Act, which officially concluded the war in Europe. General Dwight Eisenhower’s na- order to keep up with these drastic val aide, Captain Harry Butcher, later wrote about this historic day in his book Three temperature changes. “This would Years with Eisenhower: “Shortly after five o’clock I saw Sergeants Chick and Sarafin Jesse Arlen include things like rewiring the en- [sic] were craning their necks out of the window, and, sure enough, the Germans were tire infrastructure of certain buildings arriving.” The person Captain Butcher referred to as “Sarafin” was Sue Sarafian, the and reconstructing roads to sustain personal secretary for the Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight Eisenhower the heat,” she continued. between 1943-47. “He always misspelled my name,” added Sarafian in the oral his- Arlen. “Bishop Daniel has played an Climate change is not the only fac- tory interview conducted by the Eisenhower Library researcher in 1991, referring to influential and formative role not just tor that has led to a shift in agricul- the misspelling of the “ian” Armenian suffix of her last name in Butcher’s book. Pilot in my intellectual life and academic ture. “War itself is not only inhuman, Roland Jehl and Sue Sarafian married later, after which she became Sarafian-Jehl and career — including when I was his but an environmental disaster,” said retired from the US Army in 1947. student at Notre Dame — but also in Ghaplanyan. The impacts of the war Sergeant Sue Sarafian was the only secretary that Gen. Eisenhower took with him mine and my wife’s entry into the Ar- have led to an exponential increase in back to the War Department after World War II. “Here, he promoted her to 2nd Lieu- menian Church and the deepening of pollution, as well as the biodiversity tenant and trusted her to write down his dictation and transcribe his words in the our faith in Christ.” of the ecosystems. famous book Crusade in Europe. Roland and Patty Jehl, the children of Sue Sarafian, He added: “I look forward to the As Azerbaijan has continued to texted back to respond to this author’s inquiry. start of this next chapter, playing my employ weapons containing phos- Sue Sarafian’s parents were born in in Keghi, Kharpert, in . Sur- part to help realize his episcopal vi- phorus in Armenia and Artsakh, the viving the genocide of 1915, they, as thousands of other Armenians reeling from the sion and working alongside a staff air has become polluted from explo- trauma of the genocide, found refuge in America. In 1917 Sue was born in Malden, filled with such wonderful people.” sions, and MA and was two years old when the family relocated to Detroit, MI. Arlen is a recent recipient of the see ARPA, page 7 In 1942, Sarafian joined the Women’s Auxiliary Armed Corps (WAAC) and is known Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellow- ARPA, from page 6 as one of most successful WAAC officers of World War II. What is less known, howev- ship, which has supported his doctor- the soil has become extremely dam- er, is that before joining WAAC, she was a member of the Armenian Youth Federation al studies at UCLA. “This makes me aged. “Phosphorus has a similar ef- (AYF): an American-Armenian community version of the American scouting organiza- all the more eager for the opportunity fect on the ecosystem as it does to the tion, which is where Sue first received her first taste of a physical training regime. to yield a good return on that invest- human body. It is very toxic when it “When the war started, I came from a family of five girls, no boys, and I was the ment and honor the legacy of Krikor touches skin, and treatment is often a oldest, and my reason for enlisting was true patriotism,” Sarafian said in the oral his- and Clara Zohrab, and Dolores Zohr- removal process,” said Ghaplanyan. tory interview. Sue joined Gen. Eisenhower’s staff in 1943 and later moved with the ab Liebmann, by promoting Arme- Although the governments of Arme- general to . nian language, literature, and culture nia and Artsakh governments prohib- Like Sarafian, radio-operator Greg Melikian was also in Reims, France, in May of in my new position.” ited the use of these chemicals unless 1945. When the Nazi generals handed the official document of surrender to General Arlen will work remotely for the targeting a military base, Azerbaijan see EISENHOWER, page 8 coming months. SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 RMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 7

COMMUNITY NEWS Boston Mayor Walsh Rescinds Khojaly Proclamation PROCLAMATION, from page 1 Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian Mayor Walsh and very much appreciate this proclamation shows how long-term American community made it clear that the played a key role due to his longstanding the mayor’s candor and commitment to do relationships and friendships are crucial. proclamation was particularly hurtful, he friendship with the mayor. Koutoujian de- the right thing. I would also like to thank It shows that standing up to propaganda is said, thanking them for respectfully bring- clared, “When I first saw the mayor’s proc- fellow Bostonians Peter Koutoujian, Berj important, but also, as Koutoujian pointed ing this issue to his attention. lamation, I reached out to him immediately, Najarian and Aram Kaligian for their im- out, “This is the benefit of having non-Ar- In his letter, he expressed his gratitude because I knew it did not sound like Marty. portant work on this matter.” menians become part of our community, for the relationship the City of Boston Why I say this is because I have known Koutoujian concluded, “This is import- become part of our family, and understand enjoyed with the Armenian people, men- Marty since 1996 when we ran for office. ant, and so I say this a lot: We can contin- what we go through. This is a proud day tioning the creation of Armenian Heritage We both started in the House of Repre- ue as a community to educate each other for our community. We saw an injustice, sentatives in the same year. Your class in and remind each other about the Armenian we acted and we were recognized, not just a legislative body is something that really Genocide and what is going on in Artsakh, for our advocacy of the moment but for binds you and bonds you together, so much but our great power is when we educate the years of a positive relationship and educat- so that you maintain a very close and abid- non-Armenian community.” Outreach and ing people about what it is to be Armenian. ing friendship over these very many years. phone calls are important, but the story of This is a good day for us.” And the nice thing is that we both serve in public office so we see each other and share in that too.” Not only has the mayor attended vari- ous Armenian Genocide commemoration events over the years, and signed onto Genocide recognition resolutions, but has spoken at Armenian Heritage Park engage- ments in Boston and even visited the Ar- menian Quarter in Jerusalem. Koutoujian recalled, “We traveled to Je- rusalem together and I was going to visit the Armenian Quarter. He asked to join me. I know this is a very special memory for him because he speaks about it all the time.” The sheriff stated that as soon as he con- Billboards in MA Exhort President Biden “I continue to be proud tacted the mayor, the latter understood the situation and felt badly, so he asked Kout- To Recognize Armenian Genocide to stand in support of oujian to arrange a meeting with a group BILLBOARD, from page 1 Armenian-Americans of Armenian community leaders. At that Daniel Varoujan Hejinian, the founding president of Peace of Art Inc., recently in Boston and the meeting, Koutoujian said, the mayor did said, “Mr. Biden sponsored numerous bills in favor of recognizing the Arme- not hesitate to acknowledge that this was surrounding area,” nian Genocide, as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Most something that should not have happened. recently, during the campaign for president, Mr. Biden promised to recognize the Walsh accepted responsibility there and Armenian Genocide and to make human rights a priority if elected president. The –Marty Walsh in the letter. The context to be understood Mayor of Boston (outgoing) Armenian Genocide is a human rights issue. We hope President Biden will have is that Walsh is in the process of transition- the courage to keep his promise and on the 24th of April recognize the Armenian ing to become the US Secretary of Labor, Genocide.” Park and the 2015 commemoration of the which creates a lot of turnover in his office. Peace of Art Inc. was formally founded in Massachusetts in 2003, but has been centennial of the Armenian Genocide. He Koutoujian said, “I appreciate his candor active since 1996. It is a private non-profit, non-political, non-religious education- stated, “I continue to be proud to stand in and his respect for our community. It is not al organization. support of Armenian-Americans in Boston easy, as there is a lot going on right now Peace of Art uses the universal language of art to raise awareness about human and the surrounding area,” and thanked Ar- for him, but he took the time to do this. I concerns, for the betterment of humanity, to promote peaceful solutions to con- menians for their contribution to civic life. am proud of my friend Marty Walsh and flicts, and to promote the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Many Armenians contacted the may- I am proud of our community, because it Peace of Art, Inc., is dedicated to the peacekeepers of the world, peace activists, or’s office after they became aware of the engaged with him in a respectful way, and all those who risk their lives for the welfare of the people. Since it was founded, Khojaly proclamation, and very quickly he responded in the same manner.” Peace of Art has not solicited nor received funding from other sources. the mayor’s chief communications officer Co-chair of the Armenian Assembly of See an accompanying video at the Mirror-Spectator website. issued an apology via the Mirror-Spectator America Anthony J. Barsamian responded on March 2. to the mayor’s action, stating, “We thank

Ghaplanyan Speaks About Environmental Risks in Armenia for ARPA Institute has knowingly targeted forests. This hu- One difficulty is an increase in deforesta- erating; many operating without the proper man rights violation can legally be quali- tion, which is fueled by poverty. “Wherev- environmental procedure put in place. This fied as an attempt at ecocide. er you see the highest levels of poverty, you is something that the Armenian govern- These constant threats that the ecosystem also have the highest pressure on the envi- ment overlooks because it relies heavily in Armenia is experiencing can be prevent- ronment,” said Ghaplanyan. Deforestation, on the that come from these mines, ed to a degree if action is taken by the soci- illegal fishing, and water base reduction said Dr. Ghaplanyan. “Legislation has been eties of Armenia and Artsakh. is very prominent in these areas. Turkey’s very lax and hasn’t put many checks in Armenia has displayed activism in sev- construction of major water reservoir dams place.” eral spheres: increasing electric mobility, across Armenia’s border, despite agree- Companies also over-rely on mining, being a party to every international envi- ments that go back 100 years, has contrib- and over-reliance leads to underinvestment ronmental convention, and minimizing uted to low water levels in areas like agriculture and tourism, which GAG (Generation of Ammonia from Graz- These are all problems that can be alle- can be prevented through checks put in ing) emissions. Dr. Ghaplanyan said that viated through policymaking, according place. These underlying situations affect- there is a lot more that Armenia can do in to Ghaplanyan. “You need good policy- ing the environment all similar solutions. terms of minimizing these emissions. This making which contains a long-term socio- At the end of the event, the audience was includes investing in more solar power, and economic component. When it comes to given the opportunity to ask questions cho- using the country’s prominent IT sector foreign policy, it is more difficult to create sen by moderator Ani Shabazian. and engineering to create more multidisci- these foreign policies when you have hos- Ghaplanyan again connected the situa- plinary projects. tile neighboring countries.” tion in Armenia with the rest of the world, One specific energy sector that needs to The struggle of maintaining water levels declaring: “We need to talk about this on be targeted, Dr. Ghaplanyan says, is con- at Lake Sevan dates back to when Arme- an international scale because it doesn’t struction. Thirty percent of the general nia became part of the Soviet Union. Since only impact countries like Armenia.” At Irina Ghaplanyan energy in Armenia goes towards heating then, the lake has dropped more than 20 the same time, she remarked, Armenia is buildings. Approximately 19,000 of these meters, and eutrophication has increased. a country that has the potential to enforce buildings are non-energy efficient. This has left the lake constantly exploited carbon-neutral action that can benefit other poverty, but also bring new green jobs to because of the constant waste flow, which countries. Solutions the country. “If we connect further textile communities around the lake contribute to “As the secretary-general of the United Ghaplanyan said that investing into development to solar energy production, due to the lack of waste water cleaning sta- Nations referenced in a speech, ‘No coun- constructive energy-efficient buildings is then economic growth can become more tions. try is small enough not to make a differ- a start. This would not only tackle energy green.” Mining sectors have also continued op- ence,’” Ghaplanyan emphasized. 8 SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

COMMUNITY NEWS

The Armenian-American Aides OBITUARY Of General Dwight Eisenhower EISENHOWER, from page 6 of 1942, was among the first American Internationally Renowned Opera Singer Eisenhower, he ordered Sergeant Meliki- major detachments to be shipped to the an to cable the cheerful and historic news European theater after America joined Anita Terzian Passes Away to Washington, D.C. On September 2, the war effort. Among other officers of FOREST HILLS, N.Y. – Internationally world-renowned Maria Callas. While still Melikian was present at the ceremony of the division was the American-Arme- renowned opera singer Anita Terzian-Titus a student, Anita entered and won the clas- designating Wilmington, NC as the first nian George (Gevorg) Juskalian. In No- passed away from congestive heart failure sical music contest sponsored by the Ger- American World War II Heritage City, vember of 1942, as an officer of the 26th at North Shore Hospital in Forest Hills, man-American radio station program “Lie- attended also by the US president. Don- Infantry Regiment commanded by The- NY, on January 20. derkranz.” ald Trump recognized the presence and odore Roosevelt Jr, George participated Subsequent to her graduation from Juil- the incredible experience of Melikian in in Operation Torch: the landing in Africa. liard, Anita entered and won first place in his official speech: “When Greg was 20 After advancing for three months, Amer- the International Voice Competition held in years old, he served as a radio operator ican troops met the increasing resistance Germany. This launched her oper- in the headquarters of Supreme Allied of Nazis. It was at the battle of Kasser- atic career. Anita performed in many of the Commander General Dwight D. Eisen- ine Pass where Captain Juskalian was famous opera houses throughout Europe, hower. Oh, I’d loved to have heard some captured as he was searching for one of South America, and the United States; also of those conversations,” Trump said. his officers who had gone missing on a for many Armenian churches and organiza- Ramona Melikian, the daughter of Mr. reconnaissance mission. Juskalian was tions (gratis of course). Melikian, replied to this author’s inquiry a POW for 27 months during which he To Anita’s many credits are several re- to state: “The general chose my father was awarded the for the res- cordings, over 300 performances of the because he was the youngest soldier on cue attempt of the missing private. Af- opera “Carmen,” and other Rossini operas. duty and could speak about the ending ter returning to Washington, D.C., he One of which stands out, was her perfor- of World War II for the rest of his life.” was honored by being tasked with the mance of “Chenerentola” [Cinderella] at Earlier this year, during the May celebra- role of Secretary to the Chief of Staff the Opera; recorded by the BBC and tions dedicated to V.E. 75th anniversary, of the Army under General Eisenhower. simulcast internationally, at which she re- Britain’s Guardian dedicated an article to A great patriot of his country, Juskalian ceived a full twenty-minute standing ova- radio-operator Greg Melikian with an el- passed away on July 4, 2010. “Ideal tion for her performance. Anita was the oquent title “The Man who Stopped the man, a good commander,” this is how Anita Terzian was born on October 12, guest of honor at the banquet of the Ar- War.” in our phone communication Julius W. 1945 in Teheran, Iran, and immigrated to menian Church Choir Association held in The 1st Infantry division of the US Becton, the U.S. Army three-star general this country at the age of twelve with her Richmond, VA. There Anita was presented Army, stationed in in August described Juskalian, with whom he had parents Arthur and Seda Terzian and her an encyclical [gontag] from the Catholicos brother Nelson Terzian. They eventually of All Armenians (Vehapar) by Archbishop took up residences in Forest Hills, NY. The Khajag Barsamian, for her representation family became members of the Armenian and raising of the Armenian name through- Church of the Holy Martyrs in Bayside, out the world. NY. Anita’s love of classical music and op- Anita Terzian and Richard Titus were era led her to join the church choir, which married in December of 1989 and made was then under the directorship of Mary their residence together in Forest Hills un- Selvinazian. til Anita’s untimely passing on January 20, Anita applied to and was accepted by the 2021. Anita was predeceased by her par- Juilliard School of Music, where she ob- ents, Arthur and Seda Terzian, in . tained her Bachelor of Music and Master Anita is survived and sorely missed by her of Science degrees, all on full scholarship husband, Richard M. Titus of Forest Hills, from the Rockefeller Foundation which and also her brother Dr. Nelson A. Terzian, obtained herself. At Juilliard, her two voice and niece, Jennifer Terzian-Goldstein, and teachers were the famous Canadian-Jew- their families of Ocean Reef and Coral Ga- ish mezzo Soprano Jenny Tourel and the bles, Florida.

General Eisenhower with his staff during World War II: Sue Sarafian is second from the right

been stationed in Europe for many years. Juskalian was also a dedicated member of the American-Armenian community and was an active participant and sup- porter of Washington’s St. Mary Arme- nian church. As he stated in one of our conversations, he had multiple interac- tions with General Eisenhower after he was elected President. “If he came to the Pentagon and saw me he would talk with me or wave his hand”, Juskalian said. The colonel was posthumously honored in 2011 with the post office in Center- ville, VA being named after him. The list goes on. US Air Force Colonel Harry Sachaklian served in Eisenhow- er’s staff in Europe during World War II and later. These are but a few examples of the service and sacrifice Ameri- A photo inscribed by General Eisen- can-Armenians community members hower for Sue Sarafian with the fol- have made on behalf of their adopt- lowing words: “To Sgt. Sue Sarafian ed homeland of the United States. W.A.C. with appreciation for faithful (Charles Yessaian of Maryland contribut- and official service in my headquar- ed to the reporting above. A video accom- ters, Dwight D. Eisenhower” panies this article at the Mirror-Spectator website.) SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 RMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 9

COMMUNITY NEWS Leaders Share Their Experiences at Heritage Park Public Program BOSTON — “Celebrating Art, Science, Service and Therapeutics (pioneering new drugs that target neuronal in Manhasset, NY. Follow Berj Najarian on Instagram @ Commerce: Leadership Sharing Experiences,” spon- pathways for the treatment of cancer, and autoimmune/ berj.najarian sored by the Armenian Heritage Park, will take place on inflammation disorders); Codiak BioSciences (developing Wednesday, April 7 at 5 p.m. ET, celebrating contributions engineered exosome therapeutics as cancer treatments); Tracey Zhen being made to life and culture in Art, Science, Service and Rubius Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RUBY); developing Red Tracey Zhen is president of Zipcar, the world’s leading Commerce, the words etched around the Labyrinth’s Cir- Cell Therapeutics, engineered red blood cells capable of car-sharing network, where she oversees all facets of the cle at Armenian Heritage Park on The Greenway, Boston. providing potent and prolonged therapy for rare diseases, business. Tracey is focused on innovation and leverag- Six thought leaders — each leading by extraordinary cancer and autoimmunity; and Seres Therapeutics (NAS- ing technology to grow Zipcar’s position as a category example — will speak about their professional experienc- DAQ: MCRB); the first microbiome therapy platform. At leader within the fast-growing mobility industry. Tracey es and commitment to social good and making a differ- Cygnal, Avak served as founding president and CEO from has 20 years of experience in leadership roles at consum- ence. 2017 until the end of 2018, and currently serves as Chief er technology companies, including senior management The leaders include Edward Casabian, an investor and Innovation Officer, leading the establishment and appli- roles at TripAdvisor and Expedia where she oversaw early Uber employee; Julia Grove, picture editor for “This cation of a neuronal biology platform for target and drug business strategy, finance, op- is Us,” NBC series; Avak Kahvejian, PhD, general partner discovery in the fields of oncology and immunology. At erations, product development, at Flagship Pioneering; Councilor Julia Mejia, Councilor Rubius, he served as founding president and CEO from and marketing. At TripAdvisor, At-Large on the Boston City Council; Berj Najarian, direc- 2013 to 2017, and then as CIO until the end of 2018. There Tracey oversaw the company’s tor of football and head coach administration for the New he established the Rubius Erythrocyte Design (RED)™ vacation rental brands, scaling England Patriots and Tracey Zhen, president of Zipcar. platform and conceived and developed dozens of Red Cell the business and growing rev- Program Host is Cindy Fitzgibbon, WCVB TV mete- Therapeutics (RCTs)™ spanning a range of therapeutic enue through strategic acquisi- orologist. modalities including enzyme therapies, immuno-oncology tions and the restructuring of its Ann Zacarian, Programs Planning Team for Friends of and oncology therapies, and tolerogenic drugs. Avak also business models. At Expedia, Armenian Heritage Park, will offer the welcome. Chief serves as a board member at Codiak and as CEO of mul- Tracey served as general manager for emerging markets Marty Martinez from City of Boston Office of Health and tiple FlagshipLabs companies including Cellarity, Ring, and strategy, leading international business growth in Eu- Human Services will offer greetings. FL50, and FL56. Avak serves on the board of the Interna- rope and Latin America. There she launched new markets, Each leader will highlight their experiences, celebrating tional Institute of New England, an institution which cre- built a European strategy team, and scaled the business leadership and commitment to social good. ates opportunities for refugees and immigrants to succeed to multi-million-dollar growth. Tracey has a proven track through resettlement, education, career advancement and record of scaling start-up businesses through product Edward Casabian pathways to citizenship. He is also on the board of the Ca- innovation, technology platform development, and con- Edward Casabian has a background in finance and tech- nadian Entrepreneurs of New England. He earned his PhD sumer marketing. Tracey started her career in investment nology. He has worked for a number of startups in a va- and BS in biochemistry from McGill University. Follow banking at Bear, Stearns and Co., Inc., and she held se- riety of roles. He was one of Uber’s first 40 employees, Avak Kahvejian on : @AvakK and on Instagram @ nior roles at IAC where she built and oversaw a finance helping to build New York’s operations from the ground avakava. and analytics team, was responsible for new business de- up - focusing on customer service, social media, market- velopment and subsequent wind-down and aided corpo- ing and business development. Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia rate restructurings and capital financings. Tracey serves More recently he worked at Boston City Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia, after a his- on the Advisory Board of the Harvard Kennedy School Lambda School, an online cod- toric recount, won her seat by a single vote and is now the Taubman Center for State and Local Government. She is ing school where students don’t first Afro-Latina to sit on the Boston City Council. Mejia a graduate of New York University’s Leonard N. Stern pay tuition until they get a job. is currently the Chair of the Committee on Civil Rights School of Business holding dual B.S. degrees in Finance He is passionate about new tech- and the Committee of Small Business and Workforce and Information Systems, she is a resident of Newton and nology and invests and advises Development. Councilor Mejia a native of New York City. early-stage companies. Ed also is focused on influencing and loves to travel and explore cities. inspiring constituents to be ac- Cindy Fitzgibbon, Host He has volunteered in Armenia tively engaged in all areas of de- Cindy Fitzgibbon is Meteorologist, WCVB TV through Birthright Armenia, and cision-making processes. Since NewsCenter 5’s EyeOpener and Midday. Cindy Fitzgib- lived in Istanbul, Rome and the US Virgin Islands. He also assuming her role in January, bon joined WCVB TV in 2013 but has been in the Boston once lived in 52 different neighborhoods across New York Councilor Mejia and her office market the past 20 years and a broadcast meteorologist City in one year as part of his NYC Nomad project, which have executed a series of innova- for 25 years. In 2017, she won was featured by , BBC News and tive COVID-related projects in the regional Emmy award for NPR. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and baby girl. response to the need of Boston’s out- standing achievement in Follow Ed Casabian on Instagram: @thenycnomadon and hardest-hit constituents. Her office has created culturally weather broadcasting. She has on Twitter: @casabian responsive food access projects to support small business- also won an Associated Press es and feed our most vulnerable, as well as a COVID busi- award for “Best Weathercast” Julia Grove ness readiness program to build capacity for Black/Brown and has made guest appearances Julia Grove is a television editor born, raised and based immigrant-owned barbers and hair salons. Her office has on ABC News. in Los Angeles. Her calling came while at Boston Uni- also designed and implemented a community-centered Cindy is involved with and versity when she realized she was thriving in a dim, win- civic engagement model to address city-wide quality of devotes her time to organiza- dowless basement, with only a Steenbeck and 16mm reels life concerns and filed legislation to improve access and tions that promote science to ed- to guide her. She has worked on numerous unscripted accountability in city government. Councilor Mejia was ucate, particularly young girls, and scripted shows over the years, namely “The Bach- recently named Best City Politician 2020 in Boston Mag- including the Discovery Museum “Smart Gals” Program, elor/Bachelorette,” “Scandal” azine. Follow City Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia on the Jr. Sci-Tech Girl STEM Expo, and the Science Club and “How to Get Away With , Twitter and Instagram @juliaforboston for Girls. Cindy repeatedly donates her time to help raise Murder.” She currently edits on money for local organizations to fight ALS (Lou Gehrig’s NBC’s “This Is Us,” a show she Berj Najarian disease) and MS (multiple sclerosis) and has become an has been with since the first sea- In his 27th season in the National Football League and ambassador in spreading awareness about Batten Disease. son. She is a member of a hand- 22nd season with the New England Patriots, Berj Najar- She makes frequent “Weather Visits” to schools across ful of Diversity and Mentorship ian serves as the point person for the day-to-day opera- the area and has educated thousands of students about the groups in her industry, name- tions of the team. Berj acts as a liaison across football weather over the years. ly the Motion Picture Editors departments such as team travel, equipment, training and A native New Englander raised near Portland, Cindy Guild’s Women’s Steering Com- player engagement as well as non-football departments earned her Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology mittee, and helped establish the such as marketing, media rela- from Lyndon State College in Vermont. She is a member ACE Diversity Alumni Group in 2020. In the meantime, tions, content and Gillette Sta- of both the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and she enjoys strictly quarantined dance parties with her hus- dium operations. Berj manages the National Weather Association. She has been awarded band and 2-year-old son. Julia was recently nominated for several elements of head coach the AMS Seal of Approval for Television. an American Cinema Editors Award for her work on sea- Bill Belichick’s off-field agenda, the past several years, Cindy has been the emcee for son five of “This Is Us.” Follow Julia Grove on Twitter @ including football operations, Sunday Afternoon for Families and Friends at Armenian JAGeditress player and staff communication, Heritage Park on The Greenway, always joined by her two scheduling and personal re- boys, fellow Armenian Americans and many friends. Cin- Avak Kahvejian, PhD quests. Berj has been part of all dy was the emcee for Celebrating Contributions of Our Avak Kahvejian, PhD is a life six Patriots Super Bowl champi- Nations Immigrants Honoring Dr. Noubar Afeyan, the sciences inventor, entrepreneur, onship teams. gala benefit to raise funds for the Endowed Fund for Care and CEO. Since 2011, he has Entering the NFL in 1995, Berj was a public relations of Armenian Heritage Park on The Greenway in Septem- been a partner at Flagship Pio- assistant with the New York Jets for five seasons fol- ber 2019. Follow Cindy Fitzgibbon on Instagram: @cin- neering, where he leads a team lowing an internship with the New York Knicks of the dy.fizgibbon and on Twitter: @Met_CindyFitz to invent and launch new thera- National Basketball Association. Berj attended Boston Join us, register at armenianheritagepark.org/events-2 peutic platforms. His work has University, earning a degree in English. He serves on the or bit.ly/3rHdPVJ led to the creation of multiple Board of Trustees of the Armenian Museum of America For further information or to support the Park’s ongo- high-value public and private and as Board member and officer of the Bill Belichick ing care and maintenance, visit ArmenianHeritagePark. companies including Cygnal Foundation. He was born in Brooklyn, NY and grew up org/Support or email [email protected]. 10 SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

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Armenian Assembly of America Hosts countable,” said Phillips. Phillips stated that the U.S. should provide more aid to Armenia Successful Virtual National Advocacy to correct the imbalance with the security assistance it provided to Conference Azerbaijan as a result of the waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Washington, D.C. – The Armenian Assembly of America’s time- Support Act. ly and impactful Virtual National Advocacy Conference and Advocacy “Restoring U.S. credibility on the international stage starts by recog- Week started on Monday, March, 8, 2021 as American Armenian constitu- nizing Turkey as a perpetrator which commits crimes against humanity,” said ents throughout the country participated in panels featuring special guest Phillips. speakers and met virtually with their Members of Congress to advocate for In his remarks, Artak Beglaryan focused on impunity and Azerbaijan’s ex- a robust assistance package to help the Armenian people, including at least emption from punishment for its ongoing human rights violations against the $100 million in assistance; enforcing Section 907 of the Freedom Support and its people. Act; urging support for legislation calling for the immediate release of Ar- “Azerbaijan has conducted a serious policy of isolation against Artsakh menian prisoners of war held by Azerbaijan; and garnering support for this that has intensified since 2008,” said Beglaryan. He emphasized Turkey’s year’s April 24th Armenian Genocide statement by President Joe Biden. role in the war, which was “quite visible,” along with the hiring of mercenar- The Assembly’s National Advocacy Conferences aim to reinforce aware- ies, who were promised money in exchange for each Armenian soldier killed. ness and support of Armenian issues in the U.S. and connect Armenian “We have many confessions and witnesses that prove the direct engage- Americans with Members of Congress and Congressional staff. ment of Turkey in recruiting and transferring mercenaries to Artsakh,” said Beglaryan, who cataloged and investigated all of the war crimes executed U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee against Armenians, including cluster munitions and suicide drones that tar- geted civilians who resided far from military sites. Chairman Outlines Key Priorities “These were deliberate targeting attempts using reconnaissance drones,” Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Re- said Beglaryan, who noted that public reports are available through the Re- lations Committee, outlined key policy priorities and called on the Biden Ad- public of Artsakh Human Rights Ombudsman office. ministration to revisit and reexamine U.S. policy in the wake of the Artsakh Preserving Cultural Heritage Panel Conveys Urgency of Protecting Arme- war. He highlighted priority issues facing the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, nian Heritage Sites at Risk including the displacement from their homes, lack of access to food, shelter As thousands of Armenian religious and cultural heritage sites are currently and healthcare, and the need for demining activities. Senator Menendez said at risk of being expropriated and erased by Azerbaijan, Archbishop Hovnan that the Biden Administration “must move quickly to recalibrate our relation- with Azerbaijan and Turkey.” “The United States cannot be in the business of supporting a corrupt, au- thoritarian regime that has attacked innocent civilians and committed appall- ing atrocities in violation of humanitarian law,” he added. Looking ahead to April, Senator Menendez has called on President Biden to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide. He praised the “sustained advocacy” of Armenian Americans, which will be vital to “press the executive branch to break its decades of silence and speak the truth of the genocide.” Human Rights Panel Highlights Importance of Documenting Atrocities Against the Armenian People House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman, Represen- tative Adam Schiff (D-CA), headlined the panel “Defending Human Rights & Preventing Atrocities,” which featured former Republic of Artsakh Human Rights Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan, and the Director of the Program on (l-r) Professors Lori Khatchadourian, Christina Maranci and Rachel Goshgarian Peace-building and Human Rights at Columbia University’s Institute for the and Archbishop Hovnan Derderian lead the “Preserving Armenian Culture Study of Human Rights, David L. Phillips. and Heritage” panel Moderated by Assembly Co-Chair Van Krikorian, the panel focused on the documentation of human rights violations against the Armenian people of Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North Artsakh, as well as steps undertaken to provide humanitarian assistance and America, Professor Lori Khatchadourian of Cornell University, and Professor a lasting resolution to the ongoing conflict in the region. Rep. Schiff indicated Christina Maranci of , Jeff King, the President of International that perpetrators of human rights abuses should be held accountable and Christian Concern, shared their insights in a panel moderated by Professor that the U.S. should demand the return of Armenian prisoners of war and Rachel Goshgarian of Lafayette College. bodies of the fallen. He also stated that he is working on introducing a reso- Emphasizing the importance of cultural heritage, Archbishop Derderian lution with his Armenian Caucus colleagues in this regard. said that academic findings and studies, as well as the ongoing dialogue Rep. Schiff said that “the U.S. has to reclaim its legacy of being a cham- with political leaders and international cultural organizations, are key to help- ing find a resolution to the Armenian cultural heritage sites in peril. Professor Khatchadourian, an archaeologist who teaches at Cornell’s De- partment of Near Eastern Studies, launched the Caucasus Heritage Watch to monitor, through high-resolution satellite imaging, the damage being done to Armenian cultural heritage sites. The project, which is in its early stages, documents the conditions of the monuments and may help hold perpetrators accountable in the future. She underscored the fact that UNESCO “shirks from calling out governments from which it depends for funding,” therefore there are “few tools for preventing state actors from damaging cultural heri- tage under their sovereign control or holding such actors accountable.” Khatchadourian noted that over 1,000 Armenian cultural heritage sites fall under Azerbaijani jurisdiction, distributed across former provinces in Nagorno-Karabakh, and ranging from Armenian monastic complexes to khatchkars (cross-stones), and fortresses, among other relics. “The threats to these sites are real,” she said. “Between 1997 and 2006, Azerbaijan sought to fully erase traces of Armenians, destroying thousands of khatchkars and tens of thousands of historic tombstones in unprecedented acts of destruction in Nakhichevan. Those grave threats loom once again.” Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) participates in an Artsakh Human Rights Professor Maranci, the Arthur H. Dadian and Ara Oztemel Professor of panel with Van Krikorian, Assembly Co-Chair, David L. Phillips, Director of and Architecture, as well as Department Chair of the History the Program on Peace-building and Rights at Columbia University’s Institute of Art and Architecture at Tufts University, has researched Armenian heritage for the Study of Human Rights and Artak Beglaryan, former Human Rights loss and destruction, which she remarked is not only “material” culture but Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh “gets to the very root of” Armenian spiritual culture. She cited the horrible consequences of war on heritage sites, such as the damage of the Ghaz- pion of human rights and provide tremendous humanitarian support to the anchetsots (Holy Savior) Cathedral in Shushi, while noting that far worse region, demand the return of POWs, and support Artsakh’s right to self-de- would be the “complete erasure of sites.” termination.” Panel moderator and Professor Rachel Goshgarian highlighted the impor- As Director of the Program on Peace-building and Human Rights at Co- tance of the Armenian American community becoming more aware of the lumbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights, David L. Phillips destruction of cultural heritage and engaging as grassroots advocates. prepared the Institute’s Artsakh Atrocities documentation page and said “it’s As President of International Christian Concern, a Washington, D.C.-based important to document and record the crimes against Armenians that oc- nonprofit that serves the persecuted church around the world, Jeff King stat- curred in plain sight and create a dossier for U.S. policymakers to hold the ed: perpetrators, including Azerbaijan, Turkey and the jihadist mercenaries, ac- “At ICC, based on what we have seen and covered, we take the position SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 11

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that recent conflict was a genocide against Armenian Christians due Regarding the November 9, 2020 trilateral statement, Ambas- to this messaging of Pan-Turkism against Armenia and Christianity sador Cavanaugh said it was “not a peace agreement” and de- as a whole, and the brutality employed by Azerbaijani forces against spite Aliyev’s use of force as a desired solution, the conflict re- soldiers and civilians alike,” said King. “The demolishing of Christian mains unresolved. heritage sites is just one example of the religious underpinnings ap- “Force will not solve the situation,” he continued. “There needs parent throughout this conflict.” to be a definitive discussion and agreement between the countries that includes support from people in the region on how this can be finalized, Artsakh Post-War and that includes status.” Referring to the September 27, 2020 war as a “surprise attack,” Dr. Rubin Assembly President Carolyn Mugar, Assembly Co-Chair Anthony Barsami- said that the commitments Azerbaijan made in order to secure the Section an and Assembly Board Member Annie Totah introduced the Republic of 907 waiver were “wholly violated.” Artsakh’s Foreign Minister David Babayan and His Excellency Ambassador “There are no mitigating factors here and the U.S. should make clear that Varuzhan Nersesyan, Armenia’s Ambassador to the U.S., where both diplo- it will stand by its own laws,” he continued, adding that sanctions should be mats shared their perspectives and provided a post-war overview, including humanitarian and rebuilding needs, as well as the urgent priority to ensure the release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians still detained by Azer- baijan in contravention of the Geneva Conventions, international humanitar- ian law, and the November 9, 2020 ceasefire statement signed by Armenia and Azerbaijan. Minister Babayan noted that “It’s important to now concentrate on human- itarian aspects,” and to “go forward step by step.” Ambassador Nersesyan thanked the Assembly and the community for their enormous humanitarian fundraising efforts during the war, which he said was a clear “symbolic act of unification.” Referencing the centuries-old “strength” of the Armenian people, Ambassador Nersesyan was confident that the “im- mense challenges will be overcome.” The Ambassador also indicated that Armenia welcomes mediation efforts by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs - the U.S., Russia and France - to “find a peaceful solution to the outstanding issue of the status of Artsakh.” Upon the conclusion of Minister Babayan and Ambassador Nersesyan’s remarks, a special “Artsakh Post-War” panel commenced, moderated by the Assembly’s Armenia Regional Director Arpi Vartanian, which featured the Re- American Armenian constituents participate in an advocacy meeting with public of Artsakh’s Deputy Foreign Minister Armine Aleksanyan, the Republic Congressman David Valadao (R-CA) of Artsakh’s U.S. Representative Robert Avetisyan, and The HALO Trust’s Development Manager Amasia Zargarian. imposed on Azerbaijan in the coming year as a consequence of its actions. Deputy Minister Aleksanyan shared her insights and echoed Ambassador “Azerbaijan needs to stop getting a free pass.” Nersesyan’s support for the OSCE Minsk Group to help find a peaceful and Dr. Rubin underscored Turkey’s expansionism, which has reached Libya, lasting settlement yet “not through force” as Azerbaijan attempted last Fall Cyprus, Syria, Iraq and Greece. “ when it launched a full-scale war against the Armenian people. Deputy Min- We see a pattern of aggression with the aim of ethnic cleansing,” said ister Aleksanyan also discussed issues of human rights, POWs and the rights Dr. Rubin. “Turkey should be held accountable as a reasonable, responsible of children who have been deprived of shelter, housing, and education as a NATO partner.” result of the war. Mr. Avetisyan reflected on the positive momentum in pre-war Artsakh and the post-war vision to restore economic opportunities, particularly among di- Virtual Meetings with Members of Congress asporans who want to invest in Artsakh. Mr. Avetisyan discussed the current Throughout the week virtual meetings took place with Members of Con- situation in the region and the vital steps that need to be taken to safeguard gress from across the country including, Arizona, California, Colorado, Con- the people of Artsakh. necticut, Florida, , Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, The HALO Trust Development Manager Amasia Zargarian focused on Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, making Artsakh communities safer post-war. Over the last two decades The , Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. These HALO Trust has diligently worked on the ground in Artsakh to clear almost timely meetings allowed constituents to advocate for the letter circulating by 500 minefields, while employing the local population. The organization’s ef- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Member Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to Pres- forts have increased exponentially since the war, despite cuts in funding by ident Joe Biden regarding affirmation of the Armenian Genocide as well as the previous U.S. administration. the resolution spearheaded by House Intelligence Committee Mr. Zargarian noted that mines and explosives used to be a larger rural Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA), along with the leadership of the Armenian problem in agricultural zones, but are now more of an “urban threat.” Caucus leadership, which urges Azerbaijan to immediately release all POWs and captured civilians. Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Prioritize Issues “The rich and diverse panels and productive virtual meetings with Mem- Facing Armenian People bers of Congress organized during the Assembly’s Virtual National Advocacy Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA) were featured during the Congres- sional Priorities and U.S. Policy Perspectives panel moderated by Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. “U.S. leadership lacked during the war,” said Rep. Pallone. “We empha- sized during the Trump Administration, and now we do so during the Biden Administration, that Armenia is one of the few democracies in the former Soviet Union and it should be protected.” Rep. Speier said Armenia has been “deeply scarred” by the former Admin- istration’s “willingness to be passive.” Rep. Pallone commented that Turkey’s aggression in Artsakh is “not an isolated incident” and cited examples of its involvement in Libya, Syria, and beyond. “They are not interested in agreements because they are creating a trans-Turkish empire and using war as a mechanism,” he said as he called for sanctions against Turkey, halting U.S. support of the country under Erdo- gan’s leadership, ending the waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, and securing a major aid package for Artsakh. (l-r) Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Assembly Executive Director Bryan “We need to find ways to create stronger ties,” said Rep. Speier, remarking Ardouny, Assembly President Carolyn Mugar, Assembly Co-Chair Anthony that Artsakh needs assistance with the critical components of security, hu- Barsamian and Assembly Board Member Annie Totah manitarian aid, release of POWs, and access to clean water. “The diaspora has to stay united with the people in Armenia and Artsakh,” Conference showcased the breadth of experience and knowledge from our concluded Pallone. “This is a rebuilding process and we have to look ahead.” dedicated elected representatives, academics, policy experts and communi- Contributing their perspectives and insights on U.S. policy, Ambassador ty members,” stated Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. “We appreciate the Carey Cavanaugh, a former OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair, and Dr. Michael time and efforts of our panelists as well as our State Chairs and grassroots Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute, participated in a panel moderated activists from across the country to make our voices heard.” by the Assembly’s Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan. Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Ambassador Cavanaugh stated that President Biden has been “strident Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding in reintroducing human rights as a fundamental tenet of American foreign and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c) policy.” (3) tax-exempt membership organization. 12 SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR Arts & Culture

Dr. Khatchig Mouradian Will Discuss Humanitarian Bilal Focuses Efforts in Ottoman Syria On Lullabies During Genocide FRESNO — Dr. Khatchig Moura- As Transmitters dian will speak on his new book, The Resistance Network: The Armenian Of Genocide Genocide and Humanitarianism in Ottoman Syria, 1915-1918, at 10 a.m. (Pacific time)/1 p.m. (Eastern Time) Trauma at BU on Saturday, March 27. The presenta- tion is part of the Spring 2021 Lecture Lecture Series of the Armenian Studies Pro- By Harry Kezelian gram and is supported by the Leon S. Mirror-Spectator Staff Peters Foundation. The Resistance Network is the his- LOS ANGELES / BOSTON — The tory of an underground network of Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies humanitarians, missionaries, and dip- at is hosting a vir- lomats in Ottoman Syria who helped tual lecture series titled, “Encounters save the lives of thousands during Whimsical toy by Kardash Onnig With Holocaust, Genocide, and Hu- the Armenian Genocide. Mouradian man Rights Studies.” Part of the goal challenges depictions of Armenians of the series is to highlight the Holo- as passive victims of violence and caust, Genocide, and Human Rights subjects of humanitarianism, demon- Studies minor concentration which strating the key role they played in has been offered at Boston University organizing a humanitarian resistance ‘The Whiskered Old since 2016. The first speaker in the se- against the destruction of their peo- ries on March 9 was the Istanbul-born ple. Piecing together hundreds of ac- Armenian anthropologist, Dr. Melissa counts, official documents and mis- Bilal (currently of UCLA). sionary records, he presents a social Toymaker of Baraka’ Program director of the Holocaust, history of genocide and resistance Genocide, and Human Rights studies in wartime and a network Kardash Onnig’s Latest Project minor, Prof. Nancy Harrowitz, wel- of transit and concentration camps comed the virtual audience which stretching from Bab to Ras ul-Ain By Arpi Sarafian STANDFORDVILLE, NY – While quintessential- tuned into Bilal’s lecture, entitled and Der Zor. He ultimately argues Special to the Mirror-Spectator ly “Kardash”ian in its focus on the effort to create “Voicing and Silencing the Memory that, despite the violent and system- an alternative world, COLLABORATION, the latest of Loss: Lullabies and Stories from atic mechanisms of control and de- in the series of Kardash Onnig’s ongoing Baraka Project, is also delightfully playful Armenian Women in Istanbul.” Dr. struction in the cities, concentration and colorful, attributes one does not typically associate with the artist’s work. The Sultan Doughan, a fellow scholar, camps, and massacre sites in this re- reproductions of the vividly colored pages of the children’s books — which Onnig, in introduced Bilal, an historical anthro- gion, the genocide of the Armenians collaboration with Vazo, an artist friend from France, salvaged from recycling bins, pologist who uses ethnomusicology whitewashed “blank” and gave to children to draw and color, to “in effect start a new as her lens. Bilal’s lecture “illustrated book” — put the spotlight on the children who, by the artist’s own admission, have the capacity of lullabies sung by Ar- become central to his creativity. menian women in Istanbul to produce The book gives the reader a wonderful feeling of lightheartedness. One turns its knowledge, functioning as a survival pages in anticipation of yet another pleasing image of the artwork of the children it strategy under the regime of denial celebrates, or of the toys, the making of which has taken centerstage in the artist’s following the 1915 Armenian Geno- creative endeavors. A yellow zebra with blue stripes, an orange dragon, a sparkling cide.” unicorn, a green sea turtle . . . all burst with color and ingenuity. Making toys is “re- Bilal discussed her interactions warding, fulfilling,” confesses Onnig. Indeed, “We The Children” give the artist hope with three women in Istanbul, all chil- for the future of mankind: “I have given up on grown-ups and instead concentrate on dren of Genocide survivors. In her helping children.” Onnig is eternally optimistic and has unwavering faith in his vision research, she stresses the connection of a more humane and compassionate world. between generations of women and The handsome little volume also features the artist’s latest creations. The photo- how daughters of female Genocide graphs of the “new finished work” Onnig has carved from a large beech chunk are survivors inherit their legacy through incredibly appealing. In- various ways, one of which is through information coded into music, song, Dr. Khatchig Mouradian terspersed throughout are the reflections of artists and lullabies. Therefore, she focus- of different backgrounds es on working with women who on their lifelong relation- are children of Genocide survivors, did not progress unhindered — un- ships with Onnig. The learning their stories and in particular armed resistance proved an important exchange between Onnig how they learned about the trauma of factor in saving countless lives. and Uli Boege, a friend the period from their mothers. One of Mouradian is a lecturer in Middle artist of German descent those ways is how a mother sings lul- Eastern, South Asian, and African with whom Onnig has labies to her children. Studies (MESAAS) at Columbia enjoyed 53 years of in- Bilal described meeting a woman University. He holds a PhD in Histo- tellectual collaboration, named Naze who was born in Sasun ry from the Strassler Center for Holo- is especially illuminating. to a family of survivors who managed caust and Genocide Studies at Clark The two pals’ extreme to stay on their native land. Naze University. positions on the women’s stressed that Sasun was historically In Fall 2016, Mouradian served movement, on Nietzsche’s Dionysian Vision of the World and on much more, invite Armenian territory referring to it as as the Henry S. Khanzadian Kazan the reader to explore her own views on these controversial issues. Also included are “Sasun Kavar, Hin Hayastan” [Dis- Visiting Professor at California State short narratives of “a quintessential moment,” a unique personal experience the artist trict of Sasun, Ancient Armenia]. University, Fresno. He is the author has asked visiting women to share “as part of an ongoing study to better understand the Naze sang a lullaby she had learned of articles on genocide, mass vio- concepts of spirit and soul.” from her mother Ruri, ruri, nsdim hed lence, and unarmed resistance, the With the Baraka Project, Onnig extends the concept of creativity into his collabora- orrotsin. This was a folk lullaby from co-editor of a forthcoming book in tors whose very willingness to contribute evidences the respect they have for a guy that the region that Bilal had not heard late Ottoman history, and the editor some dismiss as a “lunatic” with an unattainable vision of an “impossible” world. With before, in fact, probably very few of the peer-reviewed journal The Ar- his initiative, the artist aims to “connect people and experiences across the nation and people knew such songs. Modern Ar- menian Review. internationally.” “It is an honor to have been selected as a visiting artist-in-residency menian lullabies such as Kun Yeghir In 2021, Mouradian was appoint- at Baraka Center for 3-D Experimentation,” writes architect Nathan Williams whose Balas, Ari Im Sokhag and others pro- ed the Armenian and Georgian Area work explores the African diaspora process. “Baraka is a space for simultaneous living duced by nationalist male poets and Specialist in the African and Middle and giving, creating and sharing,” he adds. All value the guidance Onnig provides and composers have taken up much of the Eastern Division (Near East Section) all claim to “learn from Kardash Onnig.” ”Onnig is a master . . . I consider him a men- floor in the years since the Genocide. at the Library of Congress. tor, despite all his resistance to such titles,” writes Gregory MacAvoy, a sculptor from Bilal was fascinated by Naze’s sing- Zoom Registration Link: https:// Brooklyn, NY, in his musings “On the nature of collaboration.” ing. She argues that music and songs bit.ly/armenianstudiesmouradian see ONNIG, page 16 see LULLABIES, page 13 SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 13

ARTS & CULTURE Bilal Focuses on Lullabies as Transmitters of Genocide Trauma LULLABIES, from page 12 es that were still standing in perpetuate communal experiences; in Sivas when she was growing Naze’s case, the life of Armenians in Sasun up. A family member was and of course the massacres that took place claiming that the Turkish there. government was going to In 1923 the Treaty of Lausanne effec- let the Armenians open the tively recognized the modern Republic of church up again. Hripsime’s Turkey by the Western Powers. In the trea- father scorned this theory, ty three official minorities of the country saying “Do you really think were noted: Greeks, Armenians, and Jews. that they will ever give it All three have been suppressed to varying back?” Of course, they did degrees. The Suryani or Assyrians, i.e. not. The next morning the Aramaic-speaking Christians, are another family woke up to find the minority group in the country. They do not church destroyed. Hripsime have an official status, but have also suf- had a close relationship with fered suppression by the authorities. As for her father who showed her Armenians after the Genocide, they were various Armenian historical caught between a desire to give voice to locations. One of the mon- their memories and remain silent in order asteries outside of Sivas was to avoid repercussions. in a militarized zone. Hrip- As Bilal states “The affective [i.e. emo- sime’s father pointed out a tional] knowledge of building through the wire stands at the core of what we can conceptu- fence and told her it was the alize as ‘double consciousness.’” sanctuary of that monastery. This of course includes the trauma of the Hripsime, like the others, Genocide passed down as emotions, feel- learned many songs from ings that mothers relay to their daughters, her mother and grandmother oftentimes without giving precise details. and wanted to transmit them. The second woman Bilal spoke about Bilal played a recording of in her lecture was Yerchanig. Yerchanig’s her voice, which was proba- mother was a survivor from Kurtbelen. bly the most moving part of Because she survived the chart (massa- the entire lecture. Hripsime cre), Yerchanig refers to her mother as a sang in Turkish: “Chart-Digin” [Massacre Woman]. Yer- Sleep my little one, let me chanig’s mother, unlike some others, sing you a lullaby described many of the events that took Do not depress my sor- place in 1915 and afterwards. She told her rowful heart daughter that on the Monday after Vartavar You are left to me by the she was deported from Kurtbelen with oth- one who is gone er women. She lost all her loved ones and Sleep my little one, let me wanted to kill herself. Apparently Yerchan- sing you a lullaby Bilal found it too painful to continue and changed to a lullaby in the Arme- nian language dealing with The Gomidas Janigian Agntsi Oror motherly love. Armenians that were left work is unearthing women’s voices. She is she said of her subjects. She added that in Anatolia turned their ruined churches studying music memory through her oral “Some talk about the Genocide experience into sacred sites. They would visit these interviews of women, and the history of the but some don’t, but even when they don’t, sites and naturally without having to say Armenian feminist movement through the the language and dialect reminds that there much it was understood that these used written word. Bilal wishes to bring together was a community there, a language there to be Armenian churches and clearly hor- the written and the oral arguing that they that is lost today.” rible destruction and violence had taken are not mutually exclusive. Finally, Bilal added that in her work she place for them to be ruined and few Ar- The discourse on the Genocide has cen- deconstructs the genre identification of menians to be left; in other words, merely tered around war and Ottoman and Arme- “lullaby.” She disagrees with the traditional taking children to these sites implanted nian politics and women and their stories understanding of lullabies, which accord- the reality of the Genocide in their minds. have been sidelined, she said. Bilal noted ing to her comes from a patriarchal point Meanwhile, the Armenians born in Istan- that starting in 1879, Armenian feminists of view. Rather than being an impediment bul forbade their children to travel to their founded 50 girls’ schools in what is now to objectivity, Bilal views being a “na- native lands in the interior as they were Eastern and Southeastern Turkey. Some of tive ethnographer” (i.e. an anthropologist still considered dangerous. her subjects were born in the where studying the group from which she came), Bilal explained she aims to challenge these schools once existed; thus their sur- as important. It gives her methodological the conventional concept of a “minority” vivor mothers may have attended these openings that would be closed to others and Dr. Melissa Bilal group. As seen in her research, the stories schools. Moreover, Bilal thinks about the helps her bring in the native voice. and songs of the women all mark Istanbul possibilities and the losses the Genocide Bilal disagrees with many of the ap- as both “home” and a “place of displace- entailed; while the conventional story is the proaches traditionally taken in anthropolo- ig’s mother arrived in the provinces ment.” There is both loss and survival, loss of churches, male clergy, and male po- gy. She believes in methodology that aims of the Empire (probably present day Syria) and survival with tremendous losses. The ets and political leaders, Bilal stresses that to “decolonize.” Nineteenth century eth- because she stated that she served an Arab songs accumulate and shape a memory, had the Genocide not happened, the wom- nographers, who were mostly men, identi- family. Yerchanig’s mother said that others in everyday conversations or interviews en she interviews could have gone to these fied lullabies as simple songs that mothers were sent to Der Zor and that “there was to resist forgetting. These songs establish girls’ schools and possibly become writers, sing to their children. This understanding chart everywhere in Anatolia.” Eventually bridges between generations whose very teachers, and so on. denigrates women’s cultural and musi- Yerchanig’s mother came to Istanbul where existence is under the surveillance of the Bilal’s view of the generation she in- cal creations as simple and frivolous, and she met the man she was to marry. He ten- state. With such surveillance it is almost as terviews is that they are active gatekeep- downplays their importance in transmis- tatively asked her “about proposals.” Yer- if these women are talking in code. Com- ers of the unwritten culture, but also that sion of history and culture. Bilal states that chanig’s mother said the Arabs had made mon phrases in Turkish folk songs such as they took up the baton from their feminist the lullabies she has studied are a repertoire proposals but she had refused. However, “I cried day and night,” and “I am burning “older sisters” (or aunts) whose work was of culture and musical memory. They can there is no way to know what really hap- now,” take on a different meaning spoken destroyed in 1915. Bilal points out that not be political as well. How? Armenian lulla- pened, as survivor women often kept silent by an Armenian grandmother. As Bilal only is the Genocide the history of the Ar- bies are almost inherently political because about sexual violence. Yerchanig stated, says, the memory of the Genocide is very menian community but an enormous loss they are singing in the , “my mother was one history.” much alive and inflicting pain up to the for feminists in general, stressing that the which is discouraged by the Turkish state, The third woman discussed was Hrip- present. history of women in Turkey cannot be writ- and they were brought from a destroyed sime, born in Sivas in 1932. Her parents After Bilal’s lecture was finished, a Q&A ten without working through this past. homeland (like Naze’s Sasun Lullaby in were from the village of Tavra, outside session produced a number of interesting The research is emotional for Bilal at the first example). In addition there are lul- Sivas. Growing up, Hripsime heard from points. Prof. Roberta Micallef from BU’s times because she is dealing with the elder labies that directly or more often indirectly her elders that many of the people of Tav- Department of World Languages and Liter- women of her own community. “Some- reference the Genocide. ra were spared because they were millers ature served as moderator/respondent times it makes me hopeless about the fu- The Boston University series continues who could supply bread to the Ottoman One point Bilal touched on in the dis- ture, but sometimes they empower me,” through April 14. Army. Hripsime remembered the church- cussion was that an important part of her 14 SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

ARTS & CULTURE

a Conversation with ... David Arathoon Heir of Illuminators And the Artist

By Artsvi Bakhchinyan Special to the Mirror-Spectator YEREVAN/TORONTO — Artist David Arat- hoon was born in and lives in Canada. He has achieved national success with numerous solo and group exhibitions in many private and public galleries. His paintings are in numerous corporate and private collections in Canada, the US, Australia, and other countries. Some of the numerous showings that have re- cently been mounted by Aratoon’s studio were titled: “Lilac Time;” “Autumn’s Gold;” “Where the Wild Roses Grow;” “Sonnet for Spring;” “Lilies of the Field;” “Gather Ye Rose Buds;” “In An Ontario Autumn” by David Arathoon “Forever Autumn;” “Autumn’s Palanquin;” “The Floating World,” etc. His paintings are included in many homes and public locations. Some corporate collec- the founder of the successful and popular an- known name used both as a first and last name. tions include: Vintage Inns, Queen’s Landing nual fundraiser: “Message in a Bottle,” which Malcolm is an Anglicized surname, from Mal- Hotel Niagara on the Lake, Toronto’s Mar- has raised nearly $1 million for the terminally komian and is my maternal side, close family ket Gallery, Holiday Inn, Toronto, Movenpick ill Home Hospice Care Programs. What kind to Mirza Malkum Khan and his maternal ances- Restaurants, Board of , Humber College, of projects have you been involved with? tors of the Rousseau family, which was Swiss- Sunnybrook and Wellesley Hospitals, Canadian I have used my paintings to create prints for a French, but that is going back into the 17th cen- Tire Corporation, and Bell Canada. Arathoon number of charities, for palliative care, health, tury. The Arathoon cousins are from the Raffles is represented by several well known galleries, the arts and education. I have started another family. Other names in my family that were at including: Whitten Gallery, King City, Gallerie project that has raised in excess of $1 million Calcutta and or Rangoon are: Manuk, Lucas, Shayne, Montreal, The Russell Gallery, Peter- Canadian for a local AIDS, palliative and home Minas/Minos, Agabob, Seth. The latter is well borough, Harbour Gallery, Port Credit and Mc- hospice care. known as the family. Seth is a branch of the well Laren-Barnes, Oakville, Odon Wagner Gallery, known Apcar family of India. One cousin of my Toronto, Pegassus Gallery of Canadian Art and great-grandmother Mary Lucas born Calcutta Salt Spring Island B.C 1885 was the Armenian historian, Mesrovb Ja- cob Seth, author of Armenians in India. It is true David, nature and, particularly, flowers, my family were in Indonesia and Singapore as seem to be your biggest inspirations. No won- well and some cousins are still there. DNA test- der: you come from India, a country, that has ing has matched my family and myself up with various flower fests and festivals. several long lost branches. I mainly paint what I see and know. I do not live near palm trees, so I do not paint them. I And growing up in India you managed to choose the colors as that suit my palette, often receive an Armenian education. exaggerating them. I do not have to make any I attended the Davidian Armenian school in painting like a photograph because I have a Calcutta. David Avietic David born at New Jul- camera to take pictures if I need that kind of re- fa, Iran in 1858, was the founder and benefactor alism. My figure paintings are actually illustra- of Davidian Girls School, where junior aged Ar- tions, much like fairy tale picture books. Some menian boys and girls were sent for schooling, have been as large as 5 feet tall by 7 feet. I paint many would go to the Armenian College there them mostly by custom order. after. It was opened in 1922 and in the entrance hall, there was a bust portrait of the founder. He Canada seems to be a rather monochromic is buried in the Church grounds of the Armenian country, yet you manage to keep the colorful- Holy Church of Nazareth. ness of India. Canada is very large and wide and has four In 2010 you said you would like to travel to distinct seasons. Each region has its own natural Armenia. Have you done it or is it still pend- beauty and color schemes. The damp West Coast ing? is very different from the colder East Coast. My I have not yet made a trip to Armenia and wish favorite seasons to paint are spring and autumn. to do so when I can! When I travel to Armenia it In the spring soft colors emerge in the leaves will be in springtime. I can imagine the ancient and grasses, and there are blossoms on the trees. churches and temples will blend into the natu- In autumn, we get a vast range of colors in the ral beauty of the Landscape. Fruit trees will be changing leaves, combined with the evergreens, in pink and white blossoms, while poppies and it is spectacular to see and paint. The Aratoon family is very familiar to those other wild flowers, roll down hills and valleys interested in the history of the Armenians in in red and gold. I can imagine running moun- Your paintings with many human figures India and the Far East. In the 19th century tain streams beneath bright blue skies. Heavenly seems to be very “Western,” while your land- Agha Hacob Arathoon and his brother estab- turquoise blue skies which bring out the best in scapes and still-lifes are very “Oriental.” The lished the Manuck and Arathoon Armenian grapes and fruit that have been cultivated there colorfulness is very typical for most of the School, as well as an Armenian chapel in Dja- for millennia. Like the still-life compositions of artists of Armenian descent, even if they have karta, Indonesia. The Arathoon family was Armenian artist Hovsep Pushman, a favourite never been in Armenia. So how we could involved with the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. artist of mine, who worked later in America, I characterize you? An Armenian artist? An And in an interview you said that among your would be delighted to gather flowering branch- Indian? Or will just Canadian cover all? great-grandparents were also two illumina- es and fruit and old pottery vessels and rugs to I am an Armenian artist born in Calcutta, In- tors, the French Jean-Jacques Rousseau and paint. Also I would have an interest in the local dia, as were my parents and some of their ances- Persian-Armenian Mirza Malkum Khan. landscape and Armenian people wearing tradi- tors, who is now a Canadian citizen. Could you please provide us some details? tional clothing and jewelry. I would be happy to Charity work is a part of your life. You are Arathoon, spelled many ways, is a well paint these in Armenia. SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 15

ARTS & CULTURE

agement and catering. I was fortunate because I enjoyed these responsibilities and managed events without employing expensive caterers,” she says. Having travelled the world for over 35 years in the diplomatic corps, Linda refined her cooking and catering skills for diplomatic events and receptions. (Linda manages her own bro- Recipe kerage company, Oztrade Pacific, which handles frozen fruit, juices and purees from various countries into Australia/New Zealand, Europe and South America and Aus- tralian cheese into South America. by Christine “I began collecting recipes when I was at school. Some of the recipes in my large Vartanian collection have been in my family for generations, others were passed on by friends Corner and chefs around the world. Many have been adapted over the years to make them lighter or update their presentation. I’ve served them to royalty, PMs and other VIPs, and there have been no complaints.” Linda’s Spicy Eggplant and Tomato Soup recipe was first published in 2013 at: www.cafecat.com.au. “This is a very satisfying soup. I created it when a friend was coming for lunch, and I had one lonely eggplant sitting in the fridge. I stuck the egg- plant in the oven and let it cook for a while. The final mixing and reheating takes less than 10 minutes, and it’s that easy,” she says. “While the subtle flavor of the eggplant is overpowered by the tomato, it does pro- vide a nice texture,” Linda says. “The peanut butter, garlic and red chili add an Asian touch to the flavor combination. I’ve made this recipe with crunchy and smooth peanut butter, and while they’re both nice, I prefer the creamier result you get with the smooth variety.”

INGREDIENTS: 1 large eggplant 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 500g jar tomato sauce for pasta or marinara sauce (about 4 cups) 1 jar of water (and maybe a bit more) 1 teaspoon sugar 1 chicken or vegetable stock cube 3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter Café Cat’s Spicy Eggplant 1 small red chili, seeded and chopped Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

And Tomato Soup TO SERVE: Sour cream or Greek yogurt English-born Linda Peek has cooked for rock stars, dignitaries, and royalty in her Fresh chopped coriander or parsley role as a diplomat’s wife and is now sharing her stories and recipes at her amazing Fresh pita bread or crusty French or sourdough bread, or toast Canberra, Australia food blog. There aren’t many food bloggers who can list PREPARATION: “Diplomat’s Spouse” as a former career, but for Preheat oven to 350°F. Pierce eggplant a couple of times with a knife, so it doesn’t Linda it was a natural progression from one ex- explode in the oven. Place in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until it feels soft when perience to the other. She lived in Geneva, Swit- you squeeze it. Halve eggplant and scrape out the flesh into a food processor, dis- zerland until she met her husband Matthew, a carding skin. member of the Australian Diplomatic Service. Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth. Pour into a saucepan and “We’ve been privileged to live on five continents heat to boiling point. Check seasoning and add more water, if necessary, to make the with postings to Tel Aviv, Kuala Lumpur, Pretoria, desired consistency. (This will depend on the size of the eggplant.) Santiago, Paris and Copenhagen, with home post- Ladle soup into bowls and top with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt and chopped ings to Canberra in between. That’s fairly unusual. coriander or parsley. Serve with warm pita bread, French or sourdough bread, or toast. Diplomats who learn a difficult language like Arabic, Chinese or Japanese, tend to Serves 4. get posted back to countries where they can use those hard-earned skills,” she adds. “The most important duty of an ambassador’s spouse is entertaining, event man- Photos and recipe courtesy of Linda Peek at cafecat.com.au

Assembly Panel Conveys Urgency of Protecting Armenian Sites Under Azeri Control WASHINGTON — The second panel dialogue with political leaders and inter- unprecedented acts of destruction in Na- King, in his written statement, focused on of the Armenian Assembly of America’s national cultural organizations, are key to khichevan. Those grave threats loom once the unprovoked attacks on Armenians by its Virtual National Advocacy Conference and helping find a resolution to the Armenian again.” neighboring countries, Azerbaijan and Tur- Advocacy Week, on March 8, focused on cultural heritage sites in peril. Satellite imaging has proven to be an “ef- key, who invaded Nagorno-Karabakh “as a “Preserving Armenian Culture and Heri- Khatchadourian, an archaeologist who fective tool” to monitor cultural heritage promotion of Pan-Turkism.” tage,” a timely discussion as thousands of teaches at Cornell’s Department of Near at risk, according to Khatchadourian, who “At ICC, based on what we have seen Armenian religious and cultural heritage Eastern Studies, launched the Cauca- cited countries such as Syria, , Iraq, and covered, we take the position that re- sites are currently at risk of being expropri- sus Heritage Watch to monitor, through , Yemen and China, which have cent conflict was a genocide against- Ar ated and erased by Azerbaijan, especially in high-resolution satellite imaging, the dam- implemented this method of using geospa- menian Christians due to this messaging of and around Nagorno-Karabakh. age being done to Armenian cultural heri- tial technologies. Pan-Turkism against Armenia and Christi- Panelists included Archbishop Hovnan tage sites. The project, which is in its ear- Maranci, the Arthur H. Dadian and Ara anity as a whole, and the brutality employed Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese ly stages, documents the conditions of the Oztemel Professor of Armenian Art and Ar- by Azerbaijani forces against soldiers and of the Armenian Church of North America, monuments and may help hold perpetrators chitecture, as well as Department Chair of the civilians alike,” said King. “The demol- Prof. Lori Khatchadourian of Cornell Uni- accountable in the future. History of Art and Architecture at Tufts Uni- ishing of Christian heritage sites is just one versity, and Prof. Christina Maranci of Tufts She underscored that UNESCO “shirks versity, has researched Armenian heritage example of the religious underpinnings ap- University, while Jeff King, the president of from calling out governments from which loss and destruction, which she remarked is parent throughout this conflict.” International Christian Concern, provided a it depends for funding,” therefore there are not only “material” culture but “gets to the A thought-provoking question and answer written statement. Prof. Rachel Goshgarian “few tools for preventing state actors from very root of” Armenian spiritual culture. session followed the presentations, during of Lafayette College served as moderator. damaging cultural heritage under their sov- She cited the horrible consequences of which the panelists elaborated on civil so- Emphasizing the importance of cultur- ereign control or holding such actors ac- war on heritage sites, such as the damage of ciety building, the impact that preserving al heritage, Derderian noted that “culture countable.” the Ghazanchetsots (Holy Savior) Cathedral Armenian cultural heritage can have on the is born with a nation” and by learning the Khatchadourian noted that over 1,000 in Shushi, while noting that far worse would world, and the potential of using satellite culture and heritage of the Armenian nation, Armenian cultural heritage sites fall under be the “complete erasure of sites.” imagery as a forensic resource to hold per- “we see the layers of our history and aspi- Azerbaijani jurisdiction, distributed across Preserving cultural heritage, Maranci not- petrators accountable and influence policy. rations of our ancestors, which have left a former provinces in Nagorno-Karabakh, ed, brings together historians and archaeol- “On behalf of the Armenian Assembly, notable impact.” and ranging from Armenian monastic com- ogists who can use applicable tools and re- I would like to thank our distinguished He noted that culture and heritage are the plexes to khatchkars (cross-stones), ceme- sources to address the problems of cultural panelists for their informative and insight- “bridges” between the past and the future teries and fortresses, among other relics. destruction in Nagorno-Karabakh. ful remarks, as well as the important work of nations, and that the creative life of the “The threats to these sites are real,” she Panel moderator Goshgarian highlighted ahead to ensure that these treasured cultur- homeland is reflected in the unique Arme- said. “Between 1997 and 2006, Azerbaijan the importance of the Armenian-American al sites referenced are protected as well as nian cultural heritage. sought to fully erase traces of Armenians, community becoming more aware of the de- safeguarded against further expropriation,” Derderian stated that critical academic destroying thousands of khatchkars and struction of cultural heritage and engaging stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan findings and studies, as well as the ongoing tens of thousands of historic tombstones in as grassroots advocates. Ardouny. 16 SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 THE ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

ARTS & CULTURE ‘The Whiskered Old Toymaker of Baraka’ ONNIG, from page 12 sion, where he was “the recipient of the it. The concept of Voki, scorn,” “Onnig is a serious man, worthy of the “experiencing of a Three-Dimensional Vision his point of view,” notes MacAvoy. transference: two oth- Onnig’s confidence in the possibility of A glance at the cover reveals that the ers in collaboration,” making his vision of a three-dimensional book has a title but no author. “The follow- (a concept I am yet to world a reality is more rooted and anchored ing stories explore collaboration as an an- fully internalize) is than ever. His has become a most appealing tidote to our egocentric mono-ism,” writes Onnig’s. The spirit to By Christopher Atamian assertiveness which, rather than offend and Onnig. Collaboration implies equal partic- include, to share and Special to the Mirror-Spectator turn off, reassures and inspires. The artist ipation. Indeed, all of the artists, including to give, give, give is communicates his insights with an unusu- the children the “whiskered toymaker” has Onnig’s. While others al calm. He also displays a “genuine and great respect for, emerge as significant con- have died “giving,” to give, for Onnig, is life. More than with any of his numerous other projects, COLLABO- RATION is as much about the man behind the art as it is about the art itself. Excitement is con- tagious and COLLAB- ORATION has excite- ment written all over it. Indeed, the book is so entertaining that one loses sight of the seriousness and the urgency of the artist’s appeal to “redream this world.” The reader is equally oblivious of the Sculpture is by Greg MacAvoy ambition and the hard work that went into re- alizing the project. COLLABORATION COLLABORATION is a great fina- affectionate interest” in his interlocutor. tributors to the seventy-three page volume. is a labor of love, but it is also hard labor. le, both in terms of summing up a de- Onnig listens mindfully, empathizes, and All items for Baraka’s Pushcart Derby, Bringing the collaborators together to cre- cades-long career and also of leaving with when possible, offers generous advice. for example, which included a traveling ate an impeccably put together whole is a a Bang! Fortunately however, as always Some of us may have witnessed the artist’s portrait workshop, were collaboratively feat in itself. with Onnig, the exit is also a new entrance. lashes and rages. These are never personal designed and hand-made. Paradoxically, attacks, however. They are expressions of however, the book which Onnig describes the frustration the artist feels over the fact as “working toward the fulfillment of the that “the world looks away as blood is shed desire to reach out to an other” has On- unjustly.” Commenting on one such explo- nig’s unmistakable signature stamped on CALENDAR ON-LINE EVENTS & PROGRAMS MASSACHUSETTS

MARCH 24 – Wednesday at 10am Celebrating What Unites Us! A virtual cook- ing series, a collaboration of City of Boston Age-Friendly Boston, OLDWAYS and Friends of Armenian Heritage Park to keep us connected, coming together. To register, email [email protected] Seafood! Executive Chef Kathy Sidell Owner, Sidell Hospitality, Saltie Girl, Met Back Bay, Stephanie’s on New- bury APRIL 7 — CELEBRATING ART, SCIENCE, SERVICE & COMMERCE: LEADER- SHIP, SHARING EXPERIENCES. Wednesday at 5 pm. A public program in a series to celebrate contributions to our life and culture in Art, Science, Service and Commerce, the words etched around the Labyrinth’s Circle This virtual pro- gram features influencers - each leading by extraordinary example – who will speak about their experiences and commitment to social good and making a difference. Ann Zacarian will offer the Welcome, Chief Marty Martinez, City of Boston Office of Health and Human Services, Greetings. Cindy Fitzgibbon, WCVB TV, is Host. Participants include Edward Casabian, investor, early Uber employee; Julia Grove, Picture Editor, “This is Us,” NBC series; Avak Kahvejian, PhD, General Partner, Flagship Pioneering; Councilor Julia Mejia, Boston City Council; Berj Najarian, Director of Football & Head Coach Administration, New England Patriots; and Tracey Zhen, President, Zipcar. For the link to register, please visit ArmenianHeritagePark.org/Events RHODE ISLAND MARCH-APRIL — The Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church of Providence holds a series of events every Friday at 7.30 p.m. To watch the programs, go to: https://www.facebook.com/armenianchurchprovidence March 26 – “The Birth of Sassuntsi David” Oratorio by Garbis Aprikian. From the large amphitheater of the Sorbonne, France April 9 – “Sayat-Nova” State Minstrel Song Ensemble, Armenia April 16 – “Cultural Genocide” - Film Presentation in English April 23 – Memorial Concert, dedicated to Armenian Genocide April 30 – “Armenia, The Land of Noah”- Film Presentation in English Recycled Children’s Book Repainted SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 17

COMMENTARY THE ARMENIAN Mirror Editorial SPECTATOR Since 1932 Russia and Turkey Celebrate Centennial of Moscow Treaty Sealed with Armenian Blood While Armenia is grieving over the loss The Moscow Treaty repudiated all previous treaties signed of the 44-day war against Azerbaijan, Rus- before which had been unfavorable to Turkey. That under- An ADL Publication sia and Turkey are celebrating another pain- standing, by extension, nullified the Treaty of Sevres of August ful anniversary — the Treaty of Moscow of 10, 1920. The latter treaty, signed but not ratified two years The First 1921 — which formalized the border be- after the end of , recognized the independent Re- in the tween Armenia and Turkey, sealing the fate public of Armenia and held the former re- of historic Armenia. sponsible for and obligated to pay reparations for the Armenian United States By Edmond Y. Azadian The recent centennial celebration of the Genocide. Treaty of Moscow, signed on March 16, With these two new treaties, Russia ceded the regions of EDITOR 1921, began in the Turkish Parliament on March 15, with the Kars and Ardahan to Turkey. What is more painful is that the Alin K. Gregorian participation of the Russian ambassador to Ankara, Alexei region of Surmalu, where Mt. Ararat is, was also given to Tur- MANAGING EDITOR Yerkhov. The speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Mustafa Sen- key, along with the ruins of the medieval capital of Ani. Batumi Aram Arkun top, stated that “Russia is not only our neighbor, but also our was also given to Georgia — actually to Ajaria — under condi- friend and cooperation partner, on the way to the future.” tions favorable to Turkey. ART DIRECTOR Russia returned the compliment by congratulating Turkey on The Armenian region of Nakhichevan, still with a sizeable Mark (Mgrditchian) McKertich the two countries’ century of diplomatic ties, adding, “Today Armenian population, became the Autonomous Republic of the [bilateral relations] are experiencing a rise, steadily moving Nakhichevan, under the protectorate of Soviet Azerbaijan, on SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST to the level of strategic partnership in a number of areas and condition that Azerbaijan could not transfer the region to a Edmond Y. Azadian serve as an important factor in strengthening regional stability third party, meaning Armenia. Turkey and Russia became the STAFF WRITER and security.” guarantors of these arrangements. Harry Kezelian III The celebration and congratulatory messages were occa- After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan absorbed sioned on the centennial anniversary of the Treaty of Moscow the Nakhichevan exclave as part of its sovereign territory, in CONTRIBUTORS breach of inter- Christopher Atamian, Florence Avakian, national law. All the Taleen Babayan, Artsvi Bakhchinyan, countries and Raffi Bedrosyan, Christine Vartanian international or- Datian, Dr. Arshavir Gundjian, Philippe ganizations which Raffi Kalfayan, Ken Martin, Gerald recognize Nakh- Papasian, Harut Sassounian, Hagop ichevan as part of Vartivarian Azerbaijan have REGIONAL been contributing to the perpetuation of a CORRESPONDENTS compromise of LOS ANGELES: Ani Duzdabanyan- international law. Manoukian, Kevork Keushkerian, In signing the Michelle Mkhlian Treaty of Friendship YEREVAN: Raffi Elliott and Brotherhood, BERLIN: Muriel Mirak-Weissbach Mustafa Kemal PARIS: Jean Eckian duped Russian SAN FRANCISCO: Kim Bardakian leader Lenin and his CAIRO: Maydaa Nadar Bolshevik government, by PHOTOGRAPHERS pretending that his Jirair Hovsepian, Ken Martin Milli (National)

VIDEO CORRESPONDENT movement would Haykaram Nahapetyan lead Turkey to a system of pro- letarian rule. The The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is treaties opened the published weekly, except two weeks in floodgate of Rus- July and the first week of the year, by: sian support for Association, Inc. Turkey. Food, mon- 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA ey and tremendous 02472-1509 of 1921, which was later finalized in Kars on October 13, 1921. amounts of armaments were donated to the Kemalist forces, to Telephone: 617-924-4420 Russian and Turkish relations have historically improved at empower their war of liberation,” directed against the Arme- FAX: 617-924-2887 Armenia’s expense. The Treaty of Moscow finalized the cur- nians and Greeks. www.mirrorspectator.com rent border between Armenia and Turkey, without Armenia’s Soviet Marshal Kliment Voroshilov, who later became pres- E-Mail: [email protected] participation. Later on, when Soviet rule was firmly installed ident of the Presidium of the Soviet Union, served as a mil- For advertising: [email protected] in Armenia, the central government forced Armenia to sign the itary advisor to Kemal. Also participating in Ataturk’s war Kars Treaty. of national liberation were Red Army commanders Mikhail As if international intrigues were not enough to disenfran- Frunze and Semyon Aralov, which resulted in the expulsion of SUBSCRIPTION RATES chise the fledgling Republic of Armenia in its external rela- 150,000 Armenians from and the defeat of Greek forces U.S.A. $80 one year tions, a domestic uprising in Yerevan denied Armenia its par- in Smyrna, who were driven to the sea, as well as the burning Canada $125 one year ticipation in the negotiations leading to the conclusion of the down of that city. Other Countries $200 one year Treaty of Moscow. These political developments took place when two emerging Soviet rule was established in Armenia on December 2, 1920 powers were seeking international legitimacy, as neither was © 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator and the new government had dispatched its delegation to par- recognized as a sovereign country. Thus, both treaties are on Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, ticipate in Moscow negotiations. While the delegation was on shaky ground as far as international law is concerned. MA and additional mailing offices. its way, an uprising took place by the Armenian Revolutionary When Mustafa Kemal signed the Treaty of Moscow, he was Federation (Dashnaktstutyun) Party on February 18, 1921, and the head of the Grand National Assembly in Ankara, in a way a ISSN 0004-234X for almost a month and a half, the Salvation Committee head- kind of opposition party to the government in Istanbul, headed ed by the last prime minister of independent Armenia, Simon by Sultan Mehmet VI, who was the only authorized party at the Vratsian, took the helm of the government and wired Moscow time to sign an international treaty on behalf of Turkey. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Armenian that the delegation did not represent the revolutionary govern- Lenin soon saw through Ataturk’s ruse, when Mahmut Soy- Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount ment. dan wrote in the Kemalist newspaper Hakimiyet-i-Milliya (Na- Auburn St., In the meantime, it appealed to the Sublime Port of Turkey tional Sovereignty, April 25, 1921): “Those who believe that Watertown, MA 02472 for help. Of course, the Turks did not lend any help and left friendship between Russia and Turkey necessarily means the the Armenians to slaughter each other. The civil strife cost an adoption of the Bolshevik system have a poor understating of Other than the Editorial, views additional 20,000 lives before the Soviet regime was installed political affairs.” and opinions expressed in this in Yerevan. Thus, the Soviet Russians and the Turks gave a Thus, Ataturk thumbed his nose at Lenin. newspaper do not necessarily raw deal to the Armenian side, in its absence, by signing the Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin is also under the reflect the policies of the Moscow Treaty. see TREATY, page 19 publisher. 18 SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

COMMENTARY

Azerbaijan’s legal claims on Karabagh, Armenian diplomacy systematically rejected any reference to territorial integrity and sovereignty in the international fora, instead of challenging the Soviet-era maps and rejecting Karabagh’s status as part of the in- Revisiting Culture, ternationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan. But this factor falls out of the scope of this article.) What is evident among the soldiers is emotional patriotism crossing the line into operational patriotism when it comes to the physical defense of the fatherland. Such crossovers are rare among the general population. They occur in face of an external Education and threat, but not as a matter of course. They almost never occur within the general gov- ernment bureaucracy. If there is no threat to the Fatherland, strengthening the state apparatus, in and of itself, does not inspire or motivate the average citizen. In the past 30 years, the state apparatus has, more often than not, been a tool for personal Statehood gain rather than a supreme national end, a syndrome largely inherited from traditions formed in the Soviet era but rooted in the absence of a culture and tradition of sover- By Vahan Zanoyan eign statehood. The distinction between emotional and operational patriotism is neither simple nor N NOVEMBER 2019, when a bitter political controversy about education and absolute. One of the paradoxes that I have struggled with over the past three decades is culture was brewing in Yerevan, I published an article, in Armenian, entitled to observe a fundamentally patriotic population in Armenia who nonetheless does not “Culture, Education, Statehood, Citizenship.” That was ten months before the hesitate to migrate at the first opportunity, who constantly reelects the same Oligarchs outbreak of the Artsakh war, andmore than a year before its devastating end. Ar- even while complaining about their corruption and nepotism, who does not hesitate to menia was a different place then, and, in spite of the acrimonious debate that had accept and offer bribes, and who uses as many of the loopholes in the system as he can, I knowing very well that those loopholes are weakening the country that he loves. This erupted around the “Super Ministry” of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, the country was a much happier place than today. Today, as the nation struggles to come seemingly contradictory behavior can be explained, at least in part, by the relatively to grips with the catastrophic defeat, discussing matters of culture and education seems insignificant role that the notion of statehood plays in emotional patriotism. like a frivolous luxury. The lack of a sovereign-state tradition runs deep. It is one of the root causes of But the topic is even more relevant now than it was back then. One of the points of Armenia’s weakness today. Capitulation to a stronger military force comes naturally that article was that despite our otherwise very rich cultural heritage, fate has deprived to those who are a product of this culture. Rather than seeing sovereignty as the foun- the Armenian nation of a culture of statehood. Which means, we have not had the dation of national security, they see it as an impediment to national security, because opportunity to develop a tradition of sovereignty, citizenship, governance, security, sovereignty implies true independence with all the responsibilities that come with it, operational patriotism (versus emotional patriotism, of which we have plenty). Arme- which is an alien and frightening concept for them, and which precludes the explicit nians have been citizens of many countries, but only very briefly citizens of Armenia. protection of a larger power. In the past 646 years, there’s been an independent and sovereign Armenian state for This mindset has popped its ugly head again in Armenia today, most notably through only 32 years, divided between the first and third republics; and another 71 years of those who favor a unification with Russia and those who claim that Artsakh “was nev- non-sovereign statehood, during the second republic, when the Armenian Soviet So- er ours.” That is the extreme manifestation of the mindset, but there are many shades cialist Republic was part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The rest of it, all characterized by a lack of faith in our own statehood. of the time, even non-diaspora Armenians lived as subjects of various foreign empires The culture of statehood has two distinct but interrelated sides: The conceptual/ — Russian, Ottoman, Persian. ideological side, whereby the importance of statehood manifests itself in the notion The problem, and the point of this argument, is that as subjects of foreign empires, of self-governance and independence; and the governance side, the more practical a significant portion of the Armenian population has been conditioned to accommo- aspects of running the state apparatus and governance. i.e., forming an effective gov- date the ruling authority in order to survive; it ernment. One without the other is not only useless, but also dangerous. In Armenia, we has learned to “trade” independence and sover- have had one or the other in various periods eignty for economic and physical survival; be- since independence, but rarely both together. yond that, Armenians have managed to salvage “What is evident among the It pains me to mention that what is going on an important cultural heritage. But, as a nation, in Armenia at present is further proof (and a we have not had the opportunity to focus on our soldiers is emotional patriotism consequence) of the lack of a culture of sover- own military security or state sovereignty. This eign statehood. The quality of the political dis- was equally true for Armenian subjects of the Ot- crossing the line into operational course, exemplified by an abundance of neg- toman Empire, the Russian Empire, and for citi- patriotism when it comes to the atives with relatively few constructive ideas zens of the Soviet Union, even though, as part of being aired (which get ignored), the alarming the Soviet Union, Armenia was not just an ethnic physical defense of the fatherland. absence of accountability after the largest na- community within an empire, but a separate re- tional losses of lives, territory and geopolitical public, with distinct borders, a local government Such crossovers are rare among position of the country since Independence, and governmental institutions, and with a strong the general population.” the persistent arrogance of a defeated and bla- nationalistic culture and considerable autonomy tantly incompetent administration, the refusal when it came to preserving its cultural identity of the opposition groups to accept their share and practicing local governance. The economic, of the responsibility for the complacency, neg- scientific and cultural achievements of the Armenian population were remarkable in ligence and mistakes of the past thirty years which haunt the country until today, the this period, often in spite of the oppressive hand of the central authorities of the USSR. total disregard for the public’s right to know the details of what went wrong in the war, But the Armenian SSR was not a sovereign state; it could not conduct its own foreign the failure of the National Assembly to put the national interest and the constitution policy distinct from that of the USSR, nor could it maintain a national army dedicated above all other affiliations, the destructive conflict between the prime minister and the strictly to the defense of its own borders. top leadership of the armed forces, the utter indifference of the entire political elite It is largely because of surviving without a sovereign nation state that Armenians and the intellectual class to the destructive divisions in the country, are testimony that have developed considerable “emotional patriotism.” Emotional patriotism flourishes saving the sovereignty of Armenia is, at best, only secondary in the minds of both the with an idealized version of a lost or subjugated fatherland, and relates intimately to politicians and the public. culture, language and faith, which sustain it. Operational patriotism, on the other hand, A major, nation-wide paradigm shift is required to alter this psyche. But that will is tied to an existing sovereign state. The reality of an independent Armenian state is take time. We cannot afford to wait. It will also require a critical catalyst. Which at harsher than the idealized nostalgic fatherland, and, as importantly, comes with an present we do not have. enormous responsibility; consequently, it has not been easy for emotional and opera- In the short-term, until a process of nation-wide change is set in motion, the damage tional patriotism to overlap. control has to come from a well overdue new generation of leadership. This would be a A notable exception are the fighting soldiers and volunteers of the Armenian defense group with an understanding and vision of statehood and provide the Armenian public forces, for whom fighting to defend the “fatherland” is a sacred mission, regardless of with a much needed third political alternative. Obviously, such a group will not have the “state” that sent them to war. Talking to dozens of military conscripts and officers experienced the tradition of statehood firsthand and will suffer from the same lack of since 2016, as well as family members of martyred soldiers and volunteers, I came out experience in that sphere as the past political leadership. So, it needs to be a gener- with an overwhelming confirmation that their sense of duty was to fight for the father- ation that has learned the most relevant lessons from our own history, as well as the land (Հայրենիք) and not necessarily for the prevailing government. Few parents, if history of other nations who have overcome similar handicaps. It needs to intrinsically any, would want their son to die defending the ruling elite, or the government, or even understand the significance of nurturing a sovereign Armenian state. It needs to have the abstract notion of Armenian Statehood. But most parents, and the soldiers them- unquestioned operational loyalty to the state, irrespective of political/party affiliation, selves, would sacrifice their lives defending what they call their “ .” and be fully and solely dedicated to the vision of a strong Armenian state; it needs to What’s the difference? International law defines a sovereign state as a political enti- be composed of professionals, meritocrats, solution oriented creative thinkers, who ty that has a permanent population, defined territory, one government and sovereignty, can think outside the box; it needs to be a group of individuals who have managed i.e., the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. The concept of a their egos, and are not after personal gain, power or fame; it needs to be a passionately “Hairenik,” on the other hand, needs only a cultural heritage, a population and a ter- nationalistic and at the same time a worldly group, incorruptible, mission oriented and ritory. The ideas of “government” and especially “sovereignty” have not always been ruthless in the pursuit of its mission. part of the understanding of “Hairenik,” and only marginally motivate the soldiers Do enough people with these qualifications exist in Armenia and the diaspora? I who would sacrifice their lives for it. Similarly, it was the notion of Hairenik that believe they do. The real challenge is that they come together, develop an articulate drove the people of Armenia to campaign for the unification of Artsakh with Armenia a coherent agenda, secure buy-in from the public, and set an entirely new standard of during Soviet times, when neither Armenia nor Artsakh had sovereign status. The So- governance and strategic thinking in Armenia. This needs to be done now. A group like viet Union could not extinguish the patriotism of Armenians, even often with the use this will not only manage the short-term damage control, but also act as the catalyst for of very brutal methods. That too was patriotism directed at a Hairenik, regardless of the longer-term change in the national mindset. whether it was sovereign or not. As for the more fundamental long-term solution, it starts with the education system. (Ironically, concern with the status of Artsakh has been an unintended contribut- Even after independence, the education establishment in Armenia did not recognize, ing factor that diluted the significance of sovereignty among Armenians. To counter continued on next page SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 19

COMMENTARY

My Turn shipped by Azerbaijan to the headquarters of Congo’s elite Republican Guard. This Azerbaijan Sold 500 Tons of was the latest of at least 17 such shipments since 2015. In total, over 500 tons of weapons, including hand grenades, mortar systems, and millions of bullets were Weapons To the Repressive sent by Azerbaijan to Congo, according to OCCRP. Opposition forces have claimed that these weapons are to be used by the President Regime of Congo of Congo to maintain his rule by force in the March 21 presidential election. He by Harut Sassounian This is the surprising story of Azerbaijan, a country that recently had the constitution changed so he could be president for life! buys weapons from others for its own needs, selling tens of How can a financially bankrupt country like Congo afford to buy such a large millions of dollars of weapons to a Central African country. quantity of weapons? By funding two of the weapons shipments, The article, titled “Congo-Brazzaville Strongman Buys Secret Weapons Haul wanted to extend its political influence over Congo. from Azerbaijan,” was published by OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Re- The most recent shipment of weapons from Azerbaijan to Congo on January 2020 porting Project) on February 22, 2021. It was written by Khadija Sharife and Mark included 775 mortar shells and over 400 cases of rockets. They were transported Anderson. Congo-Brazzaville is another name for the Republic of Congo. from Baku to Turkey by a Bulgarian company and then loaded onto the ship MV Here is the OCCRP’s summary of the key findings of the article: Storm at Derince, a port managed by the Turkish government. An inside source “Since 2015, Congo-Brazzaville has bought a huge weapons stockpile from Azer- confirmed that Congo bought the weapons at discount prices. baijan, with over 500 tons of weapons delivered to the country in multiple ship- The Congolese government used the weapons from Azerbaijan against the oppo- ments. sition in a scorched earth strategy, according to the leader of a political party in Con- In January 2020, more than 100 tons of weaponry was sent from Azerbaijan to go. Given the regime’s brutal human rights record, no European country would sell Congo-Brazzaville’s Republican Guard, including 775 mortar shells and over 400 weapons to Congo. In the 2016 presidential election, the United States criticized the cases of rockets designed to be launched out of trucks. government of Congo for “widespread irregularities and the arrests of opposition Opposition figures claim that previous shipments of weapons from Azerbaijan supporters.” The presidential election this month is expected to be just as corrupt as were used to fuel a brutal post-election offensive in 2016 that led to a humanitarian the previous ones. “The government is carrying out a pre-election campaign of in- crisis. timidation, harassment and arbitrary detention against its political opponents,” said Saudi Arabia was listed as a ‘sponsoring party’ in at least two arms consignments a representative of Amnesty International. sent in 2016 and 2017, around the same time Congo-Brazzaville’s admittance to The OCCRP reported that “the first shipments of arms arrived in Brazzaville on OPEC [Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries] was being negotiated.” Azerbaijani Air Force planes, but starting in 2017 a private [Azeri] carrier, Silk Way According to OCCRP, “in January 2020, at the Turkish port of Derince on the Airlines, began flying the weapons instead. …Silk Way is registered in the British eastern shores of the Sea of Marmara, a huge cache of weapons was loaded onto the Virgin Islands, a tax haven, and was previously linked to the Aliyev family. As well MV Storm. Registered in the tax haven of Vanuatu, the ship set sail with an arsenal as previously winning lucrative contracts with the U.S. government to move ammu- of mortar shells, multiple launch rockets, and explosives, en route from Azerbaijan nition and other non-lethal materials, Silk Way was found, in leaked correspondence to the Republic of the Congo, betterINTERNATIONAL known as Congo-Brazzaville.” NEWS reported by Bulgarian newspaper Trud, to have used flights with diplomatic clear- The above summary raises several serious questions: Why was Azerbaijan ship- ance to secretly move hundreds of tons of weapons around the world, including to ping weapons to the Republic of Congo, when Baku itself needed weapons? Is it global conflict zones, between 2014 and 2017.” Azerbaijan or Turkey the real source of the weapons shipped to Congo? Why did The opposition in Congo is concerned that the weapons from Azerbaijan will in- Saudi Arabia sponsor two of the weapon shipments in 2016 and 2017, meaning that crease the prospect of violence around the elections. “We are worried that the weap- the Saudi government paid for the weapons? Why were the dictators of Azerbaijan ons that Sassou-Nguesso’s regime bought from Azerbaijan could be used to crack and Turkey trying to support President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, the dictator of the down on the opposition during the upcoming election,” said an opposition leader. Republic of Congo, who has been in power ever since 1997? What did Azerbaijan The United Nations should launch an investigation into these secret weapons or Turkey get in return for the arms shipments? sales from Azerbaijan to the dictator of Congo to oppress the human rights of the In January 2020, over 100 tons of weapons worth tens of millions of dollars were local population and rig the presidential election once again!

Revisiting Culture, Education and Statehood Russia and Turkey Celebrate from previous page soon extended to the children and grandchildren of Centennial of Moscow Treaty let alone meet, the challenge of nurturing statehood, friends — in Yerevan, and various villages in Vayots state security and citizenship in students. A major Dzor, Ashtarak, and Aparan. They can generally re- Sealed with Armenian Blood overhaul of the educational system is required. cite dates and events, and a few critical milestones At the outset, let’s recognize that the education in Armenian history, but they have been taught next TREATY, from page 17 system should be based on the simple principle that to nothing about the significance of the history they illusion that by beginning the construction of a second atom- human creativity, unlike natural resources, nev- have memorized, nor the overarching historical con- ic power plant in Akkuyu, Turkey, and paving Turkey’s way er gets depleted or devalued. It is renewable, and text within which the specific historical events that to the atomic club, he is pulling Turkish President Recep much more than renewable, because it tends to not they cite have occurred. Tayyip Erdogan away from NATO. just renew itself, but multiply itself exponentially. The overhaul of the education system entails a In November 2015, when a Sukhoi Su-24 Russian com- It knows no limits. It achieves what convention- fundamental paradigm shift in instruction and test- bat plane was shot down over the Syria-Turkey border, the al wisdom deems impossible. It surpasses its own ing — away from standards and established systems Communist Party of Russia proposed a bill to abrogate the assumed limitations. There is no stronger force in of memorization. The dynamism, fluidity and cre- Treaty of Moscow; the Foreign Ministry considered the op- nature. Any educational system that fails to im- ativity that Armenia should have in its economic tion for the moment. But on second thought, Moscow decid- part this notion to its student body, fails Armenia. and business model should be introduced in the ed- ed to deescalate the tension and keep the treaty as a bargain- One key addition to the national curriculum at the ucation system. Established practices, standards and ing chip over Turkey’s head. elementary and high school levels should be cours- routines are deadly. Learning through experimenta- Erdogan’s government is cognizant of the two treaties’ es in civics — rights and responsibilities of citizen- tion, pushing the limits of the imagination, critical shaky bases and that is why he wanted to legitimize them ship, the constitution and the rationale behind it, the questioning and reasoning, improvisational skills by enticing Armenia to sign and approve the Protocols in nature and role of military service, branches of gov- (important both in military and civilian life), sense 2009 in Zurich. ernment and the logic behind them, the concept of of mission, risk taking, are key. Quantitative stats Fortunately, it was Ankara which shied away from taking accountability in public office, the role of the courts, alone — for example, number of schools, teacher/ the last step in ratifying the Protocols in deference to Baku. examples of good and bad governance with the con- student ratios, etc., — are not indicative of quality Today, Ankara, believing it has the upper hand over Ar- sequences of each for the state and the nation. We of education. Quality and inventiveness of instruc- menia, after the recent war, is dangling the same carrot in need to nurture citizens who are aware, beyond tion methodology depend on how well the teachers front of Armenia. President Erdogan has stated several times the hollow rhetoric of “proud” citizens of the past understand their mission and how well they are that Turkey will lift the blockade if “Armenia behaves.” few years. National awareness, patriotism (beyond trained. Yerevan should understand that under this “behavior” lies clichés), civic duties, culture of citizenship should The combination of the short-term catalytic trig- the recognition of the treaties of Moscow and Kars, final- start from childhood and grow and mature into ado- ger of a new generation of leaders with the funda- izing and legalizing the border between the two countries. lescence. The education system should be geared to mental overhaul of the education system could un- Those two treaties may be null and void with the develop- address specific problems faced by a small country leash a virtuous cycle of change in Armenia, which ment of another international relationship. under constant military and often existential threat. over time could spill into the culture, practice and Armenia becoming a sovereign country is not beholden A key requirement for the above, in addition to legislation of civil service, thus transforming both to Moscow’s international obligations. Russia can no longer rigorous courses in all modern sciences and disci- the structure and modus operandi of the govern- serve as a guarantor signatory of a third country’s border plines, is the proper teaching of Armenian histo- ment. That would constitute a true revolution, be- with its neighbor. ry, which must go beyond its current emphasis on cause it would represent a change in the mindset of Turkey’s offer is infected with legal toxicity. Lifting the memorization of dates and events, and into histori- the nation. Only then Armenia will have a chance to blockade, which can be reversed any time, is not commen- cal and geopolitical lessons learned as they affected finally uproot the post-Soviet oligarchic system and surate with the historic concession of recognizing the final- the Armenian state or as they prevented the creation replace it with an effective, functioning state. ity of the current borders. Armenia has the soft power of of one. The present curriculum in schools in Arme- Otherwise, there is a good chance that we won’t refusing Turkey’s demand to legitimize the treaties and give nia imparts no real sense of history to the students. be able to keep what we rebuild after the last war away its right to pursue the international recognition of the In the past 30 years, I have made a habit of talking — even if we succeed to rebuild something worth Genocide. to schoolchildren of all ages in Armenia — it started keeping. It is time for Armenia to prudently consider its latent po- with members of my own large extended family and litical power and use it judiciously. 20 SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

Opposition Calls for Lifting Variety of Armenian Martial Law in Armenia YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Opposition be impeached. Antiquities for Sale factions in the Armenian parliament have Edmon Marukyan, the head of the op- called for an end to martial law that was position Bright Armenia faction, also introduced in Armenia when a war with claimed that martial law is currently main- Manuscripts and large collection of Azerbaijan broke out in Nagorno-Kara- tained only for political purposes. bakh in late September. “The parliamentary opposition cannot early printed books and newspapers This is the third time the Armenian start a no-confidence motion during mar- parliamentary opposition has raised the tial law. In Yerevan’s municipal assembly dated from the 19th century, silver issue since the end of hostilities in Na- lawmakers cannot start a no-confidence gorno-Karabakh. vote in the mayor and so on. Elections and gold religious objects, as well as During a session of the parliament’s that were scheduled in the of Ijevan defense committee on March 15, the and some other communities have been religious objects, including chalices, Prosperous Armenia and Bright Arme- postponed because the martial law has not nia factions claimed that the government been lifted yet,” he said. textiles, carpets and paintings. has maintained martial law since a Rus- Pro-government lawmakers who sit on sian-brokered ceasefire was established in the committee said they were in favor of Please visit Nagorno-Karabakh on November 10 for ending martial law but in due time. They political purposes. said that most restrictions pertaining to armenianartworks.com Prosperous Armenia lawmaker Arman freedom of assembly and speech were lift- Abovyan said martial law “does not corre- ed still in December. Call (640) 590-7117 or spond to the current situation and is a se- “If all the grounds for martial law are rious obstacle to political developments.” eliminated, of course, this martial law will mobile (201) 562-9902 In particular, he pointed out one of the be lifted as early as possible,” said Armen provision of martial law under which Khachatryan, a member of the majority during its effect the prime minister cannot My Step faction. At the same time, Khachatryan said that he expected the government to initiate a bill to lift martial law “within the next 7 or 10 days.” The committee’s pro-government head Tekeyan Cultural Association, Inc. Kocharyan said, for his part, that the sooner political agreements are With Donations Matched Up to $20,000 reached about holding snap elections, the by a Friend of the Tekeyan Cultural Association sooner the current martial law regime will be abolished. “The sooner we create har- monious political conditions or reach con- sensus, the sooner martial law will be lift- SPECIAL FUNDRAISER ed, because there will be snap elections, for and there can be no elections during the effect of martial law,” he said. Eventually, the pro-government mem- HRANT DINK SCHOOL of Istanbul bers of the defense committee did not give The Hrant Dink School is located in the basement of the Armenian Evangelical Church in Gedikpaşa. Most of the students a positive conclusion to the opposition bill. are children of natives of Armenia who have moved to Istanbul temporarily for work. The school’s volunteers’ work is under the leadership of Harutyun (Arto) and Talar Hisarli Horozoğlu. The principal is Heriknaz Avagyan.

Every year the graduating class goes to Yerevan for an examination certifying that they have passed 9th grade, and enroll NATO’s Stoltenberg in colleges in Armenia. Expresses ‘Serious Concerns’ During the first wave of the pandemic, 20 students left with their families for Armenia. Last November, 22 more students Over Turkey’s Actions returned to Armenia with their families. Now the total number of students is about 80. They receive free education, free BRUSSELS (Ahval) — The NATO sec- breakfast and free lunch. retary general on March 15, said he main- tained “serious concerns” over actions by On January 28 of this year, by the request of the Hrant Dink School, divine liturgy was performed in the church in memory of the 14th anniversary of Dink’s assassination. After the church ceremony, the school presented its financial needs, and member state Turkey, but added the alli- donations were solicited. It was clear from the report that the school needed financial assistance. The parents could not ance was an important platform for resolv- afford to pay full tuition, although they worked full time. ing disputes involving Ankara. “I have expressed my serious concerns The Tekeyan Cultural Association will transfer all donations to the school immediately. Donations received by April 15, and we all know there are serious differ- 2021 will be matched up to $20,000 by a benefactor who last month also donated $15,000 to the TCA Sponsor A Teacher ences and some issues, ranging from the in Armenia and Artsakh Program. eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish deci- sion to buy the Russian air defense system S-400 or related to democratic rights in Turkey,” Agence France-Press cited Jens Stoltenberg as telling lawmakers from the European Parliament. But the NATO sec- retary general added he believed the alli- ance can “at least can provide an import- ant platform for discussing these issues, raising these issues and having serious debates and discussions about different concerns.” Though it has been a NATO member since 1952, Turkey has angered members of the alliance over the last few years in a string of moves. The country pushed ahead with the Russian S-400 missile deal Please make your tax deductible donation and mail it to: despite repeated warnings the missiles risked breaching NATO operational se- Tekeyan Cultural Association curity if used alongside the Western alli- 755 Mt. Auburn Street ance’s own hardware. It went further by Watertown, MA 02472 conducting a test launch in October. The Memo: Hrant Dink School US put off sanctioning Turkey in July Scan to donate online 2019 over the S-400, but the missile test or give online at https://givebutter.com/0BK5z0. ended any delay in issuing sanctions as re- quired under American law.