APRIL 23, 2016 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVI, NO. 40, Issue 4434 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF Gymnast Houry Gebeshian Qualifies for Olympics RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Armenian- American gymnast Houry Gebeshian will be the first female gymnast to represent Armenia at the Olympics, after placing 21st out of 36 competitors and qualifying at the Pre- Olympic Test Event in Rio on April 17. Gebeshian was born in Auburndale, Mass. in 1989, Armenian Genocide Commemoration Billboards Installed in Massachusetts but obtained Armenian citi- zenship in 2010 to be eligi- WATERTOWN — Peace of Art, Inc. continues its annual leaders and dignitaries, including French President Francois ble to compete for Armenia. Armenian Genocide commemoration campaign in various Hollande, Russian President Vladimir Putin, the presidents of She lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Massachusetts cities during the month of April with digital bill- Serbia and Cyprus. Together they placed their roses into the She was admitted to this final qualifier due to boards dedicated to the 101st anniversary of the Armenian main Centennial wreath. It would have been wonderful to see a strong performance at the first round in the Genocide. “On April 24, 2015 at the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian the U.S. president himself in attendance, placing a rose in 2015 World Championships at Glasgow last Genocide memorial in Yerevan, I participated in the 100th memory of the 1.5 million Armenian Christian victims of 1915 October. anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. I witnessed Armenian to 1923,” Said Daniel Varoujan Hejinian, president and Gebeshian has a GoFundMe page children presenting a yellow rose to each of the many foreign founder of Peace of Art, Inc. (www.Gofundme.com-hootingforhoury) which is already raising funding and getting equipment for the Armenian gymnastic team. She is sup- porting the existing men’s team as well as work- TCA Leaders Meet with Diaspora Minister Hakobyan in Armenia ing towards creating a women’s one. Mher Megerdichian Theater army.” Group Performs Vartivarian, who is also a Armenian Official leader of the Mher YEREVAN — On April 15, Minister of Megerdchian Theatrical Resigns Over Panama Diaspora Hranoush Hakobyan met with Group of New York, said that Papers Leak special correspondent for the Armenian this group has come to Mirror-Spectator Hagop Vartivarian, former Armenia for the performance YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The head of Armenia’s editor of the Beirut-based Zartonk newspa- of Berj Zeytountsian’s “All State Bailiffs Service has resigned after local per Baydzig Kalaydjian, and chairman of Rise, Court is in Session” dur- news reports documented his alleged links to off- the Tekeyan Cultural Association (TCA) ing these troubled days in shore companies. Mher Megerdchian Theatrical Group of order to support the Major General Migran Pogosian said on April New York Harout Chatmajian. Armenian people. He A group representing the TCA, including Hagop 18 that he was stepping down in order to com- Hakobyan stressed how important it was declared: “The New York Vartivarian, Harout Chatmajian and Baydzig Kalaydjian ment on the situation as a private person. for the Armenian people during crises that Megerdchian members have met with Minister Hranoush Hakobyan. More than 11 million documents known as the all structures and individuals in the diaspo- come to Armenia with a great Panama Papers have been the basis for dozens ra remain determined to place the home- spirit of patriotism to once again be renewed national inheritance. They are the heirs of of news articles around the world detailing land above all else, with the readiness and and grow strong through contact with our immortals such as Vahan Tekeyan, Arshag shady financial transactions involving officials will to aid and strengthen the defense army native soil and homeland – with Sardarabad, Chobanian and Mihran Damadian, who were around the world. of Mountainous Karabagh. She said, “Our Dzidzernagapert and the Mother See of paragons of true patriotism throughout Armenian investigative website Hetq.am has foremost issue is the security of Armenia Holy Echmiadzin. They have come to their lives. This is because patriotism does published documents apparently showing that and Artsakh. We must do everything to Armenia, in order to renew their oath to not recognize ideology, political doctrine or Pogosian was linked to three Panama-registered strengthen Armenia and the Armenian serve the homeland, our people, culture and factional propaganda. We will return with companies — Sigtem Real Estates, Hopkinten renewed patriotism, to inspire the national Trading, and Bango Invest. feelings of New York Armenians with the Old State House Hosts Program vision of eternal Ararat.” Two Armenians Enter see DIASPORA, page 3 Syrian Parliament On Moses Gulesian DAMASCUS (Armenpress) — The Higher Judicial Peter Balakian Committee for Parliamentary Elections of Syria By Aram Arkun has published the names of the newly-elected 250 Mirror-Spectator Staff Wins Pulitzer MPs. Armenpress, citing the Aleppo-based BOSTON — The Bostonian Society hosted a special Gandzasar weekly, reports that Zhirair Reisian and evening program, “Becoming Bostonian,” on April 7 in For Poetry Nora Arisian will represent Armenians in the the Old State House to honor the life and works of Syrian parliament. Moses Gulesian, a Bostonian and Armenian preserva- NEW YORK — Prof. Peter Balakian’s lat- tionist. The event, cosponsored with the National est collection of poems, Ozone Journal, Association for Armenian Studies and Research won the Pulitzer (NAASR), was part of a growing wave of attention to Prize for poetry, it Gulesian’s philanthropic work, which helped both was announced on INSIDE Boston and Armenians, sometimes simultaneously. Monday, April 19. see GULESIAN, page 10 The 64-year-old’s Brian LeMay, president compilation con- and executive director of the Bostonian tains “poems that Peace in Society bear witness to the old losses and tragedies that undergird a global age of Caucasus danger and uncertainty,” according to the Pulitzer board. Page 5 Balakian often writes and speaks about the Armenian Genocide in his poems and non-fiction. Ozone Journal is no excep- tion. The title poem takes readers through INDEX the narrator’s memories and pursuit of Arts and Living ...... 11 meaning in life while excavating the Armenia ...... 2,3 remains of Armenian Genocide survivors Community News...... 5 Editorial ...... 17 in the Syrian desert with a TV crew. International ...... 4 Balakian is Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor of the Humanities, see PULITZER, page 20 2 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Armenia Rebukes Kazakhstan over

Nazik Avdalyan Becomes EEU Meeting Postponement Europe’s Weightlifting YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — Armenia Armenia decided not to skip the sum- Nalbandian reportedly added that the implied it was concerned over mit that was moved to the Russian cap- positions contradicting the wordings Champion Kazakhstan’s insufficient level of com- ital (and was held on April 13), where adopted by the OSCE Minsk Group FORDE, Norway (Armenpress) — April 10-16, the mitment as an ally in post-Soviet group- an agreement was made that the prime undermine the negotiations. European Weightlifting Championships were held ings as Foreign Minister Eduard ministers of the EEU will again gather During the April 2-5 armed clashes here. Nalbandian met with his Kazakh coun- in Yerevan on May 20. with Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabagh In the women’s 69-kilogram weightlifting division, terpart’s deputy in Yerevan on Monday. Addressing the matter at the meeting that left scores of Armenian soldiers Nazik Avdalyan, representing Armenia, title of Armenia is a member of the Eurasian with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign dead and wounded politicians and civil Champion of Europe. Economic Union (EEU) and the Minister Galymzhan Koishybayev, society representative in Armenia lev- “I dedicate my victory to our soldiers fighting in Collective Security Treaty Organization Nalbandian reportedly underscored the eled criticism at a number of formal Karabagh,” Avdalyan said. (CSTO) — two Russian-led structures importance of “implementing the agree- allies, including Russia, Kazakhstan, where Kazakhstan is also a key member. ments.” He also expressed a hope that Belarus and others, over their marked Prime ministers of the EEU, including the May 20 meeting will “rectify this neutrality or even pro-Azerbaijani posi- the head of the Kazakh government, had omission.” tions in the conflict. Suspect Arrested for been expected to gather for a summit in Nalbandian also briefed the senior Hundreds of citizens marched Throwing Grenade at Yerevan on April 8. The venue of the Kazakh diplomat on “the situation towards the Russian embassy in meeting, however, was moved to formed as a result of the Azerbaijani Yerevan on April 13 protesting against Former President Moscow following Astana’s request. aggression and the harm caused to the Russia’s sales of offensive weapons to The Kazakh request came amid an negotiation process.” Azerbaijan. Kocharian’s House escalation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani “In this context, the foreign minister A report by RFE/RL’s Armenian YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The Investigative conflict in Nagorno-Karabagh. While stressed the importance of supporting Service suggested on Monday that peo- Committee said that 32-year-old Hovhannes being a political, economic and military the efforts of the [Organization for ple in the village of Harich, in Armenia’s Muradyan has been arrested on April 18 for throwing ally of Armenia as part of the EEU and Security and Cooperation in Europe] northwestern Shirak province, that has a dummy grenade at ex-President Robert Kocharian’s CSTO, Kazakhstan, as a Turkic-speak- OSCE Minsk Group toward the settle- a street named after Kazakhstan’s house. ing nation, is known to have strong cul- ment of the Karabagh conflict exclu- President Nursultan Nazarbayev, have Muradyan is a resident of Yerevan city. tural and linguistic ties with Azerbaijan. sively by peaceful means, which is decided to change its name. The decision On April 15 at 18:25, Muradyan threw the grenade Therefore, its request was widely enshrined in the documents adopted at reportedly reflects the community’s frus- via a drive-by at the backyard entrance of Robert regarded in Yerevan as an attempt to the summits of the CSTO and the tration over Kazakhstan’s position and Kocharian’s house. maintain neutrality in the conflict, if Council of Foreign Ministers,” an MFA the recent pro-Azerbaijani rhetoric of its The National Security and the Police have appre- not bolster Azerbaijan’s position. press release said. longtime leader. hended the suspect on April 18. The car used in the drive-by was found and is currently being examined. Notice: Suspect is considered innocent until proven guilty by the Court of Law. Armenians Protest Against Russian Arms Sales to Azerbaijan YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Hundreds of of the Russian-Azerbaijani weapons [from Russia] then Russia is a peace- Body of Armenian Armenians have demonstrated in deals are angry because Armenia is a keeper” and “ an arms supplier” to Yerevan on April 13 against Russian member of the Russian-led Collective both sides in the conflict, or takes on soldier to be transferred weapon sales to Azerbaijan, claiming the Security Treaty Organization and the role of a mediator as a co-chair of sales led to the outbreak of fighting on Azerbaijan is not. the OSCE Minsk group. to Armenian side April 2 in and around Azerbaijan’s break- Speaking t the Yerevan demonstra- Armenian critics also argue that away region of Nagorno-Karabagh. tion on April 13, Safarian said that Russia’s weapons deals with Azerbaijan YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The Azerbaijani side was The protesters, mostly young “Russia is a nominal strategic partner” emboldened Baku to launch military scheduled to hand over the body of Armenian soldier activists, marched to the Russian of Armenia, but Armenians see from operations in and around Nagorno- killed as a result of Azerbaijani aggression on April Embassy in Yerevan chanting “Shame!” the latest outbreak of fighting that Karabagh early in April. 2-5 to the Armenian side on April 20, the head of the and “Free, independent Armenia!” “when we need military assistance NKR State Commission on Prisoners of War, Some threw eggs at the embassy, Hostages and Missing Persons Viktor Kocharyan sparking scuffles with riot police. said. A petition read out by a protest orga- At the same time, Kocharyan said that he cannot nizer demanded an immediate end to state that it is the body of Argishti Gaboyan, who was Celebrating Yale in Armenia all deliveries of Russian weapons to announced as missing in action. Azerbaijan. YEREVAN — The Luys Foundation, the Armenian General Benevolent “The body will be identified after a forensic exam- The petition also called for Moscow Union, the American University of Armenia and Yerevan State University ination,” he said. to “fulfill the obligations” stemming came together for “Yale to Yerevan” on April 15-16. from its military alliance with Armenia. Yale University alumni shared their experiences in running the Yale Russia has sold tanks, combat heli- Alumni Association and also focused on activities focused on giving back Memorial Dedicated to copters, artillery, and other offensive to society and the world. Yezidi Genocide Victims weapons valued at a total of $4 billion All participants are interested in sharing their experience to engage to Azerbaijan under contracts signed alumni to come together and learn the many ways of giving back to soci- Unveiled from 2009 to 2011. ety. They explore how they can contribute their skills, time, ideas and col- Armenia’s government publicly com- lective work. Together they are learning how to create programs that make YEREVAN (Public Radio of Armenia) — A memorial plained about those deliveries to Baku people enjoy coming together and working together. dedicated to the victims of the genocide of Yazidis in after fighting broke out along Nagorno- Workshops explored how to set the structure and governance of an Sinjar, Iraq, was unveiled in Yerevan on April 21 as Karabagh’s “line of contact” front line Alumni Association, what the key principles of creating mutual interest for part of the events dedicated to the 101st anniversary on April 2. all are so that the mission and programs grow and efforts to create added of the Armenian Genocide. At least 65 Armenian soldiers were value for individuals as well as society. The monument will stand as a witness to the killed in the fighting, which continued Representing Yale were Katherine Edersheim, Senior Director of immortal spirit of the Yazidi people, their will to live until Russia mediated a cease-fire International Alumni Relations, Barbara Wagner, member of the Business and create, President of the Council of the Media – agreement on April 5. Law Education Committee and Scott Williamson, attorney with Shangal National Union of Yazidis NGO Amo Russian Prime Minister Dmitry the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Sharoyan told reporters. Medvedev defended the deals with “We are a nation that has passed through genocide Azerbaijan after visiting Yerevan last and survived. Although we cannot change the bloody week, saying they boost “the military past, we have to create a future void of such crimes,” balance” in the conflict zone. Sharoyan quoted Armenian President Serzh Medvedev said both warring sides Sargsyan as saying. would buy even deadlier weapons from Fikret Igrek, President of the exile Council of other countries if Moscow stopped its Sinjar noted that genocide continues in the 21st cen- arms deals with them. tury. “Islamists massacred and enslaved thousands of Earlier this week, Russian Deputy Yazidis in august 2014,” he said. Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin Speaking about the recent escalation in the denounced Yerevan’s criticism of Karabagh conflict zone, Tamaz Mhoi, president of Moscow’s weapons sale to Azerbaijan the Federation of Yazidis of France, said they con- as “demagogy.” demn the Azerbaijani policy. Russia has also been the main source “On behalf of the Federation of Yazidis of France, of weapons delivered to Armenia’s we have sent a letter to the Azerbaijani Embassy, urg- armed forces. ing them to stop the war. We sent the letter on April In 2015, Moscow extended a $200- 3, but have not received any response by now,” he million loan to Yerevan for the purpose said. of buying more Russian arms at dis- From left, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Galymzhan Koishybayev counted prices. and Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian But Yerevan-based political analyst Styopa Safarian says Armenian critics S A T U R D A Y , A P R I L 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 ARMENIA

Former President TCA Mher Megerdichian Theatrical Ter-Petrosian Calls for

Support to Sargsyan

Group Performs in Armenia Administration

YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — Armenia’s DIASPORA, from page 1 ex-president and current opposition On April 16 the TCA Mher Megerdchian leader Levon Ter-Petrosian believes the Theatrical Group performed “All Rise, Court Is Karabagh war will soon shift from the bat- in Session” at Yerevan’s Hagop Baronian tlefields to a “diplomatic front,” in which, Musical Comedy Theater. Minister Hakobyan he says, President Serzh Sargsyan was in the audience, along with the rector of “should feel strong and have the support Yerevan’s State Pedagogical University Ruben of the people.” Mirzakhanian, who is also president of the cen- Ter-Petrosian, who initiated a meeting tral board of Armenia’s TCA, and Berj with Sargsyan over the weekend to dis- Zeytuntsian, the author of the play being pre- cuss the latest escalation of violence in sented. There were many other government offi- Nagorno-Karabagh, gave an interview to cials, artists and intellectuals in the audience. the Ilur.am website, urging the Armenian The guest performances of the theatrical group opposition to put aside its differences in Armenia were sponsored by Armenian Prime with the current administration ahead of Minister Hovik Abrahamyan. what he thinks will be important negotia- The theatrical group was founded in 1977 in tions with Azerbaijan. New York and includes some 20 different plays “Now is not the time to accuse the in its repertoire. Its artistic director is Gerald authorities and try to hold them account- Papasian. Among the actors in the present per- able for mistakes and failings,” he said. formance are Harout Barsoumian as Soghomon At the same time, Ter-Petrosian stressed Tehlirian, Karnig Nercessian as Talaat Pasha, that Sargsyan and his government should Hagop Vartivarian as Johannes Lepsius and also make some positive steps and “turn Armenag Kroushian as Henry Morgenthau and their face to the people” by “starting to Harout Barsoumian as Soghomon Tehlirian on trial Fayiz El Huseyn. genuinely fight against corruption, per- Although the theatrical group is not a profes- sional one, the dedication of the actors and their knowledge of the significance of their roles raised the level of their performance to high lev- els. The presentation took place in a completely full hall and was met with great applause. Deputy Minister of the Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Srapionyan present- ed Hakobyan’s greetings, which included the fol- lowing words: “The presentation of this drama during these difficult days of trial, when the enemy again attempts to disturb our peace, cre- ates a new meaning. It proves once more that the spirit of the Armenians is unwavering, just, resistant and zealous of protecting their rights. Thanks to the author of the play, our living clas- sic Berj Zeytuntsian, to the director of the pro- Levon Ter-Petrosian duction, Gerald Papasian, and to the entire cast of the theatrical group for this wonderful pre- sentation.” Srapionyan then read the edict of missiveness of law-enforcement bodies, the minister of the diaspora on bestowing a cer- monopolies, electoral fraud and arro- tificate of thanks to the Mher Megerdchian gance of officials.” Theatrical Group of New York, and gave the cer- “You can’t disregard the opposition and tificate to the artistic director. The audience included Diaspora Minister Hakobyan and other dignitaries. the people in trouble-free times but (Translated from the Armenian) expect their support at difficult moments,” Ter-Petrosian said. Ter-Petrosyian, who served as Armenia’s first president from 1991 to 1998, has been a bitter critic of the cur- rent administration since making an unsuccessful attempt to be reelected pres- ident in 2008 running against Sargsyan. Ten people were killed that year in post- election clashes between riot police and Ter-Petorsyan supporters who sought the annulment of a disputed vote. Unlike Ter-Petrosian, Sargsyan’s imme- diate predecessor, Robert Kocharian, said that he did not plan to initiate a meeting with the current head of state. Speaking to Tert.am, Kocharian said that he did not think that meetings of the current presi- dent with ex-presidents can have an impact on solutions to the current tasks. At the peak of Karabagh clashes earlier this month, however, Kocharian, accord- ing to his spokesman, was “in touch” with Karabagh’s president, Bako Sahakyan. Before becoming prime minister and then president in Armenia, Kocharian Deputy Diaspora Minister Serzh Srapionyan at the end of the program with the cast. served as prime minister (1992-94) and president (1994-97) in Nagorno-Karabagh. Italian MEPs Call on EU High Representative to Impose Sanctions on Azerbaijan YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Following the of international humanitarian law and inter- tion have been the main targets of the mentioned international law and the very debate in the European Parliament, two mem- national human rights law, particularly the Azerbaijani offensive. In particular, among the basis of the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership and bers of Parliament (MEPs) from two different Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first victims was a 12-year-old boy. Cooperation Agreement.” political groups — Salvatore Pogliese and Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their In addition, cases of mutilation, execution Lastly, they ask for EU’s support to “the Remo Sernagiotto — have tabled a written Additional Protocols of 1977, and the 1989 and torture of civilians have been registered OSCE Minsk Group proposal on the creation question to Federica Mogherini, EU High Convention on the Rights of the Child.” and documented.” of a cease-fire violations monitoring mecha- Representative/Vice-President. In the docu- In their statement, they deplored especially They concluded by asking Mogherini “to nism, to avoid continuous breaches of this ment, they underline that the Azerbaijani the civilian victims of the conflict, saying that propose sanctions to be taken against only self-regulated truce in Europe.” attacks “are accompanied by gross violations “Civilian infrastructures and civilian popula- Azerbaijan, given the breaches of the above- 4 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL International News Georgia Weighs Karabagh Role

Swedish PM Condemns tor in the recent outbreak of fighting. the events citing foreign sources. By Giorgi Kupatadze According to Porchkhidze, the events “Without receiving balanced informa- Anti-Armenian around Karabagh have direct political, tion about the events, [ethnic economic and military risks for Georgia. Armenians and Azerbaijanis] were Statements TBILISI (IWPR) — The recent spike in “Turkey and Azerbaijan, like Russia forced to rely only on information from STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Armenpress) — Swedish hostilities between Azerbaijani forces and Armenia, have a close military-polit- Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian Prime Minister Stefan Löfven reacted to the anti- and the Armenian-backed Nagorno ical cooperation, where using Georgian channels,” said Kuprashvili. Armenian statements expressed at the demonstra- Karabagh army has caused serious con- airspace or even the land corridor on its Armenian and Azerbaijani media were tion of the Turkish Azerbaijani diaspora in Sergels cern in Georgia. territory can become an issue. In this biased in their reporting and “covered Square of Stockholm. Tbilisi has close political, economic case, there should be a clear position the events in such a way that it has The Prime Minister said: “In Sweden, it is com- and energy ties with both Yerevan and from the start that the Georgian gov- increased tension among our citizens of pletely unacceptable to incite against other groups, Baku, as well as sizeable Armenian and ernment should strictly uphold. I do not Armenian and Azerbaijani nationality,” be it religious, ethnic or political. Here, all political Azerbaijani communities. This makes know to what extent the Georgian gov- she said. activities should be conducted democratically and the country highly sensitive to the fall- ernment is ready to meet these chal- Tskiskarishvili agreed, adding, “I with respect to the values of equality and rights. out of the worst violence since war in lenges. In this regard, there are certain would like to hear in the coming days These principles are not negotiable,” mentioned the early 1990s left a local Armenian questions,” he said. that the Georgian National Security Löfven in his statement. administration in control of the enclave The escalation between Armenia and Council is going to meet to discuss this The Minister for Culture and Democracy of of about 150,000 people inside Azerbaijan has put Georgia in a delicate topic. Sweden Alice Bah Kuhnke also reacted to the incite- Azerbaijan position. Turkey openly supports “To preserve relations we need to con- ment to violence by the former Deputy Chairman of The latest outbreak of fighting ended Azerbaijan and is one of Georgia’s main stantly discuss the current problems the Turkish Association Barbaros Leylani. with a fragile ceasefire on April 5 and trade partners. Russia is Armenia’s and situation rather than what the “What happened on Saturday and the disgusting resulted in a total of 191 people dead strategic ally, which since the Georgian- tabloid press is publishing, like we do statements made are of course unacceptable. They and dozens injured on both sides. Russian war in August 2008 has had now.” made me feel bad,” said Alice Bah Kuhnke. It has also left politicians and analysts military bases in Georgia’s breakaway Porchkhidze also said that the gov- arguing that Georgia needs to be better regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. ernment needed to dedicate more prepared for any future escalation and Should escalation continue, Georgia resources to working with the Armenian Mkhitaryan’s Transfer the possible domestic consequences. might find it hard to preserve a balance. and Azerbaijani communities in Georgia A suggestion by the head of the According to the state department of to prevent further tensions within the Fee Hits Record High Georgian armed forces that Tbilisi could statistics, Azerbaijan was the largest for- country. DORTMUND, Germany (Armenpress) — Dortmund act as a mediator to avoid future escala- eign investor in Georgia in 2015 and the “There are forces — frankly, it is Borussia player Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s transfer price tion was broadly welcomed. source of eight per cent of its imports in Russia — which are interested in the has reached a record high. “We are carefully following the devel- January-February 2016. internal destabilization of Georgia and The sports “transfermarkt” website, reports that opment of events and we have very Azerbaijan’s main oil and gas export that Georgia remains a fragmented Mkhitaryan’s current transfer price is valued at 30 close ties with our colleagues in routes go through Georgia via the state,” he continued. “It is necessary to million euros. Azerbaijan and in Armenia,” said the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Supsa oil keep a finger on the pulse [of tensions] Back in February, Mkhitaryan’s transfer value was chief of the general staff Vakhtang pipelines and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum in the locations where the local ethnic 28 million, which again was a record high ranking Kapanadze. gas pipeline. The parties are implement- minorities live, since those bearing ill- for a footballer. However since this recent update, it “I hope the parties will move to a ing a joint project for the opening of a will will certainly try to exploit the situ- has increased to 30 million. peaceful solution of the conflict. We railway route from Baku via Tbilisi to ation for internal destabilization.” Mkhitaryan scored 10 goals and 12 assists in 28 probably have to assume the role of Kars, which will connect Azerbaijan, (Giorgi Kupatadze is IWPR’s editor matches of Germany’s Bundesliga. mediator, as we are one of the countries Georgia and Turkey. for Georgia.) that have good relations to both neigh- As Armenia’s borders with Turkey bours,” he concluded. and Azerbaijan are closed, a significant Moscow Court Sentences share of its transport to Armenia also David Bakradze, a leader of the oppo- Sharmazanov calls Hayrapetyan to 4 Years sition United National Movement, goes through Georgia. Six percent of agreed, adding, “We, in Georgia, are in a Georgian exports went to Armenia in Turkey and Azerbaijan MOSCOW (Armenpress) — Moscow’s unique position to take on the addition- January-February 2016 Zamoskvoretsky District Court sentenced business- al role of mediator for these two nations Porchkhidze said that the Georgian Regional Threats man Levon Hayrapetyan to four years imprisonment, closest to us.” government response to the Karabagh the TASS news agency reported. Years of negotiations have thus far fighting had been too “passive”. An MOSCOW (Armenpress) — On April The court found Hayrapetyan guilty of embezzling been mediated by the OSCE’s Minsk action plan was needed in the event the 19, the Deputy Speaker of the National $700,000. Group led by three co-chairs — diplo- situation deteriorated, he said, adding Assembly of the Republic of Armenia According to the investigation, along with lawyer mats from Russia, the United States and that Tbilisi also needed to work actively Eduard Sharmazanov, who is visiting Sergei Antonov, Levon Hayrapetyan took the sum France — but have had very few results. with its own Armenian and Azerbaijani Russia, took part in the first conference from ex-senator Igor Izmestyev’s mother, in order to However, some experts doubt that communities to prevent any domestic of the heads of the parliaments of the mitigate her son’s conviction. However, in any case Georgia could take on such a role, as it turmoil. Eurasian countries. he could not have influenced the sentence. has its own unresolved territorial con- Ethnic Azeris and Armenians are Sharmazanov, in his speech, said, “I flicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia’s two largest minorities and would like to draw your attention to the Georgia firmly upholds the principle make up about 12 percent of the coun- NK conflict, where during the night of ‘Insult Turkey’s Erdogan’ of territorial integrity, which is contrary try’s population, according to the 2002 April 1-2 the Azerbaijani side carried to the position of Karabagh and census. The final results of the 2014 out large-scale provoking military oper- Contest in the UK Armenia. Thus, the country might not census have not yet been published. ations along the whole Line of Contact, LONDON (BBC News) — A UK-based magazine has be seen as fully neutral or balanced. Many of the nearly 300,000 ethnic using the whole complex of armaments, offered a prize to the author of the most offensive “In the 1990s, Georgia successfully Azeris and 250,000 ethnic Armenians including the banned military equip- poem about Turkish President Recep Tayyip pursued a policy of so-called active neu- live in small towns and villages, often in ment, which resulted in numerous casu- Erdogan, who is suing a German comedian over a trality which suited our two neighbor- cultural isolation from Tbilisi and with alties also among the civilians.” satirical verse. ing states,” said Soso Tsiskarishvili, little knowledge of the Georgian lan- He continued, “Such criminal provo- The Spectator is offering £1,000 (1,266 euros, president of the Club of Independent guage. The Azeris largely live in the cation shows that Azerbaijan puts itself $1,439), donated by a reader. Experts. “Tbilisi hosted meetings of rep- Kvemo Kartli region of southern out of international law, rejects the calls It comes after Germany opened the door for a resentatives of the conflicting parties, Georgia, on the border with Azerbaijan. of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair comedian to potentially be prosecuted over a TV professionals from different areas.” Armenians are predominantly in the countries, as well as the international broadcast. However, policy changes following Samtskhe-Javakheti region in the south- community on non-use of force and con- Jan Boehmermann had recited a satirical poem on the 2003 Rose Revolution meant that west of the country, near Armenia. fidence-building measures. Azerbaijan, the TV channel ZDF which made sexual references to this peacekeeping function was lost, he Natia Kuprashvili, the executive direc- as an initiator of the growth of this ten- Erdogan. Boehmermann is now under police protec- added. tor of the Georgian Regional sion and bears the whole responsibility tion and Angela Merkel’s government has approved a According to Irakli Porchkhidze, vice Broadcasters’ Association, warned of of the escalation of the situation. Here criminal inquiry, under a little-used law concerning president of the Georgian Institute for potential trouble in Kvemo Kartli and Turkey’s one-sided, criminal position, insults against foreign heads of state. Strategic Studies, the format of any Samtskhe-Javakheti, based on the feed- which evidently defends and encourages Merkel stressed that the courts would have the future mediation would be key. back she has received from television such inhuman actions is extremely dan- final word, and it was now up to prosecutors to “When it comes to the use of viewers in these regions. gerous. decide whether to press charges. Georgia’s territory for talks and media- “The situation is tense,” she told He added, “All this shows that Turkey Announcing the competition, commentator tions, it is necessary to clearly specify IWPR. continues remaining one of the threats Douglas Murray wrote: “The fact such a trial could the format. Because mediation where Georgia’s national broadcasters had for the regional stability. … The even be contemplated demonstrates that Germany is Russia will play a leading role will be not covered the conflict properly, she Republic of Armenia is based on the uni- becoming little more than a satrapy [province] of against the interests of Georgia, which said, thereby risking trouble amongst versal principles and norms of interna- Erdogan’s.” is to keep a balance between the two their own Armenian and Azerbaijani tional law, giving priority to the diplo- “I’m a free-born British man... In honour of this sides.” communities. matic methods of conflict settlement fact I have spent the weekend writing rude limericks Russia is Armenia’s strategic ally, but “The large national broadcasters of and the principles of peaceful settle- about Mr. Erdogan. has been selling weapons to both Georgia … have their own correspon- ment of crisis situations. We suppose “And I would hereby like to invite all readers to Armenia and Azerbaijan to keep what dents in Europe, Russia, the United that our colleagues will raise their voice join me in a grand Erdogan limerick competition.” Moscow has called parity in the region. States, but do not have them at a dis- of protest against the military settle- Hundreds of Armenians protested in tance of a few hours’ drive — in Armenia ment of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict. the Armenian capital Yerevan against and Azerbaijan,” Kuprashvili said. We shall realize that the Nagorno Russia’s weapon sales to Azerbaijan on This was evident during the time of Karabagh people have the right to live April 13, which they claimed were a fac- the fighting when local media covered peacefully, freely and independently.” S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 Community News

Times Square Prof. Ohanyan Commemoration of Hopes to Build Armenian Genocide To Take Place on Bridges for Peace April 24 In the Caucasus NEW YORK — The 101st anniversary com- memoration of the Armenian Genocide will be By Alin K. Gregorian held in Times Square (43rd St. & Broadway) on Mirror-Spectator Staff Sunday, April 24 from 2 to 4 p.m. The organiz- ers invite people of all backgrounds to join together to commemorate the Armenian EASTON, Mass. — Global conflicts seem a Genocide (Medz Yeghern), Holocaust world away from this small town. However, it is Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) and subse- just possible that a key to solving the problem quent genocides during Genocide Awareness facing Artsakh (Nagorno Karabagh) may lie Month. This is the 30th gathering in Times with young students at Stonehill College. Square for the Genocide. This small Catholic university is dedicated to Commemorations of the Armenian the ideals of peace and justice and it is in this Genocide in Times Square have attracted environment that Anna Ohanyan, the college’s thousands of people to unite and show sup- chair of the Department of Political Science port for crimes against humanity. The com- and International Studies, wants to create ties memoration is free and open to the public. between Armenia and the West, as well as come There will be free bus transportation to and up with creative solutions to solve both inter- from Times Square for New York and New nal and external problems. Jersey participants. “Coming from conflict region, I always want- R. Armen McOmber of Redbank, NJ, Bryan ed to solve the problems. I didn’t want to focus Ardouny, executive director of the Armenian on theory. I am very interested in how policies Assembly of America, and Rachel Goshgarian, are made globally,” Ohanyan said. PhD, assistant professor of history, Lafayette This focus, she said, “drives my work.” College, will preside over the ceremonies. Ohanyan noted that she did not always want The theme of the Armenian Genocide to work with an eye toward solving Armenia’s Commemoration is “Truth, Recognition, and political problems. She noted that when she Justice.” This historic event will pay tribute to Feminist Hayganush Mark, depicted as a suffragette, with banners of the Armenian was studying for her doctorate, she aimed to the 1.5 million Armenians who were annihilated Women’s Association (left) and Hay Gin (Armenian Woman, right), 1921 veer away from Armenia, toward which she had by the Young Turk Government of the Ottoman a natural bias. Now, she says, “I don’t believe in Empire and to the millions of victims of subse- bias-free research,” meaning that all researchers quent genocides worldwide. have an inherent point of view. For more information on the Armenian Life in Post-Genocide Ohanyan, a native of Armenia, graduated Commemoration and bus transportation visit with a master’s degree from Yerevan State www.kofv.org, click: Main/April 24, 2016. Turkey Explored in University, before studying for one year at the Prof. Ekmekçioglu’s New Book

Armenian Assembly Calls WATERTOWN — The Armenians of Istanbul faced extraordinary conditions in On Members of Congress the 1920s. Reeling from the chaos and losses of the World War I Genocide, they had little to guide them as they looked to the future. To Withdraw from In the first in-depth study of the aftermath of the Genocide among the surviving Armenians remaining in Istanbul, Prof. Lerna Ekmekçioglu has analyzed publica- Turkish, Azeri Caucuses tions of the period to trace the process of reconstructing the community. Her new book on the subject, Recovering Armenia: The Limits of Belonging in Post Genocide WASHINGTON — This week the Armenian Turkey, recently released by Stanford University Press, explains the central role Assembly of America called upon Members of played by Armenian women in preserving traditions, memory and language. Congress to withdraw from the Congressional Ekmekçioglu will present the book at an illustrated talk on May 5, beginning at Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans and 7:30 p.m. at the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown in a program spon- the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus ”in light sored jointly by the Armenian International Woman’s Association, the National of the pattern of behavior culminating in the Association for Armenian Studies and military offensive admittedly initiated by Research, and the Armenian Museum of Azerbaijan with the support of Turkish military, America. personnel, and equipment on April 2nd against Recovering Armenia gives voice to the Armenia and the Nagorno Karabagh Republic.” Armenian community’s prominent figures The Assembly’s letter highlights the egre- of the time, notably the activist and femi- gious acts committed by Azerbaijan, including nist Hayganush Mark, editor of the influ- the killing of a 12-year-old boy, the gruesome ential journal Hay Gin (Armenian Woman). Prof. Anna Ohanyan mutilation of an elderly couple, the use of a Feminism among the Armenians, kamikaze drone, and the beheading of a young Ekmekçioglu argues, reached its zenith in Yezidi Armenian military officer and of two the immediate aftermath of the Genocide George Mason Institute for Conflict Analysis in other Christian Armenian soldiers. In addition and in the capital of Turkey. The occupa- to this violence, these atrocities were broadcast Virginia and later receiving her PhD from tion of Istanbul by the victorious Allies in Syracuse University. Ohanyan also did a fel- online in an ISIS-style video to incite further World War I provided an atmosphere con- violence against Christian Armenians. lowship at the Kennedy School at Harvard. ducive for the development of the Ohanyan spent the 2012-2013 academic year “This brutality is deeply troubling, clearly Armenian press. With the approach of violates the Geneva Conventions, and is strik- as a Fulbright Fellow in Armenia and the Prof. Lerna Ekmekçioglu Kemal Ataturk’s National forces toward the South Caucasus, teaching and conducting ingly similar to the tactics employed by ISIS,” capital in the fall of 1922, however, many Assembly Board of Trustees Co-Chairmen research on regionalism and conflict manage- Armenians fled from the city and were ment. In addition, she has published widely on Anthony Barsamian and Van Krikorian stated barred subsequently from returning. in the letter, pointing out that the Azeri international organizations, conflict resolution Mark managed to continue publication in the face of the declining Armenian and peacebuilding in such settings as Kosovo, Defense Ministry said that its soldiers “became population and the increasing hostility of the Turkish government. Ekmekçioglu shahids” or Muslim martyrs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Afghanistan. Her examines the dilemma faced by the Armenian community as it sought to accom- research has been supported by organizations “Whatever your prior reasons for standing in modate itself to the demands of Turkish society while at the same time preserving solidarity with the Azerbaijani and Turkish including IREX, the Fulbright Commission, the its distinct culture and traditions. One approach to this dilemma was to pay extra German Marshall Fund, the U.S. State regimes, we cannot imagine that any American attention to the Armenian family and home, a domain in which the Turkish gov- would continue to do so in the face of recent Department, the Eurasia Foundation, the ernment did not intrude aggressively. United Nations Foundation, the World Bank, events,” The Assembly Co-Chairs said. “To do so In 1933 Hay Gin was closed by the government. But during the 1920s would condone such behavior.” the National Intelligence Council Project, the Hayganush Mark and her colleagues managed to produce a lively journal, focus Carter Center, USAID and Stonehill College. The Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus has 42 see WOMEN, page 8 members, while the Congressional Caucus on Her first book, titled NGOs, IGOs, and the Turkey and Turkish Americans has 154 mem- Network Mechanisms of Post-Conflict Global bers. see PEACE, page 6 6 S A T U R D A Y , A P R I L 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R COMMUNITY NEWS Prof. Ohanyan Hopes to Build Bridges for Peace in the Caucasus

PEACE, from page 5 were able to come together on many issues, the the theory and practice of global security. The Governance in Microfinance, was on the post- two Caucasian enemies will similarly succeed, program builds on courses in security studies, conflict era Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as she said. (This interview took place before the conflict analysis and resolution, global crime, Afghanistan. It was focused on the use of micro- early April attacks by Azerbaijan.) international criminal justice, human security, finance in post-conflict societies in order to As her press release about the book adds, and international development through a revive them. “only the cultivation and establishment of semester-long international internship experi- “Microfinance policies are quite remarkable. regional peace systems can provide an effective ence with a non-governmental organization Donors have to figure out how to bring in peo- path toward conflict management in these (NGO), think tank or media organization in ple or to offer training,” she explained. standoffs in such intractably divided regions.” Armenia or Serbia. Her new book, which came out earlier this Another example she brought is how each In Armenia, she explained, students can learn month, Networked Regionalism as Conflict individual nation in the region is too small to about global security “and develop in leaps and Management, is about a region much closer to attract major investment. Their interests lie in bounds.” her heart. “It explores this narrative of whether coming together and presenting a bigger target One class is already working this spring with or not it is possible to utilize regional ties in all for investment. partners in Serbia and Armenia, and another kinds” of situations to help bring peace to the She added, “Conflict by itself is not the only will go to Armenia in the fall. region. For example, she said training firefight- hurdle. There is a lack of civil society and an In Armenia the students will work with ers or teachers are things that need to happen inability to form links across the region.” NGOs, including the Eurasian Partnership throughout the Caucasus and the bringing Azerbaijan, she said, is slightly different than Foundation and Transparency International. together of these small groups, could make the Armenia and Georgia, in that its leader, Ilham In June, those that are in Serbia will come to larger society as a whole safer. Aliyev, is more focused on “not pushing confi- Armenia. Ohanyan herself will teach them for Ohanyan said that she does not believe that dence-building regionally” and instead, his “pri- two weeks in Armenia. the region, even with the presence of adver- mary concern is regime survival.” “We want to create a space for young voices,” saries Armenia and Azerbaijan, is doomed to As well, Russia, the US and Europe are all she said, adding that Stonehill’s academic part- fight forever. If, she said, India and Pakistan trying to force these smaller states to choose sides. “My message to the west is to give up con- ner in Armenia will be the Eurasian trol to gain control. There needs to be greater International University in Yerevan. push on Azerbaijan and Georgia to come “I do want in a small way to rebrand OBITUARY together regionally,” she explained. “Neither Armenia,” she said. “There are exciting things the US nor the UN are going to be able to happening in Armenia.” address the security problems in the region. It The students can then bring their research to Former Zartonk Editor Nazaret Topalian Dies is figuring out how to use regional hubs and the NGOs that are dealing with those very same contacts are necessary to solve conflicts around issues, making the theoretical actual. the world.” And it is not only Armenia that will benefit By Hagop Vartivarian from this program, she said. “The students can Stonehill in Armenia, Serbia build up their resumes with a very solid avenue Ohanyan said that she is thrilled that for professional development.” BEIRUT — Nazaret Topalian, former assistant Stonehill Students now can work with universi- The program is open to all social science editor of Zartonk and a prolific writer, passed ties outside the US. The college now offers the majors who maintain a GPA of 3.0 and above away in Paris on March 23. Born in Beirut on LION (Learning Inside Out Network) program, and have strong writing skills. March 12, 1933, Topalian received his elemen- an intensive international internship and For more information, students can contact tary education in the Surp Karasun Mangants research opportunity for students interested in Ohanyan at [email protected]. Elementary School of the New Marash section of Bourj Hammoud, and then went to the St. Gregory the Illuminator School of the Jesuit Fathers in Ashrafiye, where he mastered the French language and became familiar with French literature. He sat in on Armenological classes offered by Garo Sasuni, Simon Vratsian, Mushegh Ishkhan and the historian Karnig F UNERAL H OME Giuzelian at the Hamazkayin Nshan Palanjian Giragosian James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC School of Beirut. He went to Brussels, where he Mark J. Giragosian followed courses in the Press House there. Nazaret Topalian Funeral Counselors He served as editor of the newspaper Aztarar, 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 which belonged to former Armenian www.giragosianfuneralhome.com Revolutionary Federation member Khosrov hiusis-arevelk [Hotel North-West], Paris, 1983; Tiutiunjian and Onnig Topuzian, and Dikran Dariner, Parizi mech [Years, in Paris], Paris, Tosbath’s newspaper Ayk. In 1958, during the 1984; Zkatsaganuteamp meghanchelov fiercest period of the Lebanese civil war, he [Sinning through Feeling], Paris, 1985; Terton joined the Zartonk daily newspaper as an assis- – Don Kishot Hrashakordz [Serialization – Don tant editor to Kersam Aharonian and remained Quixote the Miracle Worker], Paris, 1987; Kalik Nardolillo Funeral Home in this post until the second stage of the civil Zhamanagneru Desilk Me [A Vision of Coming war in 1975. Times], Paris, 1988; Vahan Tekeyani Est. 1906 He worked for a series of literary and politi- Namaganiin Knnagan Modetsumi Portz Me [An John K. Najarian, Jr. cal periodicals and newspapers, including Attempt at a Critical Approach to Vahan Antasdan, Shirag, Ararad, Nor or, Baykar, Arev, Tekeyan’s Collection of Letters], Paris, 1996; Rhode Island’s Only Licensed Armenian Funeral Director Avedis Aliksanian’s Ashkharh of Paris, and Arevakal: Keghon i Badiv Hayasdani 1278 Park Ave. Cranston, RI 02910 (401) 942-1220 Navasart, and Arahed. Aside from this, he [Dawn: A Ballad in Honor of Armenia], 2009. worked as a copyeditor in the French language He published a work dedicated to General 1111 Boston Neck Rd. Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 789-6300 at the large institution of the Quotidien de Torkom, and a work in the French language, Au www.nardolillo.com Paris, and then at Paillard, which published the duel au soleil [To the Duel Under the Sun] newspaper La Croix, and an encyclopedia of (Paris, 2002). He translated from French religions in two large volumes. Topalian copy- Georges Bernanos’ Dialogues of the Carmelites, edited the latter, as well as prepared its index. which appeared in Paris in 1998. Telephone (617) 924-7400 He participated alongside Kersam Aharonian He was a member of the ADL chapter in in the editing and publication of the valuable Paris. For a period of time, he served as secre- volume, Hushamadean Medz Yegherni tary of Paris’ Association Arménienne d’Aide Aram Bedrosian [Memorial Volume of the Great Crime]. Sociale (1975-1981), which at that time was He was forced in 1976 to move to Paris, known under the name Aghkadakhnam. Funeral Home, Inc. where he served as an editor in the French Topalian closely collaborated with Kersam press. In 1988, he became editor of the Aharonian through all sorts of difficult times, Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 Armenian Democratic Liberal Party official always remaining his faithful assistant, and pre- monthly periodical in France, La Lettre de serving political party confidentiality when nec- MARION BEDROSIAN 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET l’ADL, and continued in this post until its first essary. He declared during a meeting in Paris PAUL BEDROSIAN period of publication ended in 1991. on April 8, 2009, “Kersam was dedicated heart WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN He liked to collect works of art. He was also and soul to the political party. He was a very an art critic in our literary and art magazine. courageous man. When you read his editorials, Prior to his compulsory departure from Beirut you will see that he was uncompromising in his to France, I bought from him works of the views toward is opponent, [and] in the service artists Giragosian, Jansem and Dadrian, which of Armenia. I never had the slightest negative awakened the love of collecting art in me. We impression about Kersam. What was wonderful often were together. He had a wide range of was this complete dedication of his. His whole interests. He was different from the others, life was the political party, school and the those who had received an English education; Armenians.” with his French education, he became a contin- There were many opportunists to invite him uation of this art-centered atmosphere in our to the United States, for political party, cultur- house. al, literary and other occasions, but unfortu- He published the following works: Garodi nately his fear of flying in an airplane deprived namag [Letter of Longing], Paris, 1979; Armenian-Armenians of his presence. Karughiner [Crossroads], Paris, 1981; Bantog (Translated from the Armenian) S A T U R D A Y , A P R I L 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 7 COMMUNITY NEWS Armenian International Women’s Association Celebrated 25th Anniversary in New Jersey

they established has allowed By Hagop Vartivarian Armenian women to confidently and fruitfully accomplish projects in Armenia and Armenian com- NORTH BERGEN, N.J. — The Armenian munities abroad. International Women’s Association (AIWA) was On March 13, the New Jersey born together with the proclamation of the branch celebrated this anniver- third Republic of Armenia. In 1990, three sary of a quarter-century at the Armenian-American women in Boston devoted Waterside Restaurant of North to the Armenian people, came up with the idea Bergen on the shores of the for this association. The goal was to defend the Hudson River. Approximately 160 rights of women in Armenian life, both in the members and supporters filled homeland and abroad. The founders were Eva the hall. Margaret Janikian spoke Medzorian; Dr. Barbara Merguerian, a longtime words of welcome to the guests, editor of the Armenian Democratic Liberal while Nvair Beylerian acted as Party publication the Armenian Mirror- the master of ceremonies. Spectator, the first English-language Armenian The ambassador of Armenia to weekly paper in the US; and Olga Proudian. the United Nations (UN), Zohrab For the last 25 years, the organization that Mnatsakanyan, was present, and declared that he had closely fol- lowed the activities of this orga- nization even when he was work- ing as an ambassador in Geneva, Switzerland. As it was the inter- national week of women he also was participating in many activi- ties at the UN prepared by Armenian and non-Armenian AIWA NJ executive cuts the 25th anniversary cake: from left, Ani Chatmajian, Margaret Akian Janikian, Ruth organizations. Bedevian, Lisa Stepanian, Rose Yaverian and Elizabeth Akian. Merguerian had come specially from Boston with other members of the AIWA central executive for this event, Lisa Stepanian, one of the five founders of opened the doors of its New Jersey center for and spoke about AIWA’s mission. She is the the AIWA NJ affiliate, was the honoree of the AIWA meetings and events. author of several books and a member of the day. She introduced to the audience her collab- Cellist Ani Kalayjian performed four classical Dr. Barbara Merguerian and Hagop Vartivarian board of the Armenian Museum of America in orators and reminisced about early difficulties. pieces in the musical portion of the program. Watertown, Mass. She was born in Yerevan and immigrated to At the conclusion of the event, Sossie the US in 1978. She began to participate in Dadoyan Arlia spoke about the Jack in the Box Armenian community life in the US at Union Schools, which she founded and expanded in City, New Jersey’s Holy Cross Church by teach- New Jersey. She encouraged women to be con- ing Armenian language classes. After obtaining fident and take initiatives in life. a degree in chemistry, in 1983 she began work- A cake commemorating the 25th anniversary, ing with a large commercial firm. She has been prepared by Serpouhi Vartivarian, was then cut. working since 2015 as the executive director of The members of the AIWA New Jersey execu- Armenia Fund USA, the East Coast affiliate of tive include chairwoman Margaret Akian the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund. She Janikian, vice chair Ani Chatmajian, treasurer expressed her thanks to all donors, collabora- Rose Yaverian, secretary Elizabeth Akian, and tors and those present, who, believing in the advisors Ruth Bedevian and Lisa Stepanian. A mission of the organization, have participated portion of the proceeds of the event went to and worked towards its goals. She thanked the benefit AIWA’s Women’s Entrepreneurial Tekeyan Cultural Association which gladly Program.

AWWA-Supported Clinic Gives Aid, Medical Care to Artaskh Seniors

BOSTON — For more than 11 years, the Armenian Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA) has funded and supported the Hanganak Health Clinic in Stepanakert, Nagorno- Karabagh. This clinic offers medical care and more to mainly women, aged 63 and older, who live alone with no other means of support. Many of these women are alone because Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations with, several AIWA members, including Carolyn Atinizian, Joan Agajanian Quinn, Jennifer Phillips, Judy Sarian, they had lost loved ones, husbands or sons, in the war against Azerbaijan in 1992. These Judy Norsigian and Barbara Merguerian beneficiaries receive health care, food and provisions, and an opportunity for communing with others weekly at the Hanganak facilities. Once again the war between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabagh in early April has result- ed in many more deaths and injuries due to enemy aggression. Hanganak is there in Stepanakert to assist those older citizens whose lives have been affected by the war. Vartabedian, Brown to Give Men’s Club Talk on May 2 To help the clinic, donations may be made and sent to to the Armenian Women’s Welfare Association, 435 Pond Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. WATERTOWN — On Monday, May 2, Haverhill Valley. authors E. Philip Brown and Tom Vartabedian will Brown is currently a social studies teacher at make a presentation on the their book, The Haverhill High School. He received his BA in Armenians of Merrimack Valley, at the St. James political science at the University of Armenian Church’s Men’s Club. Massachusetts, a MS in applied management at Brown and Vartabedian’s presentation will Lesley University and an MA in Public History include images of Armenians covering four gen- through American Public University. erations along the North Shore of Boston, He is a member of the Haverhill Historical specifically Merrimack Valley, where Armenian Commission and the author of two other books immigrants settled prior to the 19th Century. on local history. The book, published by Arcadia Press, details He was moved by Armenian history and col- life in eight specific areas including business, laborated with Vartabedian for a thesis. culture, education, youth, military, athletics, Despite the Genocide, Armenians have con- business, church and community. tributed immensely to world civilization, said Vartabedian is a veteran reporter and pho- Brown. Greater Merrimack Valley has shared in tographer, having spent 50 years with the that success with many fine accomplishments. Haverhill Gazette, winning numerous awards Inscribed and autographed books will be from United Press International, Associated available that evening or by writing Vartabedian Press and the New England Press Association. at: [email protected]. He has been a columnist with the Armenian The social hour starts with mezza, at 6:15 Weekly since 1970 and a contributor to the p.m. followed by an Armenian dinner at 7 p.m., Armenian Mirror-Spectator and serves on the $15 per person. The dinner meeting will be at Project SAVE Board of Directors. the St. James Armenian Church, Charles Over the past decade, he has provided educa- Mosesian Cultural and Youth Center, Keljik Beneficiary with Dr. Gohar Hovhannisyan from Hanganak tional discussions throughout schools in Hall. Massachusetts as a member of the Armenian The program i open to the public. Ladies are Genocide Education Committee of Merrimack welcome. 8 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Four Finalists for Aurora Prize Name Their Choices for Receiving $1 Million Prize

YEREVAN — The four Aurora Prize finalists, in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan: Catena is an next generation, from slavery. 1586, today the Ministers of the Sick are known announced last month, have named the organi- American physician and the sole doctor of the •Human Rights Commission of Pakistan throughout the world as the “Camillians.” The zations they would like to nominate to receive Mother of Mercy Hospital in rebel-held territory (HRCP) Camillians is made up of about 1,200 members the $1,000,000 award. The Aurora Prize in the Nuba Mountains, Sudan. Despite several The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan who work in many countries around the world. Laureate and his or her nominated organiza- bombings by the Sudanese government, Catena was established in 1987 and grown into an Faithful to their mission, they place especial tion(s) will be announced during the inaugural resides on the hospital grounds so that he may influential, country-wide human rights body. emphasis on care for sick people, even where Aurora Prize Ceremony on April 24 in Armenia. be on call at all times. HRCP works in very challenging situations and there is a risk to their own lives. The Aurora If named the Aurora Prize Laureate, he or Organizations Nominated by Catena: faces regular threats from those opposed to its Prize award would be used to fund new health she will be granted the opportunity to continue •African Mission Healthcare Foundation work. Among the wide range of human rights facilities and training for local healthcare work- the cycle of giving by allocating the $1,000,000 (AMHF) issues that the organization works on, HRCP ers, including projects across Africa. award to the nominated organization or organi- The African Mission Healthcare Foundation chooses to focus on those that affect the most The four finalists were each asked to shortlist zations. supports mission hospitals, which provide vulnerable – including the persecution of reli- up to three organizations that they would nom- The four finalists for the inaugural Aurora approximately one-third of the medical care gious minorities, extra-judicial killings, bonded inate for a share of the $1,000,000 award if they Prize are: available on the African continent. Annually, labor and the status of women. The Aurora are named Aurora Prize Laureate later this Marguerite Barankitse of Maison Shalom AMHF makes possible 70,000 patient visits and Prize award would greatly help HRCP in insti- month. This award will be given in addition to a and REMA Hospital in Burundi: Barankitse several thousand corrective surgical proce- tutionalizing its work and improving the rights personal $100,000 grant for the Laureate. saved thousands of lives and cared for orphans dures. Supported activities include HIV care of vulnerable sections of society. Selection Committee Co-Chair George and refugees during the years of civil war in and support, primary care, maternal-child •Trócaire International Clooney will announce the inaugural Aurora Burundi. To date, she has saved an estimated health, and providing general and pediatric Trócaire, one of Ireland’s leading develop- Prize Laureate during a ceremony in Yerevan, 30,000 children and in 2008, she opened a hos- surgery. AMHF has been privileged to support ment organizations, has worked internationally Armenia on April 24. pital which has treated more than 80,000 Mother of Mercy Hospital since 2013. A share for over 40 years providing support to people Recipients will be recognized for the excep- patients thus far. of the Aurora Prize would enable AMHF to living in extreme poverty, enabling them to take tional impact their actions have made on pre- Organizations chosen by Barankitse: assist other unsung heroes working on behalf of control over their own lives and live free from serving human life and advancing humanitari- •Fondation du Grand-Duc et de la Grande- the sick and the poor and to deliver the capital injustice and oppression. As the overseas devel- an causes. On behalf of the survivors of the Duchesse du Luxembourg improvements necessary to provide quality, sus- opment agency of the Catholic Church in Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their In her role as UNICEF Eminent Advocate for tainable medical care. Ireland, Trócaire works in over 20 countries saviors, an Aurora Prize Laureate will be hon- Children, H.R.H. the Grand-Duchess of •Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) across Africa, Latin America, Asia and the ored each year with a US$100,000 grant as Luxembourg visited Burundi in June 2009, CMMB is an international, faith-based NGO Middle East. Trócaire has supported Fatima to well as the unique opportunity to continue the where she bore witness to the inhumane deten- providing community based, long-term, human- establish Freedom Centers where workers cycle of giving by nominating organizations tion conditions of children incarcerated in adult itarian and development aid to communities receive healthcare, education, awareness on that inspired their work for a US$1,000,000 prisons. With the assistance of Marguerite affected by poverty and especially inequities rights, physical protection and legal services. award. Barankitse and her committed staff from the and unequal access to healthcare. A share from The Aurora Prize would greatly assist Trócaire The Aurora Prize Selection Committee Maison Shalom, the organization has helped to the Aurora Prize would enable CMMB to invest in continuing its work to end slavery in includes Nobel Laureates Elie Wiesel, Oscar secure the release of 600 children imprisoned in the Mother of Mercy Hospital’s infrastruc- Pakistan. Arias, Shirin Ebadi and Leymah Gbowee; for- throughout Burundi and provided services to ture and training for staff, as well as deliver Father Bernard Kinvi, a Catholic priest in mer President of Ireland Mary Robinson; aid their rehabilitation and reintegration. A more Interagency Emergency Healthcare Kits Bossemptele in the Central African Republic: human rights activist Hina Jilani; former share of the Aurora Prize would enable the (IEHKs) to support Dr. Catena’s patients. The Kinvi has provided refuge and health services to Australian Foreign Minister and President Foundation to further assist Maison Shalom in kits provide significant support as each one con- those on both sides of the civil war in the Emeritus of the International Crisis Group its challenging work, as well as positively tains all of the essential medicines needed to Central African Republic through his mission in Gareth Evans; President of the Carnegie respond to the many requests for support that serve a population of 10,000 people for three Bossemptele. He has saved hundreds of people Corporation of New York Vartan Gregorian; and the Foundation regularly receives from emerg- months. The Aurora Prize award would also be from persecution and death. Academy Award-winning actor and humanitari- ing countries. invested in rural, mission hospitals in some of Organizations Nominated by Fr. Kinvi: an George Clooney. •Fondation Jean-François Peterbroeck (JFP the most remote, underserved areas of Africa. •The Order of the Ministers of the Sick The Aurora Prize will be awarded annually on Foundation) •Diocese of El Obeid * (ORDRE DES CAMILLIENS) April 24 in Yerevan, Armenia. The JFP Foundation combats child poverty, The Diocese of El Obeid is one of the largest The Order of the Ministers of the Sick was Further information is available at www.auro- discrimination and injustice - in particular aban- Catholic Diocese in the world, covering an area founded by St. Camillus de Lellis in the year raprize.com. doned or displaced children, orphans and vic- of more than 340,000 square miles. The Diocese tims of child labor, conflicts or social poverty. opened the Mother of Mercy Hospital in March Since its creation in 2006, the JFP Foundation 2008, the hospital has treated more than has supported more than 30 projects around 200,000 patients since its inception. Catena ini- the world. The first of them was Marguerite tially joined the hospital when it opened and Barankitse’s Maison Shalom in Burundi and has remained despite the outbreak of civil war the JFP Foundation also helped towards the in June 2011. The Diocese relies on donor fund- construction and operation of Marguerite’s ing to run its activities and missions, including ӇӥӹӥӧӯԃӥӳӥӺӏԆԁӸӥӺԅӅԄӥӧӯԄ REMA Hospital. A share of the Aurora Prize the Mother of Mercy Hospital. could further support Maison Shalom and its Syeda Ghulam Fatima, the General Secretary Programme of Armenian Studies work for the children of Burundian refugees, as of the Bonded Labor Liberation Front in Ӈ well as a related project in Democratic Republic Pakistan: Ghulam Fatima has worked tirelessly of Congo called “INUKA”. to eradicate bonded labor, one of the last •Fondation Bridderlech Deelen Luxembourg remaining forms of modern slavery, liberating Fondation Bridderlech Deelen is the Catholic thousands of Pakistani workers. aid agency of Luxemburg. For 50 years, Organizations Nominated by Ghulam Fatima: Bridderlech Deelen has fought poverty and •Bonded Labour Liberation Front Pakistan injustice and stood up for those in need – (BLLF) regardless of their religion, ethnicity or gender. Fatima leads the Bonded Labour Liberation Together with local partners in Latin America, Front Pakistan (BLLF), which has liberated Africa and Asia, Bridderlech Deelen works 80,000 Pakistani slaves who were forced to towards sustainably improving the living condi- work for brick kiln owners in order to repay tions of disadvantaged members of society. debts. The interest rates are too high for work- With a share of the Aurora Prize, Bridderlech ers to pay off, trapping the workers in forced Deelen Foundation could extend its support to labor and poor — often brutal — conditions. The ² other projects helping those in need. Aurora Prize award would help BLLF to con- Dr. Tom Catena of Mother of Mercy Hospital tinue its work to free people, particularly the ELEMENTARY WESTERN ARMENIAN | MON 4 JUL 2016 THU 28 JUL 2016 This course provides students with the essential tools for using language. Students will learn to write simple sentences and read basic texts. Armenian Life in Post-Genocide Turkey Explored ² In Prof. Ekmekçioglu’s Latest Book INTERMEDIATE WESTERN ARMENIAN | MON 1 AUG 2016 THU 25 AUG 2016 The next level of language learning. Students will learn to converse with WOMEN, from page 5 es on minority-majority relationships and the native speakers about daily life and read the newspaper-level texts. ing on the issues of the day, emphasizing the ways in which gendered analytical lenses help ² woman’s duty to family and nation while at to better understand coexistence and conflict, the same time calling for equal rights. But including genocide, in the Middle East. ADVANCED WESTERN ARMENIAN | MON 6 JUN 2016 THU 30 JUN 2016 their viewpoint raised a basic paradox: could A native of Turkey, she is a graduate of one be an Armenian and a feminist at a time Bogazici University in Istanbul and received her Students will acquire advanced understanding of grammar and considerable sophistication in communicating with native speakers. when the key path for Armenians to maintain doctorate from New York University. Her first )XOOVFKRODUVKLSVDUHDYDLODEOHWRFRYHUVWXGHQWV·WXLWLRQIHHVFRXUWHV\RI their identity was through traditionally gen- book, co-edited with Melissa Bilal and published dered roles. in 2006 in Turkish, is titled A Cry for Justice: Ekmekçioglu is the McMillan-Stewart Five Armenian Feminist Writers, from the Associate Professor of History and an affiliate Ottoman Empire to the Turkish Republic (1862- the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Please consult our website for of the Woman and Gender Study Program at 1933). application deadlines and further details. the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A The public is invited to attend this program,  student of the modern Middle East, she special- which will shed light on a significant but little- SUPPORTED BY: MORE INFORMATION: izes in Turkish and Armenian history at the known aspect of the Armenian experience in  beginning of the 20th century. Her work focus- the 20th century. www.progarmstud.org.uk [email protected] S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS TCA of Greater New York Elects Ambitious New Executive

NEW YORK — Through its half century of first executive committee activity, with its literary, cultural and theatrical was formed in New York programs, the Tekeyan Cultural Association under the chairmanship of (TCA) of Greater New York has won a promi- the writer Souren nent place in the Armenian community life of Manuelian. Later, in 1972, this great metropolis. thanks to the efforts of Dr. From the 1950s, solid relations between the Krikor Maksoudian, its work homeland and the Armenians in the diaspora continued to 1975, when communities kept the latter connected with the another respected writer, advancement of the homeland and proud of its Lucy Piligian, took over the cultural accomplishments. Tekeyan became the chairmanship until 1979. organization which, contrary to the political Hagop Vartivarian took obstacles placed before it, connected the over with a group of youth national dreams of the Armenian people in a after Piligian until 1982. After this, the office was con- secutively held by Ara “The work of the Tekeyan Cultural Babayan, Nerses Ingilizian, Missak Boghosian and Association in strengthening rela- Norair Meguerditchian. tions between the homeland and Vartivarian came back in the last decade to again serve as the diaspora, educating the new chairman until this year. generation, and preserving and dis- On March 23, 2016, a new era began in the life of the seminating cultural values has been New York TCA chapter with fruitful and worthy of praise,” a successful young genera- tion taking administrative New York TCA new executive. Seated, from left, Taleen Babayan, Diana Mkhitarian, Hilda Hartounian, and Barkev responsibility for the activi- Kalayjian; standing, from left, Hagop Vartivarian, Helen Misk, Carmen Gulbenkian, Jerry Misk, Ani Hovanessian- - Archbishop Torkom Manoogian ties of this large branch. The Kasparian, Harout Chatmajian, Marie Zokian, Vartan Ilanjian and Diran Jebejian. meeting elected Vartivarian, who remains a member of permanent fashion to the homeland and the the Central Board of the TCA of USA and Youth Association Girl Scout (Arenoushagan) TCA Founders Committee. She married the lat- Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin. Canada, as honorary chairman of the New York movement. She was chairwoman of the TCA ter’s son, Saro, and is the mother of Nairi, The New York Tekeyan members, with ever- chapter. Students Group, and very active in the Nanor and Aram. greater confidence after the marking of the cen- The new executive consists of Hilda Armenian Democratic Liberal Party’s The new executive will be paying special tennial of the Armenian Genocide, have once Hartounian as chair, Diana Mkhitarian as vice Portukalian Youth Club. After moving to the attention to cultural relations with Armenia, more reformed their structure and plans in order chair, Taleen Babayan as secretary, Barkev United States, she became a member of the and will organize art exhibitions, literary to be able to better reach the new generation of Kalayjian as treasurer, and Carmen Gulbenkian, Shoushi Dance Group and various AGBU cul- evenings and concerts. A website is planned for American Armenians. They carry on the fruitful Helen Misk, Ani Hovanessian-Kasparian, Marie tural groups in New York. Twice she was a bear- the chapter. legacy of the past by connecting the latter to our Zokian, Vartan Ilanjian, Diran Jebejian, Jerry er of the ADL message at the Times Square It will continue to maintain its close relations cultural values and traditions and the new Misk and Harout Chatmajian as board mem- Armenian Genocide commemorations. with the various organizations that believe in achievements of our nation and homeland. bers. She is the daughter of Krikor Kurejian, who the mission of Tekeyan and have been friendly The New York chapter of TCA was founded in Hilda Hartounian was born in Beirut and as for many years was a member of the ADL in the past, and will together prepare various 1969 thanks to the initiative of Armenian pub- an adolescent was a member of the Armenian District Committee of Lebanon, and the daugh- initiatives for the entire Armenian community. lic figure and editor Antranig L. Poladian. The General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Armenian ter-in-law of Garo Hartounian, a member of the (Translated from the Armenian)

Commemorate the 101st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at the Massachusetts State House

April 22, 2016 starting at 10:30 am * 12 noon reception at the Grand Staircase

With a proclamation from the Governor of Massachusetts Amb. Ray Flynn keynote speaker Master of ceremonies Rep. Jon Hecht Prominent Massachusetts officials Joint Senate/House Resolution recipients Conventures, The Knights of Vartan Ararat Lodge #1 and the Armenian Genocide Education Committee of Merrimack Valley And musical program provided by Zankagner and St. Stephen’s Armenian School

Organized by the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee, Boston

* Buses will be at St. James and St. Stephen’s Churches at 8:30 am for 9:00 am departure to the State House and will leave the State House at 1:00 pm to return. Buses are free and generously provided by the Knights of Vartan Ararat Lodge #1. 10 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Old State House Hosts Program On Moses Gulesian

GULESIAN, from page 1 Stone Blackwell, and William Lloyd Garrison Jr., Brian LeMay, president and executive director raising funds for Armenian relief. He turned the of the nonprofit Bostonian Society, spoke about top floor of his copperworks factory on Waltham Gulesian’s work as a preservationist, as “some- Street into a shelter for hundreds of Armenian body who had a deep appreciation for the funda- refugees. mental ideas that lie at the foundation of this Van Dyke concluded, “You can see that he had country, that are embodied in many ways in this a very large soul, a very large Armenian- building.” He pointed out that the discovery of the American-Bostonian soul. It is a beautiful exam- time capsule on top of the Old State House build- ple of how immigrants can make the greatest ing spurred interest in Gulesian’s life and works. patriots in this country.” LeMay provided background information LeMay then presented Don Tellalian, an about the Bostonian Society’s mission and activ- accomplished architect who among other things ities, and the importance of the Old State House consulted for the Bostonian Society for the Old building itself. He said that Gulesian’s historical State House renovations. Tellalian spoke about significance is tied to Boston and the Bostonian the discovery of the time capsule inside the Lion Society. Gulesian joined forces with prominent above the east façade of the Old State House. He members of the abolitionist and suffragist move- went over the clues that spurred on his research. ments yet until the discovery of the time capsule, During renovations, Skylight Studios was able the Bostonian Society was not well informed to confirm the existence of this capsule, and so about his activities. it was removed and opened up in a controlled LeMay introduced Dr. Joyce Van Dyke, play- environment. The contents, over 113 years old, Artifacts from the Old State House time capsule, including the Red Book were in very good condition. Most striking was a large red book which dealt with US foreign relations. through rapid action by friends of the Armenians The audience itself in some ways was as inter- This book was not listed in a con- in Boston as well as Armenians themselves. He esting as the program, though its size was limit- temporary newspaper inventory of said that this was in due to “all of those people ed by code restrictions and space limitations to the capsule. Tellalian related that his who we have touched and told our story for fifty 75 people. A number of the guests had direct “wife Barbara has in certain circum- years, and told them who we were, and told them connections to Gulesian. Donald Tellalian, who stances very sharp instincts,” and in the pride we felt, the Moses Gulesians, the Mugar played an important role in restoration of the Old September 2015, she noticed that family, the Nubar Afeyans, for the Armenians State House, declared afterwards: “We are so the date of 1896 of the documentary back in the 19th century all the way up to the pleased that the Bostonian Society in collabora- collection coincided with the Armenians here in the tion with NAASR hosted Hamidian massacres of Armenians in 21st century.” Finally, the evening at the Old the Ottoman Empire. this evening came about State House, bringing Indeed, Don Tellalian found that a to commemorate together extended large section of the book dealt with Gulesian, showing that Gulesian family from Turkey and the Armenian massacres. the way Armenians New York, Vermont and He found that on only one page in played an important role Maine, and others.” Donald Tellalian speaking, with Brian LeMay to his right. the book — page 887 — the corner in Bostonian society One of these guests was turned down deliberately, and more than a century ago, was Adrienne this section concerned, among other was again being recog- Richardson, whose great- wright and Shakespeare scholar, and a lecturer things, attacks in Marash, Gulesian’s hometown. nized by Boston society. grandfather was Moses at the Harvard Extension. Van Dyke managed to He concluded that it must have been Gulesian Kurkjian concluded, Gulesian’s brother make Gulesian’s personality and life immediate who placed the red book into the time capsule. “Our story has finally Joseph. The Richardsons and accessible through a very lively five-minute Stephen Kurkjian, prizewinning reporter for been heard and reck- have inherited interest- presentation. She found Gulesian to be a man more than 45 years at the Boston Globe and oned with, and it is the ing documents concern- with a “romantic soul and an iron will.” Born in winner of three Pulitzer Prizes, represented proudest moment for ing the Gulesians, includ- the Ottoman Empire under Turkish rule, after NAASR as a longtime board member on the me, as I hope it is for ing a property list of the coming to the US all alone at the age of 17, he program. He spoke of the pride Armenians felt you, that we are here Gulesian family from was well placed to make Americans understand to see the Armenian flag flying at full mast in tonight, together, broth- A possible portrait of Moses Gulesian, Marash, and an oil paint- what Turkish rule really meant in those days. front of the State House during the visit of ers and sisters of awaiting final identification, belonging to ing by Armand Ishlemeji. He became prominent in Boston society after Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan the week Hayastan, brothers and Gulesian relative Adrienne Richardson The latter, given to them (photo courtesy John and Adrienne succeeding in business, with a copperworks fac- prior to the Gulesian event. He felt this was a sisters of old historic by the wife of the archi- Richardson) tory in the South End, and real estate holdings. turning point for Armenians like himself, who, Armenia and new tect Dudley S. Gulesian, He made the copper replicas of the statues on he said, “would have to say who we were…we Armenia, and Armenia is thought to be a por- top of the Old State House. In 1905, he inter- had to say that every time, time and again at here in the Old State trait of Moses (see vened to try to save the historic ship Old every class, at every school we went to, and House.” accompanying image), but the family is looking Ironsides, and this turned into a national move- explain ourselves.” The audience was then invited to go look at a for confirmation of this. ment which led to its preservation. Then came the extraordinarily quick removal of display of the time capsule and its contents in There were non-Armenians present whose Gulesian helped save many thousands of lives a defamatory billboard only a few blocks from the the room next door. Each visitor received a spe- lives had been touched by Gulesian, too. by organizing the Friends of Armenia, working Old State House and Armenian Heritage Park, cially prepared program booklet with five articles Cameron Peters, chief financial officer of 24M alongside Clara Barton, Julia Ward Howe, Alice placed to cast doubt on the Armenian Genocide, about the Old State House and Gulesian. Technologies, Inc., related during the reception for the event that his lithium-ion battery startup company moved into an old building at 130 Brookline Street in Cambridge, that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology had bought and refurbished. Gulesian’s name was written on the door. The building was probably initially a workshop garage in the 1920s. Gulesian lost the building to foreclosure during the Depression. Peters grew interested in the history of the building and Gulesian, and prepared a PowerPoint presentation for the 55 employees of his company. Peters said that among other things Gulesian erected the first electric street lighting along Huntington Avenue in Boston and the first parking garage in Boston. Dr. Jack Keverian, Professor Emeritus at Drexel University (and brother of the late Speaker of the House of Massachusetts) and his wife Dorothy, Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, members of the Board of Directors of the Bostonian Society and NAASR, and representatives of the Tekeyan Cultural Association were part of the audience that evening. After the event, Sarah Ignatius, executive director of NAASR, declared: “Part of what was so special for us was partnering with the Bostonian Society in a new setting and talking about how Armenian immigrants had been cru- cial to Boston’s own history and preservation. We hope to follow up with other Armenians who similarly have played a strong role in the devel- opment of Boston’s history.” S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 Arts & Living

Armenian Youth Event Commemorates Uncovering Armenian Genocide Unknown Through Music Masterpieces of NEW MILFORD, N.J. — A youth event in Armenia’s First commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, “100 Years and Beyond: Culture. Honor. Great Mystic Poet Celebration,” featuring live Armenian music by Yerakouyn Band and DJ Shant will take place on Saturday, April 23, starting at 8 p.m., at the By Arthur Hagopian Hovnanian School, in an event sponsored by the Knights of Vartan Mid Atlantic Lodge and JERUSALEM — A thousand years ago, a the Hovnanian Alumni Association. monk in a distant monastery in the west- Yerakouyn Band, which is composed of mem- ern Armenian province of Reshdunik, bers Shant Massoyan (lead vocals, dumbek, picked up a reed pen and began etching shvi), Raffi Rachdouni (piano, backup vocals) out what would later become known as the and Raffi Massoyan (oud, backup vocals, dhol), first great Armenian mystic and liturgical play folk Armenian music to a new generation poetry. of Armenians. Citing Onnik Dinkjian, Adiss Krikor Naregatsi (Gegory of Nareg), who Harmandian, Ara Dinkjian, John Berberian and spent his entire life in the monastery, died Oum Kalthoum as their influences, the trio has at the relatively young age of 50, but what made a name for itself on the East Coast since he has left behind has outlived his time the founding of their band in 2011. and age: as long as one Armenian heart “We are young Armenians trying to keep our beats anywhere in this world, his inspired culture alive through music,” said members of odes and lamentations will continue to Yerakouyn. find an echo there. The organizing committee, including Taleen His writings, described by critics as “lit- Babayan, Anoush Gulian, Anahid Kaprielian erary masterpieces in both lyrical verse and Jirayr Khorozian, under the guidance of and narrative,” have only been known in the Knights of Vartan, felt it was important to their original golden Grapar (Classical host this event for the second year in a row Armenian) to a select cadre of Armenian because of the enthusiasm that was sparked scholars, an oversight now boldly atoned during the centennial concert last spring. for by the eminent expert on Medieval “It is important to focus on the youth, who Emma Grigoryan b. 1943, “Musicians”, Oil on Canvas, 20 x 16 inches. Armenian literature, Dr. Abraham Terian. as the next generation of Armenians will carry His “groundbreaking” and “magnificent” forward the history, culture and language of new book, The Festal Works of St Gregory our people,” said Khorozian, a member of of Narek (461 pp, the Liturgical Press, Knights of Vartan. Gallery Z Exhibit Minnesota, 2016) is the first translation “One Hundred Years and Beyond” will take (embellished with 54 pages of introduction place on Saturday, April 23, 2016 from 8 p.m. and an array of explanatory notes) in any to midnight at The Hovnanian School, 817 language, of the surviving corpus of River Road, New Milford, New Jersey. All those Features Works by Naregatsi’s festal works. Terian’s melliflu- attending must be at least 18, and to drink, 21 and older Visit www.100yearsandbeyond.ticket- Artist Emma Grigoryan bud.com for tickets and more information. PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Works by Emma Grigoryan are among pictures exhibited at Gallery Z’s exhibition titled “Armenian Artists: 101 Years.” The exhibit will run through April 30. Two Books of Poetry by One year after the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, Armenian artists con- tinue to flourish as the Armenian people continue to survive. Last year at this time, Helene Pilibosian Studio Z featured an extensive commemorative multimedia exhibit of not only many Published Posthumously works of art by a broad selection of well known Armenian artists but also archival material and historical propaganda affiches and posters, theatrical readings, poetry WATERTOWN — Ohan Press of Watertown has recitations, live music and theatre, documentary film screenings, artist talks, lectures just published two books of poetry by the late and continuous video footage. This large undertaking curated by owner Berge Helene Pilibosian nearly four months after her Zobian was extremely well death. attended by both non- Pilibosian was a former editor of the Armenian Armenian and Armenian Mirror-Spectator. members of the communi- The two new collections of poems are Candor ty. Candy: Global Poems, and Planet Tome Reborn. Art works by numerous They have been released on Amazon. prominent Armenian and In Candor Candy: Global Poems, Pilibosian Armenian-American artists will be on exhibit, including presents her love for art, music, nature, and trav- ous English and his mastery of Grapar, featured artist, Emma el in poems with an international flavor. Her have made this onerous task a joy and a Grigoryan, who is coming travels take her readers all over the world, and celebration. from her home in New then across America, stopping at The Like all other Jerusalem Armenians, York for the reception. Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to Terian’s first encounter with Naregatsi Born and raised in admire a khatchkar, an Armenian cross-stone. occurred at a tender age, when at the grad- Gumri, Armenia, she Her Armenian roots are also evident in poems uation ceremony of primary students at attended the notable like “For That Iris”: Grigorian, Alexander O. b.1927 d. 2007, the Armenian parish school he, like all his Panos Tenemesian Scool of “Untitled”, Oil on Canvas, 20 x 16 inches. classmates, was handed a copy of a I grew up with the minor key, Art in Yerevan and is a Naregatsi prayer book, the sharagans in church graduate of the Yerevan “Aghotamadyan” as a parting gift, to be his the essence of Armenian history Fine Arts and Theatrical institute (1969). She became a member of the Union of guide and inspiration for the days ahead. condensed into a few notes, fine Artists in Armenia in 1971. The tradition continues to this day. I’ve Her paintings have been exhibited worldwide in both group and solo in a series kept my own copy for half a century, and of shows: New York, Paris, Moscow, Toronto, Boston, New Mexico, Belgium, Beirut, But she acknowledges being a child of the remember a line from one of Naregatsi’s Iraq, Armenia and Yugoslavia. West in “Midnight Performs”: most poignant odes, his magnificat of God: “…On her canvases, paints turn to color, a world of hope and vibration…the view- I will say “The darkness of the night cannot eclipse er will see from the early savage beauty of Armenia to today’s sophisticated and that I am from the East, the glory and grandeur of your dominion” refined world…a pubescence of color, line and rhythm.” Rafael Petrosyan, Artist, my features proof of this. (my translation). 1997, New York But often I speak more like With his new book Terian, who has won In addition, Gallery Z displays an ever-changing extensive and diverse selection in a person of the West plaudits from various parts of the world, salon style of original Fine Art works (paintings, photographs, drawings, mixed an independent gal the latest his acceptance as a fellow see GALLERY Z, page 12 who cultivates her niche. see NAREG, page 14 see POETRY, page 12 12 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING Two Books of Poetry by Helene Pilibosian Published Posthumously

POETRY, from page 11 et Tome to start a new life in New York City. In She eventually returns to her native Boston, this sequel, the Everydreams are in Boston, a only to observe the chaos of the Boston grown Taralee meets Ted, whom she later mar- Marathon bombing in “Clam Chowder ries, and Granite advises people on Tome to Manners”: prepare to start a business that grinds sun- But I forgot clam chowder manners flower seeds into a powder for bread in antici- on Boylston street that day pation of human immigration. The story is told when the marathon exploded. in a highly metaphorical, surreal way, with an My memory has dulled obvious love of art often expressed through around the edges of the names. clever rhymes, as in “After The Dinner Table”: Green window-sheen In Planet Tome Reborn, Helene Pilibosian as I perceive red walls. continues her sci-fi poetry tale from her previ- Black-slack for the servant’s blouse. ous book, A New Orchid Myth, in which the The chimes of color evolve in Matisse’s Fauve. Flat perspectives drive my mind’s pith and rind.

Both books are available through Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle versions. Pilibosian’s poems have appeared in many American and Armenian literary journals and anthologies in the US and abroad. Some of her poems were finalists in literary competitions or won first prizes and honorable mentions. Her early work has been cited in the Greenwood Encyclopedia of Multiethnic American Literature. Ohan Press, a private bilingual micropress, Helene Pilibosian has published 14 books of both prose and poet- ry, including Helene’s autobiography My Everydream family, Amethyst, Granite, and Literary Profile: A Memoir, awarded honorable daughter Taralee, come to Earth from the plan- mention by the New England Book Festival.

Gallery Z Exhibit Features Works by Armenian Artists

GALLERY Z, from page 11 with luminous handmade small Murano media, glass, sculptures, assemblages, etch- glass gifts (paperweights, ornaments, ves- ings, lithographs) from Gallery Z’s deep sta- sels, perfume bottles) and Murano glass jew- ble of almost 400 Fine Artists, elry (pendants, necklaces, bracelets, rings, locally, nationally or internationally earrings, watches, hair clips), all personally renowned, along with fine ceramics and chosen and imported from Venice by pottery, jewelry and Armenian and interna- Gallery Associate Linda Kamajian in a tional handicrafts. sparkling rainbow of colors. These are set The adjacent “Italy” room expands the amidst Fine Art paintings and photographs vibrant local Federal Hill Italian cultural related to Italy or by some of Gallery Z’s atmosphere with “Dreamy Venice”, filled established Italian-American Fine Artists.

FRIENDS OF ARMENIAN CULTURE SOCIETY

Edvard Pogossian

Boston PopsCELLO Orchestra Keith Lockhart

CONDUCTOR FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2016 AT 8 PM SYMPHONY HALL, BOSTON

Hagopian, Hagop b.1923 d. 2013, “Landscape #29” Oil on Canvas, 39 x 28 inches FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: WWW.FACSBOSTON.ORG S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 ARTS & LIVING Shushi Dance Ensemble Performs in Glendale

mances, which resulted in an extended standing By Kevork Keushkerian ovation from the audience. The 34 dances and songs were augmented with a background video presentation of pictures, appropriately depicting GLENDALE — When 49 dancers took to the the theme of the song or the dance in progress, stage for more than two hours on Sunday, April so the members of the audience would relate to 10, at the John Wayne Performing Arts Center the story behind that specific item performed. of Glendale High School, they thrilled those During the curtain call, Primate Archbishop gathered. The Armenian folk dances were Hovnan Derderian and Gevorgyan were invited accompanied by vocal renditions by famous to the stage to express their thoughts. artists from Armenia, New York and Los Derderian called the evening performance a vol- Angeles. The theme was appropriately chosen canic explosion of songs and dances, which to be “Remember 1915 and Rise” on this 101st made all of us proud of our rich cultural her- anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. itage. He called upon Paskalian-Kantardjian to The dance and song performance was orga- continue her important work of instilling the nized by Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Armenian spirit in the minds and souls of the Glendale-Pasadena Chapter and was held under young generations of Armenians in this remote the auspices of Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, part of our Diaspora. the Primate of the Western Diocese of the Gevorgyan, who had volunteered to fight in Armenian Church of North America. Artsakh and was rejected due to the high num- This was the fifth stop of Shushi Dance ber of volunteers, stressed the call for unity by Ensemble’s tour last year, which included per- his colleagues and expressed his pleasant sur- formances in Moscow, Yerevan, Stepanakert prise to see four of his nephews among the and New York City. Shushi Dance Ensemble guest dancers of the evening. He was later pre- was founded in 1992, under the auspices of sented with a plaque of appreciation from the New York’s St. Vartan Cathedral. In 1995, the Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Glendale- ensemble adopted the name Shushi, on the Pasadena Chapter. occasion of the third anniversary of the libera- Paskalian-Kantardjian was also presented tion of that ancient capital city in Artsakh. with a certificate of commendation from Ara Seta Paskalian-Kantardjian is the dynamic Najarian, the former Mayor and current artistic director and choreographer of Shushi Councilmember of the City of Glendale. It was Dance Ensemble. Under her visionary leader- in recognition of her passion and dedication in ship, the group has flourished and grown to promoting the Armenian culture through tal- 110 dancers of all ages, who have sacrificed ented performing arts. many precious hours daily, to bring this Dance Following the performance, the dancers and Ensemble to its current professional level. the artists were invited for a cast party by the Andranik Mouradian is the famed musical direc- organizing committee, which took place at tor of the group. Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Beshgeturian In 2010, Shushi Dance Ensemble made a his- Center in Altadena. The sponsors of the event toric trip across the Middle East, performing in were also invited. Kevork Keushkerian intro- Amman, Jordan, Beirut, Lebanon and the A dancer is hoisted waving the flag of Artsakh. duced the members of the organizing commit- Syrian cities of Damascus and Aleppo. The per- tee, whose hard work and dedication was great- formance in Aleppo was especially significant as ly appreciated. it took place with spectacular fireworks in the nation as vocalists like Artsakh-born Andre, The famed, multi-talented composer Ara After food was served, the dancing not only ancient citadel of the city for 4,000 spectators. who had just come from Stepanakert a day Gevorgyan, who had just come from Yerevan resumed but took to new heights by the guest Just two years later in 2012, Shushi Dance before, and Armenian-born Leyla Saribekyan, three days ago, was the guest of honor that after- dancers, as there were no restraints to impress who had just come noon. The singers and dancers mesmerized the the audience. It was both impromptu and infor- from Yerevan three 1,300 spectators with their dazzling perfor- mal, but excited everyone in attendance. days ago, both expressed their soli- darity with the heroic fighters on the Artsakh border with Azerbaijan and called for unity on all fronts to defeat the enemy. This is a day of cele- bration, they added, to evoke the Armenian spirit to confront any obstacle in the path of victory. Other vocalists par- ticipating in the per- formance were Hasmik Mekhanejian and Anahit Zakaryan Singer Leyla Saribekyan and two dancers from New York City, as well as Salbi Ensemble toured South America to perform to Mailyan, Armen Hovhannisyan, and Ruben packed audiences in Buenos Aires, Argentina Telunts from Los Angeles. Especially impressive and Montevideo, Uruguay. were the final two songs, Kilikia and Hayastan, The Glendale performance on April 10, with the participation of all the vocalist and aside from being a song and dance exhibition Shushi dancers, which marked the highlight of Singer Andre, center, with dancers in traditional costumes of the highest caliber, was a show of determi- the evening.

An impressive lineup at the conclusion of the program 14 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING

the Hovhaness premieres was the world pre- premiere as a complete set). In 1968 miere of music by Kristapor Kara-Mourza Khachaturian added recitatives to seven fugues Sahan (1853-1902), his Potpourri on Armenian he had composed in his younger days and had Songs (1872). Valuable from a musicological rediscovered decades later. Similar in format to perspective perhaps more than musical, this Preludes and Fugues by any number of com- work of Kara-Mourza was some of the first posers, the resulting set is a valuable addition Arzruni: Armenian music notated for piano. True to a to Khatchaturian’s body of piano works. At 25 disclaimer by Arzruni that it is “a piece of minutes in duration and rather cerebral listen- kitsch,” it was replete with “urban folk” tunes ing at times, they demand much from an audi- of an adulterated sort. The medley was ence, but one couldn’t help observing that Pianist in Review nonetheless fascinating in the context of the Arzruni had drawn a particularly attentive audi- rest of the program, an important piece of the ence. The pieces reflected some influence of historic picture. Shostakovich (especially in the giocoso sec- By Rorianne Schrade After Intermission came music by a far more tions, as in number 3), some of Bach (natural- famous Armenian composer, Aram ly), and even of Rachmaninoff (more in the Khachaturian (1903-1978). His Chant-Poème Recitative sections, especially in number 2), but NEW YORK (New York Concert Review) — was given a beautiful performance by 11-year- these works stand on their own and warrant Those who say all piano recitals are alike these old violinist Simon Hagopian-Rogers, accompa- further playing. Arzruni is to be congratulated days have certainly not heard Sahan Arzruni, at nied by Arzruni at the piano. One expects prodi- for pulling off this very demanding achieve- least not his most recent New York recital to gies today to dazzle with technical facility, but ment. benefit a senior’s home in Armenia. One would what was impressive here was the young per- To cap off the program Arzruni fittingly pre- be hard-pressed to find duplication of such an former’s grasp of the rhapsodic feeling of the sented Armenian Dances by Komitas (1869- evening anywhere — from the unusual piece. Already performing internationally, this 1935), often regarded as the father of Armenian Armenian repertoire to the scholarly, often violinist will certainly be a young artist to music. These are what Arzruni called “re-cre- humorous, commentary which made the Sahan Arzruni watch. ations” (not compositions exactly, but not evening almost more lecture-recital than recital. With a child performer, exotic instruments arrangements), and they included Yeranki (from The concert took place at Merkin Hall, at the and some comedic touches thrown in, Arzruni Yerevan), Hed ou Arach (from Garin), Kaufman Music Center, on April 5. It was a ben- exhausted possible premieres of his works six- was ready for even the most attention-deficit and Shoror (from Moush). They closed the pro- efit for the Fund for Armenian Relief and was teen years after his death, but it was still excit- audience — and yet they were all just the right gram with an affirmation of Armenian music’s titled “Together for Armenia: A Benefit Concert ing to hear Arzruni, who also performed the counterbalance to his serious and detailed roots, eliciting an encore of the Nocturne in E- for the Vanadzor Old Age Home.” World Premiere of Yenovk in California in this scholarship. Exemplifying that scholarship, and flat, Op. 9, No. 2 by Chopin, an honorary Arzruni is a passionate Armenian pianist who complete version, now giving the set its New of greatest weight on the program, were Armenian for the evening. A grateful audience has dedicated much of his extensive concertiz- York Premiere. The six movements opened with Khachaturian’s Recitatives and Fugues (world will surely return for more. ing to promoting cultural awareness of a Fantasy, rather mesmerizing as a chant pro- Armenian music and benefitting Armenian jected through repeated notes, and followed charities. He is a persuasive advocate, and one with Canzona I, Jhala, Canzona II, Ballata, and left the hall marveling that this body of reper- Fugue. The set combined folk elements of toire has remained still so largely untapped. drone basses, stark unaccompanied solo lines, Recipe The concert opened with a short piece by tremolando effects, and dervish-like frenzies Arno Babadjanian (1921-1983), the composer’s that transported one to an exotic terrain far doleful Elegy (after Sayat Nova), inspired in from Manhattan. Occasionally the journey was 1978 by grief over the death of Armenian com- interrupted by what seemed some unevenness Corner poser, Aram Khachaturian. It is an accessible, in the hall piano (which does become a dis- heart-on-sleeve piece, with some of its brooding tracting problem with all the balalaika-type harmonies reminiscent of Tango composer repeated notes), but Arzruni held it all together by Christine Vartanian Datian Astor Piazzolla (and if that seems a stretch from with impressive command and passionate com- Armenia to Argentina, it isn’t — Babadjanian did mitment. actually compose a beautiful Tango himself and Also by Hovhaness were the Five Invocations Beef and Bean Enchiladas the two musical traditions have had interesting to Vahakn (New York premiere) with Arzruni cross-pollination). joined by percussionist Adam Rosenblatt, who INGREDIENTS The next work was a set entitled Yenovk (in played drums, gongs, cymbals, a thunder sheet, 1 1/2 pounds ground beef honor of the artist Yenovk der Hagopian) by and a conch shell (a fittingly noisy assemblage 1 medium onion, chopped Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000). Hovhaness was for Vahakn, god of fire and war). Arzruni elicit- 1 can (1 lb.) vegetarian refried beans known as an eclectic American composer who ed laughter as he gestured to the instruments 2 large cloves garlic, minced delighted in many cultures, but he particularly asking, “what is that?” — an assortment to wake 1 cup green chili salsa (or salsa of your choice) treasured his Armenian heritage on his father’s up the most jaded audience — but all comedy 1/3 cup taco sauce side. He was extremely prolific, so maybe it aside, these were colorful and dramatic pieces. 2 cans (10 oz. each) enchilada sauce shouldn’t be surprising that we still have not Even more remarkable chronologically than 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes Unknown Masterpieces of Armenia’s First Mystic Poet 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon sea salt NAREG, from page 11 Armenians lies not only in the collective Dash of Tabasco or hot sauce (more to taste) academician (as an “orientalist”) by the remembrance of their recent past, however trag- Canola oil Ambrosian Academy of Milan, escorts us into a ic, but also in their centuries-old Christian her- 12 corn tortillas new dimension of spirituality. itage.”) 2-3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese or cheese of your choice His skill in penetrating what Harvard profes- The significance of Terian’s latest oeuvre, a Sour cream, chopped black olives, chopped green onions sor James Russell calls the “extremely sophisti- timely token of that heritage, cannot be under- cated content and difficult language” of Nareg is stated. Were it not for his polished and inspired PREPARATION: particularly remarkable. translation, the anthology of Naregatsi’s unpar- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large pan, sauté the beef and onions together until the “His work is more than a monument of metic- alleled liturgical masterpieces would have oth- meat is browned and onions are soft; drain well. ulous scholarship,” Russell says. “The work is of erwise been lost to us. Stir in the refried beans, garlic, green chili salsa, and taco sauce, and heat until bubbly. such a high standard that it is unlikely to be As UCLA Professor of Armenian Studies S. Add remaining spices and Tabasco or hot sauce to taste and mix until all ingredients are equaled, much less superseded.” Peter Cowe notes, Terian “has placed us in his combined. Naregatsi, a 10th-century Armenian poet, debt again by transmitting these pearls of medi- Pour half the enchilada sauce into an ungreased, shallow 3-quart baking dish. Pour some mystical philosopher, theologian and saint of aeval Armenian poetry from the preserve of a oil (about a 1/2 inch) into a small frying pan and heat; dip tortillas one at a time in the hot the Armenian church, was born into a family of small group of experts into the public domain oil for a minute to soften and drain quickly on paper towels. writers. He is considered “Armenia’s first great through his accurate idiomatic translation and When ready to assemble, place about 1/3 cup meat and bean mixture on each tortilla; roll poet.” In token of his unique achievements, helpful notes.” to enclose filling and place seam-side down in the sauce in the baking dish. Pour remaining Pope Francis declared him a Doctor of the Theo Maarten van Lint, Calouste Gulbenkian enchilada sauce over all tortillas and top with the cheese. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes Universal Church in February last year. professor of Armenian studies at Oxford or until heated through and the cheese is melted. Serve sour cream, black olives, and “Saint Gregory knew how to express the sen- University, for whom Terian’s book is “magnifi- chopped green onions on the side or as garnish. timents of your people more than anyone,” he cent, groundbreaking” goes so far as to describe Note: You may cover and refrigerate enchiladas for up to one day before baking; if taken said in a statement addressed to the Armenian Naregatsi’s work as “an act of Divine grace.” directly from refrigerator, increase baking time up to 45 minutes. Serves 6-8. Church. “I go up to Jerusalem “He gave voice to the cry, which became a “To that city built by God (Alice Vartanian is a long-time resident of Fresno, CA, and the prayer of a sinful and sorrowful humanity, “To that beautifully built temple . . .” cries out mother of three children, including Steven Vartanian and oppressed by the anguish of its powerlessness, Naregatsi in one of the odes translated by Philip Vartanian of Fresno, Christine Vartanian Datian of Las but illuminated by the splendor of God’s love Terian, giving tongue to a universal yearning for Vegas, and grandmother to two grandsons, Brian and Justin and open to the hope of his salvific intervention, the ethereal. Vartanian. She was born in Lowell, MA, and is the daughter which is capable of transforming all things,” the More than any other geographical or of Mr. and Mrs. Levon Sarkisian. She was happily married to statement added. metaphorical entity, Jerusalem remains forever the late Arthur Vartanian of Fresno, and is a member of the (Commenting on the Pope’s momentous ecu- the symbol of that longing. Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church and Trinity Guild. menical move, Terian recalls that “while For Terian, and all the Armenians who grew She is an accomplished pianist who loves music, traveling, gar- Armenians were about to canonize their mar- up in the Old City, trod its cobblestoned alleys dening, cooking, reading, and spending time with her beloved tyred saints of a hundred years ago, the Papal and drank its waters, Jerusalem is more than a family and friends. She has made this delicious enchilada declaration reminded them of one of their place in the heart. It is where life begins, where recipe for over 45 years for two generations of Vartanians in saints who died a thousand years ago. This humanity is born and rejuvenated, physically Fresno. She is pictured here in her lovely Fresno, CA kitchen.) should imply that identity and perpetuity for and spiritually. S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 ARTS & LIVING

Boston Armenians to Host ‘United with Artsakh’ Program April 29

WATERTOWN — On Friday, April 29, the “United with Boston, along with other Armenians worldwide, stand united yet, attend the show and make a donation. Artsakh” program, an all-Boston concert to benefit with our brothers and sisters in Artsakh and Armenia. In addition, there will be letters on hand for the families of Armenians of Artaskh will take place at the Armenian However, we can and should do more. There is an urgent soldiers to be signed by all in attendance which will be deliv- Cultural and Educational Center, 47 Nichols Ave. The pro- need for financial support to address various medical and ered to these families. Visit www.itsmyseat.com/artsakh/ or gram will start at 7:30 p.m. humanitarian needs there. The Nagorno-Karabagh Ministry call Tatul Badalian at (617) 331-0426 to purchase tickets Following the recent large-scale act of aggression by the of Finance has set up special bank accounts to solicit dona- and/or make a donation. Azeri regime against the citizens of Artsakh (Nagorno- tions from across the world. We would like to do our part by contributing to this fund. To that end, we are organiz- ing an all-Boston concert, featuring a number of artists and musicians from the local community. All parties have donated their time and services, and the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center has provided the Hovnanian Hall free of charge for this event. The list of performers is growing, as is the list of the event sponsors. As of now, the event is co-sponsored by the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center, ARF Sardarabad Gomideh, Leola Sassouni and Shushi chapters of the ARS, the AYF Greater Boston Nejdeh Chapter, Hamazkayin-Boston, John Berberian Ensemble Boston Homenetmen, St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church and School and the Tekeyan Cultural Association. The performers’ list includes: JasmineAtabekyan, Arev Ensemble, Jasmin Atabekian John Berberian Ensemble, Hamazkayin Erebouni Dance Ensemble, Sevag Khatchadourian, Maroukhian Trio, Karabakh or NKR), that republic’s armed forces demonstrat- Gegham Margarian, Meghri Choir, ed their determination and resolve in defending their ances- Shahan Nercessian, Markos tral homeland. As a result, the enemy suffered hundreds of Shahbazyan and Zangakner Children’s casualties and approximately $170 million in military hard- Choir. We will maintain an up-to-date ware losses. list of co-sponsors and performers on We all are too familiar with the atrocities committed by Facebook. Azeri troops on children and the elderly, a pattern that has One hundred percent of the funds continued since the Sumgait and Baku pogroms during the collected through this benefit concert fall of the Soviet Union. Unfortunately, the defense of our will go to the NKR Ministry of homeland did not come cheaply. Many young soldiers were Finance’s bank account to support fel- lost, as did peaceful, unarmed civilians, during the unpro- low Armenians in need. Plan to attend voked attack. and show your support but if one can- Hamazkayin Boston’s Erebouni Dance Ensemble While far away from the front lines, the Armenians of not attend, consider a donation. Better Balakian Speaks about Kazan’s Film ‘America, America’ at Diocese

NEW YORK — More than 100 people attend- The film centers on the journey of Greek pro- on Kazan’s Greek uncle, who fled the violence Professor Balakian shared his essay, “The ed Prof. Peter Balakian’s discussion, titled tagonist Stavros Topouzoglou, who dreams of against Christian minorities in the Ottoman Land of Shame,” from his new book of poetry “Hollywood and the Armenian Genocide,” at leaving his Anatolian village and moving to the Empire and resettled in the United States. and essays, Vise and Shadow, which reflects on the Diocesan Center on Friday, April 8. The United States, and features Armenian characters Professor Balakian raised the question of why Kazan’s film and the Armenian Genocide. event was hosted by the Development depart- as part of the milieu of the Ottoman Empire. the film never received a modicum of historical Concluding his discussion, Professor ment of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian “This film is a devastating critique of the context and spoke of the film’s revival, led by Balakian opened the floor to questions and Church of America. Ottoman Empire in its last phase,” said Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese. comments, which stimulated discussion about Central to his talk was the screening of the Professor Balakian. “The Greek and Armenian “‘America, America’ is about Turkish whole- the Armenian Genocide and its portrayal in film first part of renowned director Elia Kazan’s synergy of the characters and their interactions sale killings of Christians,” he said. “Kazan has 1963 film, “America, America,” which portrays are very touching.” a breakthrough here, and we need to ask why the 1890s massacres against the Armenians Balakian noted that according to Kazan, this film hasn’t been properly understood and the persecution of Greeks in the Ottoman “America, America” was his greatest work. The because it is a rich piece of cinematic art ripe Empire. film, which blends memoir and fiction, is based for scholarship.”

Professor Balakian during his discussion of “America, America”

and the arts in general. Balakian signed copies of his books and conversation continued throughout the evening. Balakian, the Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor of Humanities at Colgate University, has written widely on the Armenian Genocide. His books include the New York Times bestsellers Black Dog of Fate and The Burning Tigris. His latest book of poetry and essays, Vise and Shadow, was released last year. “Professor Balakian’s discussion was not only timely, but also evoked an important conversa- tion about a piece of cinematic art that has been overlooked until now,” said Taleen Babayan, who leads the Development department. “The Development department is grateful to him in leading such an engaging talk during the month of Armenian Genocide commemorations and shedding insight into the Armenian cultural and literary world with our community.” 16 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING CC AA LENDARLENDAR

MAY 5 — St. Gregory Armenian Church Avak lun- MAY 21 — Book Tour Schedule for Armenians of the CONNECTICUT cheon, noon, Jaffarian Hall, 158 Main St., North Merrimack Valley. Authors E. Philip Brown and Tom APRIL 23, 2016 Annual Armenian Genocide Andover. Speaker, Lisa Kouchakdjian, originator, “Love on Vartabedian are embarking on a presentation tour and Commemoration. Connecticut State Capitol; Flag a Plate.” Come share and appreciate some wonderful book signing of their new book. Vermette’s Market, 6 Raising at 11:00 a.m.; Commemoration in the House Armenian recipes. Public invited. Pond St., Amesbury, 10-2, book-signing only Chambers at 11:30 a.m. Keynote Speaker, Shant MAY 5 – “Can Feminists Revive a Nation? Afterlife of MAY 22 — Sunday, 2 p.m., the Armenian Museum of Mardirossian, Chairman Emeritus, Near East Foundation. Armenians in Post-Genocide Turkey.” Reception and America (ALMA) and the Composer’s Union of Armenia illustrated talk with MIT Professor Lerna Ekmekcioglu on are proud to present a concert: Anmorats Yerker- her new book, Recovering Armenia: The Limits of Unforgettable Songs. The concert, dedicated to the MASSACHUSETTS Belonging in Post-Genocide Turkey. 7:30 p.m. Armenian 90th anniversary of composers Alexander Ajemyan and APRIL 23 — Procession and flag raising for 101st Museum of America, Watertown. Co-sponsored by the Khachatur Avetisyan, will feature the voices of Nouné anniversary of Armenian Genocide at Lowell City Hall, Armenian International Women’s Association, National Karapetian, Michael Calmés, Knarik Nerkararian, and 10 a.m., followed by a reception and cultural program by Association for Armenian Studies & Research, and Garo Nichanian, accompanied by Nuné Hakobyan on area schoolchildren at nearby Masonic Center. Sponsored Armenian Museum of America. Info: 617-926-0171 or piano. Maestro Konstantin Petrossian will serve as Music by the Armenian National Committee of Merrimack [email protected]; 617-489-1610 Director for the concert. Light refreshments will be Valley & Armenian Genocide Commemorative [email protected]. served at a reception following the opening. This event is Committee of Merrimack Valley. For the march, gather at MAY 7 — The Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye free and open to the public. The concert is made possi- corner of Merrimack & John Streets at 9:30 a.m. Pointe in Haverhill will have a one-day food festival ble by a contribution from the Dadourian Foundation. APRIL 23 — Saturday, A prayer service for the on Saturday at the church hall. 12:00 to 7:00 p.m. MAY 27 — 65th Annual Armenian Night at the Pops, Armenian Community, 4 p.m., Cathedral of the Holy Armenian Pride Food Festival. Armenian Church at Hye Featuring Boston Pops Orchestra, Keith Lockhart, Cross, 1400 Washington St., Boston. First ever Catholic Pointe Hall, 110 Main St., Haverhill. Meal Choice of One: Conductor; presenting Edvard Poghossian, cello. Archdiocese of Boston Commemoration of the Armenian Losh/Chicken/Kheyma, with pilaf, salad, and hot/cold Presented by Friends of Armenian Culture Society. Genocide. Hosted by Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, Catholic garnish Additional children’s meal of hot dog & chips: Symphony Hall, 301 Mass. Ave., Boston. For tickets and Archdiocese of Boston. With the participation of also available will be pastry, choereg, Armenian cheese, information, visit facsboston.org Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocese of the Armenian and cold drinks. JUNE 20 — The Gregory Hintlian Memorial Golf Church of America, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, MAY 7 — Experience Public Art! during ArtWeek Tournament sponsored by Holy Trinity Armenian Church Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Boston. Armenian Heritage Park on the Greenway, of Greater Boston at the Marlborough Country Club, Catholic Eparchy of US and Canada. Broadcast live Boston. At 1 p.m. - World Labyrinth Day: Walk As One At Marlborough; Monday, 9:30 a.m., registration; 11 a.m., online at www.catholictvlive.com and on the Catholic TV 1 Together with people in cities and towns worldwide, “Shot Gun.” Join us for a day of golf, as a sponsor or just Network. (Check local listings.) walk the labyrinth at 1pm joining this annual internation- for dinner. Details to follow. For further information, APRIL 24 — Sunday, commemoration at the Park, 3 al initiative of The Labyrinth Society in collaboration with contact the Church Office, 617.354.0632, or p.m., Armenian Heritage Park, 110 Atlantic Avenue, the Labyrinth Guild of New England and Friends of email [email protected]. Boston. We communally honor our shared history, cele- Armenian Heritage Park. For first-time walkers at SEPTEMBER 10 — Sayat Nova Dance Company of brate our triumphant survival and illuminate our bright 12:45pm, an Introduction to walking a labyrinth with Boston 30th anniversary gala. future. For more info, contact commemorationatthep- Chiara Megighian Zenati, Certified Labyrinth Facilitator. SEPTEMBER 18 — Sunday Afternoon at the Park. For [email protected] At 1:30 pm - Reception to View The 2016 Configuration families and friends. Armenian Heritage Park on the APRIL 29 — United for Artsakh. 7:30 p.m., Armenian of the Abstract Sculpture Welcome: Nanore Barsoumian, Greenway. Boston. 2-4 p.m. All are invited. Cultural and Educational Center, 47 Nichols Ave., Editor, Armenian Weekly; Public Art: Lucas Cowan, Public SEPTEMBER 30 — OCTOBER 2 — 25th Anniversary Watertown. The list of performers is growing, as is the Art Curator, Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy; Celebration. Armenian International Women’s list of the event sponsors. As of now, the event is co- Personal Perspective: Alin Gregorian, Editor, Armenian Association. Charles Hotel, Cambridge. sponsored by the Armenian Cultural and Educational Mirror Spectator; Tea & Desserts hosted by MEM Tea NOVEMBER 15 — Thank You Reception for All Center, ARF Sardarabad Gomideh, Leola Sassouni and Imports and Eastern Lamejun Bakers. All are invited. Supporters of Armenian Heritage Park. Armenian Shushi chapters of the ARS, the AYF Greater Boston MAY 12 – Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Cultural and Educational Center. Watertown. 7:30 p.m. Nejdeh Chapter, Hamazkayin-Boston, Boston Boston Presents the Dr. Michael and Joyce Kolligian During the evening, supporters will receive the Armenian Homenetmen, St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church Distinguished Speaker Series, with John Prendergast, Heritage Park Commemorative Book, which will acknowl- and School and the Tekeyan Cultural Association. The “Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity: Lessons edge all supporters in the category of giving that com- performers’ list includes: Jasmine Atabekyan, Arev Learned and Hope for the Future.” 7 p.m., Charles and bines all their contributions since the campaign’s incep- Ensemble, John Berberian Ensemble, Hamazkayin Nevart Talanian Cultural Hall, 145 Brattle Street, tion. Deadline for first time supporters and for support- Erebouni Dance Ensemble, Sevag Khatchadourian, Cambridge. John is founder of “The Enough Project,” an ers to increase their contribution is September 22. Maroukhian Trio, Gegham Margarian, Meghri Choir, initiative to end genocide and crimes against humanity Contributors are tax-deductible as allowed by law. All Shahan Nercessian, Markos Shahbazyan and Zangakner and co-founder of “The Sentry,” a new investigative ini- supporters are invited. Children’s Choir. All proceeds collected through this ben- tiative focused on dismantling the networks financial NOVEMBER 19 — Armenian Women’s Welfare efit concert will go to the NKR Ministry of Finance’s bank conflict and atrocities. Reception and book signing to fol- Association will hold its 40th annual luncheon/auc- account to support fellow Armenians in need low talk. Open and free to the public. For further infor- tion. Oakley Country Club, 410 Belmont St., Watertown. APRIL 30 — Zangakner Performing Arts Ensemble will mation, contact the Church Office, 617.354.0632. Details to follow. present a vocal concert featuring Armenian children at 5 MAY 14 — RESCHEDULED — Presentation of a book by DECEMBER 18 — Candlelit Labyrinth Peace Walk, p.m., Ellsworth Theatre, Pine Manor College, Chestnut Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian on the life and legacy of Armenian Heritage Park on the Greenway, Boston. 5-6:30 Hill. New production to pay tribute to mothers and the Armenian American pioneer and philanthropist Hagop p.m. All are invited. Motherland. 400 Heath St., Chestnut Hill. Tickets $25. Bogigian. Saturday, at 3 p.m. at Armenian Cultural APRIL 30 — Armenian / American Dance, Saturday, 7 Foundation, 441 Mystic Street (Rte. 3) Arlington. NEW YORK MAY 14 — Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston con- p.m. – 12 a.m., 1 Market Street, Lawrence, JUNE 4-5 — Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Mher tinues its 30th anniversary celebrations with a night Complimentary Coffee & Dessert, Cash Bar, 50/50 Raffle, Megerdchian Theatrical Group presents the AGBU of song and dance with beloved singer Arabo Ispiryan, Armenian music provided by Jason Naroian Ensemble, Satamian Theater Group from LA, in “Funny direct from Armenia. Don’t miss out on this night of pure American music provided by DJ Kory Sirmaian. Tickets: Money,” (in Western Armenian). Written by Ray Cooney. Armenian entertainment. Come and celebrate with us as $20 in advance; $25 at the door. Melanee Naroian:(978) Translated and Directed by Krikor Satamian. Saturday, we sing and dance all night with Arabo. Generous appe- 683-0613, Lucy Sirmaian: (978) 683-9121. Sponsored by June 4th, at 8pm and Sunday, June 5th at 4pm at Oradell tizers (mezze) will be provided. Doors open at7:30 p.m. The Armenian Church at Hye Pointe Women’s Guild. Elementary School, 350 Propect Avenue Oradell, NJ To be held at St. James Armenian Church, Charles MAY 1 — The Armenian Museum of America (ALMA), 2 07649. Tickets: $35 & $50. For tickets please call: Marie Mosesian Cultural and Youth Center, 465 Mt, Auburn p.m., Direct Help for Armenian People (DHAP) and the Zokian (201) 745-8850, Talar Sesetyan Sarafian 201-240- Street, Watertown. Tickets are available by calling Apo at Amaras Art Alliance are hosting a concert: “Tribute to 8541, or Missak Boghosian 212-819-0097. Armenia.” Songs will be performed by the finalists of the 339-222-2410 or Hagop at 617-780-6295. VIP table seat- annual Armenia Youth Talent competition. The concert is ing at $100/person (includes 1 free drink/person and a dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the independence bottle of champagne for the table); Premium table seat- of the Republic of Armenia. Light refreshments will be ing at $75/person (includes a bottle of champagne for served at a reception following the opening. This event is the table); General seating: $65. Please reserve your tick- Readers can submit items for inclusion in free and open to the public. This event is made possible ets early. the calendar of the Armenian Mirror- by a contribution from the Dadourian Foundation. MAY 18 — Chefs Party for Our Park! Benefit for Spectator. Calendar items are free. Entries MAY 2 — St. James Men’s Club meeting, with speakers Armenian Heritage Park’s Ongoing Care Royal Sonesta should not be longer than 5 lines. Items will Tom Vartabedian and E. Philip Brown. Vartabedian is Hotel Boston, Cambridge. Celebrate with Boston’s Top be edited to fit the space, if need be. Feel a writer and photographer and Brown is a world history Chefs, presenting signature dishes inspired by parents, free to send a photo with the listing. Items teacher and historian. They will speak about their new grandparents or mentors for you to taste while you mix, should be sent no later than Mondays at book, Armenians of Merrimack Valley. Social Hour and mingle and support a great cause. Advance Reservations noon. Listings should include contact infor- mezza at 6.15 p.m., Losh Kebab and Kheyma Dinner, 7 only. To be acknowledged in the Evening Thank You, mation. Send items to editor@mirrorspecta- p.m. $15 per person. St. James Armenian Church Charles please respond by May 6. To receive an invitation, please tor.com. Mosesian Cultural and Youth Center, Keljik Hall, 465 email your name and email address to Mount Auburn St., Watertown, MA. Ladies welcome. [email protected] S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 17 COMMENTARY

COMMENTARY Mirror Armenia in the Cauldron of Caucasian Politics

nomic policies of Armenia were heavily influenced by the politics By Edmond Azadian of those entities. Spectator In view of some analysts, that was a positive development, but detractors insisted that Armenia gave much more in terms of its PART l sovereignty and that the rewards were not commensurate. Armenia seems to have been destined by history to be located Whether Armenia likes or not, it is perceived by the west as an in a geographic area where major political interests and empires accessory to the Russian policy. In a recent article in Washington EstablishedEstablished 1932 1932 clash and where the local population is destined to be beholden Times (2/26/16), L. Todd Wood states: “Forbes writes, make no perpetually to the consequences of wars, ethnic cleansing and mistake: The Russian military presence in Armenia represents a An ADLAn Publication ADL Publication deportations. dagger pointed at the heart of NATO as the Armenia-Russian Historic accidents have rendered Armenia a landlocked country alliance strengthens.” and therefore subject to pressures, intimidations and blockades. That logic and the political argument is also used by the After World War I, had the Allies made good on their promises, Turkish Government to vilify Armenia in the West. Just recently, EDITOR Armenians would have had home rule in Cilicia, with a seaport at President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Russia is using Alin K. Gregorian Alexandretta (Iskenderun). Also, had the Treaty of Sevres been Armenia to fight NATO. He also characterized Armenia as the implemented (1920), Wilsonian Armenia had the Port of Trabizon “most dangerous country to the world peace” during a lecture at ASSISTANT EDITOR Aram Arkun designated as an entrée to Europe and the rest of the world. But the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. with the loss of those opportunities, Armenia has remained vul- Russian base No. 102, outside Yerevan, Moscow’s recent ART DIRECTOR nerable to outside threats and isolation. buildup and military exercises, have proven beyond doubt that Marc Mgrditchian When Armenia was absorbed into the Soviet Union, those geo- Armenia may be the last one to benefit because Moscow’s inten- graphic limitations lost their significance as the Republic had tion is to project its power far beyond into the Middle East, where access to the advantages to which the Union itself was entitled. it has a stake in the Syrian war theater and its standoff with But history came to haunt Armenia as soon as it regained its Turkey just crosses Armenia’s border. Russia’s relations with Iran independence and it restored its sovereignty over a portion of its are many-facetted; while they are partners in the Syria conflict, SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: historic territory. and Moscow has been supplying heavy weapons to Tehran, it Edmond Y. Azadian As if time had frozen for 70 years, the wars, hostilities and con- seems that they are competitors in the Caucasus region for polit- CONTRIBUTORS: flicts which had plagued Armenia between 1918 and 1920, came ical influence, but more pronounced in the energy market, some- Florence Avakian, Dr. Haroutiun back with a vengeance. times at Armenia’s detriment. Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Diana We are all familiar with the war in Karabagh, the earthquake It seems that Moscow and Washington are betting on Iran for Der Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, and blockade by its neighbors, namely Turkey and Azerbaijan. stability in the Middle East at the expense of worrying Saudi Kevork Keushkerian, Harut Sassounian, For the last 25 years Armenia has lived in a precarious situa- Arabia and Israel. Hagop Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian tion, which has led to depression and depopula- CORRESPONDENTS: tion. Armenia - Hagop Avedikian Armenia’s independence Boston - Nancy Kalajian Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian was also a test of the Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach Diaspora’s pretensions and potentials. During the first Contributing Photographers: years of independence, Jacob Demirdjian and Jirair Hovsepian Armenians in the home- land used to brag to Azeris, “If you have oil, we have The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published our Diaspora.” Today, no weekly, except two weeks in July and the first one in Armenia, to my week of the year, by: memory, is bragging any Baikar Association, Inc. more to the Azeris. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 Armenia’s relations with Telephone: 617-924-4420 its neighbors and the lat- FAX: 617-924-2887 ter’s relations with each www.mirrorspectator.com other have shaped the country’s destiny. We can E-Mail: [email protected] evaluate Armenia’s current For advertising: [email protected] condition and its future within the parameters of those relations. Armenia’s neighbors are Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran and Georgia. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Although Russia does not have territorial borders with Armenia, by the sheer size and geopolitical weight, it has Facing Turkey: Turkey has never missed an opportunity to U.S.A. $80 a year become the most influential neighbor. Turkey and Azerbaijan, express its hostility towards Armenia. Ankara went out of its way which have blockaded Armenia, have been on hostile terms with to counter the Centennial Commemoration of the Genocide by Canada $125 a year it. Georgia’s relation with Armenia has been best described as a staging its Gallipoli Celebration. Turkey has the second-largest “friendly foe,” since successive Tbilisi governments have opted to standing army in the NATO structure, however Armenia and the Other Countries $190 a year side with Armenia’s enemies, both in politics —voting with Azeris issue of the Genocide remain its Achilles heel, since so much cap- and Turks at the UN and other forums — as well as in economic ital is invested to fighting them. development projects, designing energy pipelines and railways to Of course, in the Karabagh issue, Ankara supports Azerbaijan’s © 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator by-pass Armenia, with the intention of choking the latter eco- position. Ankara even forfeited its historic opportunity to consol- Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA nomically. idate its position on the border issue with Armenia, by signing the and additional mailing offices. The factors contributing to the implementation of that kind of protocols in 2009. The protocols would have lifted the blockade hostility, the least being perennial Georgian jealousy which is of Armenia and implicitly forced Armenia to accept the current ISSN 0004-234X compounded by the political choices that the Tbilisi government borders which were defined and finalized by the Treaties of has been making since the country’s independence — it is veering Moscow and Kars in 1921. Ankara pre-conditioned the signing of POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The to join NATO while Armenia, by necessity has opted to remain in the protocols with the resolution of the Karabagh conflict in favor Armenian Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount Auburn the Russian orbit. Therefore, these two nations are caught in a of Azerbaijan, although all the negotiations were carried out St., Watertown, MA 02472 tug-of-war between Russia and the West. based on the premise that there would be no pre-conditions. Other than the editorial, views and opinions As far as Iran is concerned, Armenia maintains friendly rela- In the final analysis, the failure of protocols proved to be a bless- expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily ing in disguise for Armenia, with the resurgence of the calls to reflect the policies of the publisher. tions, although those relations have not yielded much because of the scarcity of Armenia’s resources, and also because of the inter- abrogate the Treaty of Moscow. national sanctions imposed on Iran. Lifting the sanction may Indeed, recently Russian Duma members Valery Rashkin and boost trade between the two friendly nations. Sergei Obakhov of the Russian Communist Party sent a letter to The Russian Factor: For a long time Armenia was courting the the Russian political leadership and the Foreign Ministry request- European Union, but with the emergence of the new cold war, ing the cancellation of 1921 Treaty of Moscow, which was signed Copying for other than personal use or internal reference is prohibited without whereby the West decided to prevent the ascendance of Russia to between Soviet Russia and Kemalist Turkey. The Treaty of express permission of the copyright its former status of a superpower, polarization emerged and Moscow recognized Turkish control over Artvin, Ardahan, Kars owner. Address requests for reprints or Moscow decided to build its own fortress to counter the and Surmalu. The region of Ajaria, with the Port of Batumi, back issues to: European Union and NATO thus Armenia was pulled into would be retained by Georgia. Turkey withdrew from Moscow-centered Eurasian Customs Union and the Collective Alexandrapol and a new border was established between Turkey Baikar Association, Inc. Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the military alliance with and Soviet Armenia, defined by the Arax and Akhurian Rivers. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472- Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Therefore, the political and eco- see CAULDRON, page 19 1509 18 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

before. Then when my father, or baba, walked in seeing the people came to a stop behind a fence that blocked us off. We mood in the room, sat down with us. Though my baba was not arrived at the Turkish Embassy, and in front of it was a small Remembering directly part of these past events, he talked about a time when group of men and women of Turkish descent holding up their he went to Chicago to take part in a rally that spread aware- own signs and posters denying the existence of the Armenian ness of genocides past and present. He mentioned the sense of Genocide. This was the same genocide they were responsible pride he felt during this rally, and how he hoped that someday for, the same genocide that would not be forgotten by future 100 Years I could take part in such an event. generations, and the same genocide that has left the blood of “Well, can we go this year?” I immediately responded. 1.5 million Christian Armenians on their hands. He thought about it for a few moments, and asked me if I “Nineteen-fifteen never again. Nineteen-fifteen never again!” would consider missing school to attend the rally. At this point The chants started back up, but louder and filled with more By Jivan Meguerditchian I did not care what I missed. The deep and overwhelming feel- passion. ings I was experiencing made me not want to do anything else “Turkey run, Turkey hide, Turkey is guilty of genocide!” we except to go to this rally. said, our volume increasing. “Turkey is guilty, Turkey is N A RAINY NIGHT last April, I remember going A few weeks later, my father, two sisters and I traveled to guilty!” down to the garage and seeing my grandparents sit- Chicago on the weekend of April 24 to commemorate the At this point, nobody could hear the other side and what ting on the edge of brown leather chairs watching 100th anniversary of the initiation of the Armenian Genocide. they were chanting. As I was chanting I felt a poke in my back, the Armenian news channels in front of the extra Upon our arrival, we saw Armenian flags being raised on a and I turned to see what it was. It was my baba handing me a television my family set up as entertainment. couple of Chicago street corners, and masses of people hold- large Armenian flag to wave, since I was in the front of every- “It’s about time!” Dada shouted. ing signs and posters. As we get out of the car, my sisters and one else. Feeling the cloth and seeing the red, blue, and After asking him what was wrong, he told me to I immediately rushed over to where all of the flags were being orange in my hands gave me a chill that went through my O look at the bottom of the screen which listed the raised, and saw a podium with a microphone attached to it. My entire body. As I was waving the flag, I looked to my left and names of multiple countries. He explained to me sister asked my baba why they had this whole setup, and he saw a woman in between the two sides holding up a sign. The that these were some of the new countries which had recent- replied that it was for all the governors and mayors that were sign mentioned that she was of Turkish descent, but not only ly recognized the Armenian Genocide. Looking back at my going to be speaking about the matter before they actually this, it said that she was sorry for the gruesome atrocities her dada, I noticed his increasingly sad expression. After a few joined us on the march. This symbolized that even people with ancestors had committed. Since the woman was of Turkish moments of silence, my grandmother became a little emotion- authority in the state and in the government recognized and descent, the Turkish men and woman on the other side had al as well. were willing to spread awareness of this event. no response, and cold looks grew on their faces. As more time A hundred years ago, violence destroyed the unity of One speaker after another approached the stage to speak. went on, small groups of Turks left from the other side until Armenian families, and caused the tears of many children, par- Each spoke about the horrors our ancestors had experienced there were none left to chant their lies. ents, and grandparents. A hundred years ago my family was and how the twenty-fourth was a day to remember and honor Even a hundred years after the Armenian Genocide our affected by events that are still remembered by Armenians those who had lost their lives. After looking to the people wounds are still open. A hundred years later we still remember scattered worldwide. A hundred years ago my ancestors were around me, I saw a certain heaviness on the faces of those this horrible encroachment on human rights. A hundred years victims of what is known today as the Armenian Genocide. protesters, but this was soon replaced with an intense sense of later we still continue to sing, dance, and prosper even though As a boy I came to understand that this period in our cul- pride. Once the last speaker had said his final words, the gath- the Ottoman Turks had a systematic plan, over an eight-year ture’s history was not easy to talk about with family members ered rose and started picking up their signs, posters and flags period, to strip everything away from us. Seeing my little sis- because of how the genocide affected them. Growing up, I gen- and began to flood the blocked-off streets of Chicago. ters to my sides shouting all of the chants, seeing the passion erally knew the types of gruesome actions most Armenians About five minutes into the rally, I saw a young man pull a and fire in my father’s eyes during the rally, and seeing the faced at the time, but I did not know the extent of suffering bullhorn from his bag and turn it on. He then pulled out a Armenian community in Chicago embracing our culture’s his- experienced by my immediate ancestors. piece of paper covered in chants that he used to provoke the tory and fighting for what we believed in, gave me a great “Those bastards,” Dada whispered to himself. crowd. sense of unity with the Armenian community that was deeper I tried comforting the two of them by hugging them and try- “Nineteen-fifteen never again!” he shouted.“Nineteen-fif- than I previously had felt before. This event ignited a continu- ing to get their minds off of the topic as they sat there before teen never again!” the protesters repeated.As we continued ous fire of justice to prevail the truthfulness of what actually me in the dimly lit, warm garage. Sensing my concern, dada our rally, the loud chants gained the attention of more and happened to my ancestors. And on that day my family, the decided to tell me the story of his grandfather. He recalled the more people that were not participating in the rally. A few entire Armenian community in Chicago, and I honored, brutal memory of his grandfather having his head severed by waved to us, some were giving a thumbs-up, and others actu- remembered, and spread awareness of what happened 100 Ottoman officials for housing and protecting other Armenians. ally shouting some of the chants with us. It was good to see years ago to the victims of the Armenian Genocide. My nana then described how eight out of twelve members of that some outsiders were becoming more aware and even her mother’s family were massacred. Their stories sparked showing support towards our cause. But as we kept marching (Jivan Aram Meguerditchian is a 15-year-old student at both anger and pride within me. Why were these sick, twisted through the cold April morning, the chants began to quiet Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio, and plans to actions committed? Hearing about these violent actions done down. attend a Big Ten or Ivy League school as an undergraduate to my family, to my ancestors, to my own blood also ignited a “Nayer!” (which means “look” in Armenian) said a man next and to the National Polytechnic University of Armenia as a feeling that was unexplainable, and one I have never felt to me.As I tried moving more towards the front of the group, postgraduate in the future.) Israel and Azerbaijan: The Odd Couple

On the other hand, Israel is not too selective year earlier, which was attributed to the der to offer Azerbaijan a spy satellite, worth By Yossi Melman in choosing friends when it comes to weapons Mossad. $150 million excluding the ground station and sales and national interests. A quick look at the Tips from the Mossad to its Azeri counter- the launching cost. Later, American, French map can explain Israeli priorities. part foiled the conspiracy and helped to arrest and Russian companies joined the bidding, but Israel’s relations with Shi’ite Muslim Azerbaijan borders four counties, including a few suspects, while others managed to experts assume that the Israeli company still Azerbaijan are going from strength to strength, Iran, Israel’s sworn enemy. It is a major oil pro- escape to Iran. has the best chance to win the contract, as illustrated by the appearance of Israeli ducer and is ready to invest a large portion — 5 The joint fight against terrorism is just one because of the intimate relations between the weapons in recent clashes over the disputed percent — of its GDP in the military. factor strengthening the relations between the two countries. The French publication also Nagorno-Karabagh region. According to foreign reports, the Mossad two countries. reported that Haifa-based Israel Shipyards has The late Meir Dagan, the former head of the runs a big station in Azerbaijan, taking advan- Another manifestation of how the alliance is an advantage over its French and other com- Mossad, was known to be a great traveler. tage of the geography. prospering can be seen in the annual trade, petitors to win the contract to build 12 light Years ago he went on a trip to central Asia and Iranian officials have accused their neighbor which is $5 billion larger than between Israel vessels for the Azeri Coast Guard. visited Azerbaijan. Knowing that he was an of allowing Israeli intelligence to carry out from and France. Most of the content remains con- This week The Washington Post enabled the avid chess player who considered himself to be Azeri territory espionage missions which fidential, and consists of Azeri oil sold to Israel world to have a peeping window into the secret “not a bad player,” his hosts took him to a local include recruiting and planting agents, com- and Israeli weapons and intelligence technolo- relations when it published a photo of an chess club and invited him to play simultane- munication interception and aerial reconnais- gies purchased by Azerbaijan. The best pro- Israeli- made “suicidal drone” exploding itself ously against a group of teenagers. Dagan was sance. More than a year ago Iran claimed to moters of the military sales and ties are Israeli on a bus leading Armenian combatants to the defeated by all of them. His Azeri hosts were have shot down an Israeli-made drone. Israeli ministers and officials who visit the Caucasian front lines. Seven people were killed, and the embarrassed. They didn’t want to humiliate a officials have refused to comment on the nation. Armenian government protested to Israel. The distinguished guest from a friendly country. reports. Most recently it was Defense Minister Moshe drone, called Harop, is just one model in a line Indeed, relations between the two countries Yet it was Aliyev himself who was quoted in Ya’alon who went to Baku in October 2014 of drones that can carry cameras and be are excellent and getting better against the a WikiLeaks cable sent from the US Embassy and met with his counterpart but also with recalled to ground by their operators but also backdrop of the renewed cycle of hostilities in Baku that “bilateral relations between Aliyev. are equipped with up to 20 kilograms of explo- between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the dis- Azerbaijan and Israel are like an iceberg. Nine- The security and intelligence ties began sives which the operator can guide to collide puted territory of Nagorno-Karabagh. Israeli- tenths are below the surface.” Another modestly. In the ’90s Israel sold light weapons, with the target and detonate it. made weapons were seen used by the Azeri WikiLeaks document from 2007 showed more mortars and ammunition worth only a few mil- This week, a few days after the incident, army in the battlefield. Azeri President Ilham frankness and openness expressed by Arthur lion dollars, while Israel Aircraft Industries Israeli military journalists visited IAI facilities Aliyev sees it as “strategic alliance,” and so it is Lenk, an Israeli ambassador in Baku. He told (now renamed Israel Aerospace Industries) and were briefed on the various products, from perceived in Israel, too. the US ambassador that the two countries maintained the aircraft fleet of Azerbaijan drones to satellites, which the company has to Seemingly, Israel and Azerbaijan are an odd have a security agreement, and that one of Airlines. But in recent years, according to for- offer. An IAI spokeswoman was asked if the couple, not meant to be with each other. Aliyev’s assistants during a visit to Israel met eign reports, the volume of weapons sales has company was behind the Washington Post rev- Azerbaijan is a predominantly Shi’ite nation. with Israel’s deputy defense minister and expanded to billions, which would make elation. She refused to answer but openly Though it has elections, it is not really a “Mossad officials.” Azerbaijan the second- biggest market in Asia, smiled when one reporter commented that Western democracy, and since its indepen- In 2009, Azeri security services exposed a after India, for Israeli weapons. such a photo is good for business and pro- dence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, it joint plot designed by Iranian intelligence and According to the French newsletter motes sales of products that can be labeled has been run by the same family, the Aliyevs, Hezbollah to target the Israeli Embassy and Intelligence Online, Israeli sales include drones, “battle proven.” who are accused of corruption and suppress- Jewish sites in Baku. It was part of their ground stations, control and command posts ing free and independent media. Investigative attempt to avenge the killing of Imad and advanced intelligence equipment. (This commentary originally appeared in journalists are harassed and jailed. Mughniyeh, Hezbollah’s “defense minister,” a It was also reported that IAI was the first bid- the Jerusalem Post.) S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 19 COMMENTARY

and probably withdraw his ambassador. But, after a while, he vey. In the last few days, her popularity fell from 56 percent will learn that he can’t impose his will outside of Turkey, and to 45 percent. According to another survey, 66 percent of the that the rest of the world will not meekly kowtow to his respondents oppose the prosecution of the satirist, while Sultanic diktats. only 22 percent support it. The German newspaper ZDF, For several decades, American, British and Israeli leaders which posted the satirist’s video on Erdogan, has promised My Turn have made the same humiliating mistake of buckling under its full legal support during the investigation. threats from Erdogan and his predecessors not to utter the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also By Harut Sassounian words “Armenian Genocide.” Had these foreign leaders just criticized Erdogan’s unacceptable overreaction. Juncker said no on day one, they would have spared themselves years vowed not to compromise on European values in order to of escalating threats. Unfortunate, they have allowed the tail preserve the recently struck deal with Ankara to stem Shame on German Chancellor to wag the dog. migrant flows, according to the Turkish Hurriyet newspaper. Merkel For Succumbing to Merkel has now gone down the slippery slope of appeasing “I cannot understand at all that a German ambassador has the Turkish bully. She has made the gross misjudgment that been summoned for an admittedly difficult satirical song,” Erdogan’s Bullying by allowing the prosecution of the German satirist, she has Juncker stated on April 13. “That does not bring Turkey clos- bought Erdogan’s friendship. The German Chancellor will er to us. It will put us farther away from each other.” It is bad enough that Turkish President Erdogan wants to soon face new demands from the Turkish President on According to the New York Times, Erdogan has filed sue a German comic for insulting him; it is much more out- Syrian refugees and many other issues, such as next month’s almost 2,000 lawsuits in Turkey against those he accuses of rageous for German Chancellor Angela Merkel allowing the scheduled vote in the Bundestag on the Armenian Genocide, insulting him. The Turkish President has already brought a lawsuit to go forward, based on a 19th-century law. which has already been postponed several times under earli- private lawsuit in a German court against the satirist, who Under this archaic law, anyone who offends a foreign leader er Turkish threats. could face a three-year jail term or an unspecified fine, if can be sued in court after obtaining the consent of the German Merkel’s unwise and undemocratic move may cause a split found guilty. government. Erdogan now joins the dictatorial ranks of Shah in her “grand coalition” government. Thomas Oppermann, Satirist Jan Bohmermann, in his sarcastic poem, made ref- Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran and Chilean leader Augusto the parliamentary leader of the center-left Social Democrats, erences to sex with goats and oppressing minorities. He Pinochet who had filed similar lawsuits in Germany. criticized her decision, urging the Chancellor to repeal the called Erdogan “dumb as a post, cowardly and uptight” and Merkel, after initially defending the German citizen’s right antiquated law. Foreign heads of state should not enjoy spe- “perverse, lice-ridden… kicking Kurds, beating Christians, all to freedom of press and opinion, contrary to Turkey’s repres- cial rights to sue German citizens, Oppermann warned. the while watching child porno films.” No matter how insult- sive laws, shamefully buckled under Erdogan’s threat to Two influential ministers in Merkel’s government also ing the poem may be, the writer should have the right to flood Europe with Syrian refugees, after accepting several announced their opposition to her decision. Foreign Minister express his opinion freely. It is one thing for Erdogan, the dic- billion dollars to block such migrants. Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Justice Minister Heiko Maas tatorial leader of a third world country, to repress the media. Merkel, Obama, and others don’t seem to understand that declared: “The freedom of opinion, media and culture are the It is completely a different matter for the head of a major appeasing a bully only leads to more bullying. The best way highest treasures of our Constitution.” Western European democracy to side with the Sultan of a to stop a bully is just to say ‘no.’ Naturally, Erdogan will Furthermore, two-thirds of the German public opposes fascist Middle Eastern state. In this regard, Merkel’s trans- throw a temper tantrum like a spoiled brat, make threats, Merkel’s decision to try the satirist, according to a recent sur- gression is much worse than Erdogan’s.

Russian Naïveté Russian strategy is to ingratiate itself with Is Russia Really Armenia’s Ally? Azerbaijan and pull it back into the Russian orbit. Throughout the past decade, Russia has tried the same misguided strategy with Turkey. force.” Russia has yet to take any such actions. Armenians often express appreciation for and Predictably, the Russian–Turkish love affair By David Boyajian Indeed, Russia may not care whether solidarity with Russia. Similar sentiments, how- crashed and burned last year when Turkey shot Azerbaijan overruns Artsakh as that, by itself, ever, are seldom returned by Russians. The pop- down a Russian jet over Syria. This, declared would not create a Turkish-Azeri corridor ular, flashy Russian TV network, RT.com, President Putin, was the “betrayal of a friend.” Azerbaijan’s recent military attacks on across Armenia that would threaten Russia’s staffed by Western and Russian journalists, Putin’s belief that President Erdogan and Artsakh/Karabagh and Armenia call into seri- position in the Caucasus. rarely reports anything — especially anything Turkey were truly his “friends” is breathtaking- ous question the Armenian-Russian defense What would Russia do if Azeri soldiers positive — about Armenians. These should be ly naïve. It tells us that the Kremlin is delusion- pact and relationship. advanced into Armenia and swam in Lake warning signs to Armenians. al about Turkey and, by extension, its Azeri kin. Russia has been selling Azerbaijan billions in Sevan? We don’t know. Some Russians and Armenians argue that The Putin-Lavrov-Aliyev love-fest will culmi- advanced weapons that Azerbaijan is using their defense treaty is only with Armenia, not More Armenian reaction needed nate in a similar disaster for Russia, but not against Armenians. Artsakh. Yet Russia has not countered Azeri before Armenia is damaged, perhaps fatally. Russia has repeatedly failed to rebuke To their credit, Armenia’s top leaders and attacks even on Armenia itself. Does the Some Kremlin circles have been influenced Azerbaijan for breaking the ceasefire that it some MPs have expressed their dismay to defense pact exempt Russia from acting against by Aleksandr Dugin’s Eurasia Movement which agreed to two decades ago. Russia. As of this writing, however, Armenian Azeri attacks? We don’t know. And the belief is espouses a grand union of Slavs/Russians and Russia has done nothing substantive to stop citizens and diasporan organizations have been widespread that Russia is secretly making deals Turks. Azerbaijan’s frequent shelling of towns within virtually silent about Russian duplicity. Twelve with Azerbaijan at Armenians’ expense. No one, including me, is suggesting that Armenia itself. days after the initial Azeri assaults, there has True, Armenia must be extremely careful Armenia separate itself from Russia at this time. In 2013, Col. Andrey Ruzinsky, commander been but one demonstration at the Russian because it is highly dependent upon Russian It is impractical and unwise. But the current of Russia’s 102nd military base in Armenia, said Embassy in Yerevan. This is incomprehensible. natural gas, the Russian-controlled Metsamor relationship lacks symmetry. The people of that Russia “may” not permit Azerbaijan “to Though Armenians do care deeply, the Kremlin nuclear power plant, advanced weapons, Armenia, Artsakh, and the Diaspora must not restore jurisdiction over Nagorno-Karabagh by may be concluding the exact opposite. Russian-manned bases near the Armenian- remain silent while Russia implicitly supports Turkish border, and more. Yet without Armenia, Azeri aggression. Russia would ultimately be surrounded, and perhaps even destroyed, by NATO. Rebalancing Armenia-Russian Relations Armenia in the Cauldron of Caucasian Politics Armenia Goes NATO, Russia Goes Under Rebalancing Armenian-Russian relations CAULDRON, from page 17 That plan suffered a setback with the must begin with large and continuing protests The treaty stipulated that the district of onslaught of the Turkish Army against the Georgia and Azerbaijan are hostile to Russia, against Russian betrayals, similar to the pro- Nakhichevan, historically part of Armenia Kurdish population, threatening also Demirtas’ have close relations with the US and Europe, Artsakh demonstrations of the late 1980s. under Tsarist rule, be transferred to the juris- parliamentary immunity. and wish to join NATO. Azerbaijan and NATO Moscow will respect this. diction of Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan. The Georgian parliament has already abro- member Turkey already call themselves “one Moscow does not respect people who, while Additionally, Turkey acquired a small strip of gated the Treaty in 2005 while Armenia is wait- nation, two states.” being kicked in the teeth by a “friend,” pretend territory known as Arax corridor. ing for action. Suppose Armenia, voluntarily or otherwise, that they’re being kissed on the lips. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the leader of LDPR The annulment of the Treaty would throw into left the Russian orbit. Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Yerevan must take bigger steps towards eco- party in the Duma, proposed, “In response to question the status of the Nakhichevan Exclave Armenia would soon be sucked into the NATO nomic and political independence from Moscow Turkey’s refusal to recognize Crimea’s reunion and the Arax Corridor, which forms the only com- alliance. Separating the Muslim north and a more evolved relationship with the West. with Russia, we should recognize the Turkish mon frontier between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Caucasus from the Russian Federation would The Armenian Diaspora could help Armenia Kurdistan as an independent state and demand The movement created some euphoria in become a top NATO priority. and Artsakh immensely more if only Armenia’s Turkey to return the lands of Western Armenia and many believed that Putin would NATO would create a Baku-based navy in the leaders, including its lethargic “ambassadors,” Armenia.” return Ararat to Armenia. But the Foreign gas and oil-rich Caspian Sea. Reaching across the saw diasporans as kindred spirits rather than as The treaty had been earlier challenged by Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova stated Caspian, NATO would link up with Kazakhstan, interlopers. Soviet Foreign Minister W. Molotov in 1945 and that Russia will study the question of annulling Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. This The West, too, must confess its own horren- later at the UN by Andrei Vishinsky (1948) the Treaty with Turkey. But, she added — and is Pan-Turkism under a NATO fig-leaf. dous transgressions against Armenians. The requesting Kars for Armenia and Ardahan for that is very important — “Russia is developing Virtually surrounded by NATO and China, leaders and citizens of Armenia and Artsakh Georgia. relations with Azerbaijan and will not do any- Russia would be ripe for destruction. The must be blunt about the West’s past and pre- But a more interesting development took place thing that could worsen them. On the contrary, Kremlin may not totally understand this. sent betrayals and sickening Turkophilism. Why on December 23, 2015 in Moscow where Turkish we will focus on what will improve our relations Armenians know that Soviet Russia gifted no Armenian protests in front of Western opposition parliamentarian, pro-Kurdish with that country.” Armenian territories to Turkey and Azerbaijan embassies? Why the hesitation to speak the Democratic party leader Selahattin Demirtas dis- It did not take too long to see Zakharova’s in the 1920s. As Armenia once again perceives plain truth? Yet what is the West offering cussed with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei statement tested. The flare up on April 2, 2016 Russia as unreliable, it will naturally look else- Armenia? Very little. Lavrov the plan of “reshaping” Turkey with the on the contact line between Azerbaijani where. The West has, however, historically A more balanced path involves risks for creation of an Anatolian Confederate Republic Armenian forces undermined the validity of always broken its promises to Armenians and Yerevan, but so does subservience to Moscow which would be divided into four autonomous Duma members’ proposals, as the Kremlin kept ultimately favored Turkey. So while Armenia’s as recent events have shown. entities — Kurdish, Armenian, Greek and Turkish. a neutral stand while its strategic ally was being someday joining NATO might be dangerous and The “Republic” will have two official religions, attacked. Of course, we no longer hear any talk improbable, it’s not impossible. (The author is an Armenian American freelance Moslem and Christian, and four languages of the about treaty abrogation. Russia can twist Armenia’s arm and support journalist. Many of his articles are archived at constituent political entities. (Part II will appear next week.) its adversaries only up to a point. www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/David_B._Boyajian.) 20 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Putin Just Sent Armenia MiG-29 Fighters and Military Aid: Here Is Why

ment near the Turkey-Armenia border. 2. Back a Shared Ally in Syria foreign film crews from visiting the sites of By Samuel Ramani Turkey considers this encirclement policy hos- Russia’s pro-Assad, anti-Islamic State campaign in Turkish war crimes. tile. To the north, Moscow’s military annexed Syria is another reason Russia decided to boost mil- 3. Keep Armenia stable Crimea in 2014. And Russia stepped up its inter- itary aid to Armenia. Russia, Armenia and Baathist Russia’s tighter relationship with Armenia is In February, the Russian air force announced vention in Syria, which sits on Turkey’s southern Syria are allied against Turkey. Syria-Turkey rela- closely related to its interest in preventing regime that MiG-29 fighters and other sophisticated air- border. tions broke down in 2011 when Turkey supported change in Yerevan, a staunch Russian ally. craft were headed to Armenia, to a Russian base The second prong of Russia’s destabilization anti-Assad rebel movements. Belarus and Kazakhstan, two other Russian 25 miles from the Turkish border. Moscow strategy is periodically re-inflaming the Nagorno- Shortly after the Soviet Union collapsed, allies in the region, are now increasing their promised Yerevan a $200 million weapons credit Karabagh conflict. Russia has continued to sell Armenia and Baathist Syria forged a close diplo- trade with Western countries. Armenia’s largest and announced talks aimed at making Armenia arms to both Armenia and Azerbaijan, despite matic relationship, one that Yerevan regards as trade partner remains Russia, the destination of the host of an essential link in Russia’s regional escalating hostilities. Even though Azerbaijan’s vital to securing the rights of 120,000 Armenians 22.6 percent of its exports and source of 24.8 power grid to Iran. military capabilities remain vastly superior to living within Syria’s borders. It has been a firm percent of its imports. Armenia is a Russian ally and a member of the Armenia’s, expanded Russian military support partnership, despite fierce international condem- Armenia’s economic dependence on Russia Russian-led Eurasian for Armenia could encourage Yerevan to inflame nation of President Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian civil meant that it followed Russia into recession in Economic Union (EEU). Since the Soviet the Karabagh conflict. In December 2015, the war atrocities. Like Russia, Armenia considers 2014. When protests broke out over electricity Union’s collapse, Moscow has funneled substan- Armenian defense minister claimed that Assad the legitimate leader of all of Syria. increases in the summer, the regime mitigated tial military aid to help Armenia support the con- Azerbaijan was provoking violence and under- Armenia’s strong ties with Baathist Syria go anti-Russian sentiments among the Electric tested region of Nagorno-Karabagh, where an mining the cease-fire. This claim could become a back a full century. In May 2015, Armenian Yerevan protesters by highlighting the domestic Armenian majority governs itself as an “island” pretext for more Armenian military involvement Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian visited origins of the protests. surrounded by the nation of Azerbaijan. in Karabagh, and result in worsening violence in Syria, praising the Syrian people for helping Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s loyalty [Here’s what the research reveals about the the autonomous region. Armenians during the last phase of the Turkish to Russia reflects his skepticism of Western val- violence in Nagorno-Karabagh] Here’s why this matters. Azerbaijan has close genocide of the last century. Nalbandian also ues. But his anti-Western stance has become But Russia’s commitment to Armenia has cultural ties and is a vital regional ally for Turkey. hailed Assad’s tolerance of the Armenian minor- increasingly unpopular in Armenia. Since the deepened in recent months. My research into Turkey relies on access to Azerbaijan’s extensive ity and expressed concern that a regime change early 2000s, the near-universal consensus on the Russia’s military policy suggests that Moscow energy resources on the Caspian Sea. Turkey in Syria could precipitate another genocide Russian alignment has broken down as pro- has three goals: and Armenia remain chilly because Ankara refus- against the Armenian diaspora. Assad responded European civil society organizations have 1. Draw a circle around Turkey es to acknowledge — much less apologize for — to these diplomatic overtures by officially recog- inspired young Armenians to push the country Russia’s tightening alliance with Armenia is the 1915 Armenian genocide. So Turkey has nizing the Armenian genocide in a November on an alternate trajectory. part of its broader strategy of intimidating the backed up Azerbaijan’s claims to Nagorno- interview with Agence France-Presse. As Sargsyan has positioned himself as Turkish government — and making sure Ankara Karabagh, to ensure its main regional ally This was the first time any Syrian president unequivocally pro-Russian, his survival depends does not down another Russian plane en route remains stable and in control of its territory. By had commented on this contentious issue — and on Russian assistance counter-balancing to Syria. The first prong of Vladimir Putin’s strat- increasing military support for Armenia, Russia this marked a radical shift in Syrian policy. Western aid to liberal groups. Unlike some of its egy involves placing Russian troops along undercuts Turkey’s Caucasus strategy, and Before the war, the Syrian regime censored neighbors, Armenia refused to consider the 2013 Turkey’s borders, including the February deploy- strengthens its own regional power. books on the Armenian genocide and blocked E.U. association agreement proposal, instead tak- ing up Russia’s EEU counteroffer. This decision may make Sargsyan even more dependent on Russian assistance to survive politically. So maintaining the status quo in Armenia keeps Moscow’s EEU alternative viable, as Armenia, along with Kyrgyzstan, is the strongest ally in the union. Moscow has increased its mili- tary assistance to Armenia to ensure that Sargsyan has the coercive capacity to repress future mass protests. The Kremlin regarded the Electric Yerevan movement and other “color rev- olutions” with deep suspicion, claiming that U.S.- backed NGOs inspired the protests, rather than actual popular discontent. Regime change in Armenia would leave Russia standing solo in the South Caucasus — a major blow to Russians’ perceptions of their country’s great power status. As my research on Russian foreign policy illustrates, the perception that Russia’s sphere of influence is shrinking could potentially affect political stability at home. To keep his high approval ratings during a period of prolonged economic malaise, Putin needs the Russian public to believe that Moscow still holds power over the former Soviet territories. A stronger Russia-Armenia partnership is a rel- atively underexplored geopolitical development that has profound implications for the stability and security of the Caucasus, the Middle East and the post-Soviet region. With the Syrian con- flict unresolved and Russia’s relations with Turkey strained, the Armenian regime stands to benefit from an unprecedented degree of Russian economic and military assistance. (Samuel Ramani is an MPhil student in Russian and East European Studies at St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford, specializ- ing in post-1991 Russian foreign policy. This commentary appeared on April 14 in the Washington Post.)

Peter Balakian Wins Pulitzer for Poetry

PULITZER, from page 1 Professor of English and Director of Creative Writing at Colgate University, where he has taught since 1980. He was the first Director of Colgate’s Center For Ethics and World Societies. Born and raised in Teaneck and Tenafly, Balakian holds a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University and a Ph.D. in American civilization from Brown University. He is the director of creative writing at Colgate, and has taught at Colgate since 1980. He is a prolific author among whose works of non-fiction, history as well as poetry, include Black Dog of Fate (1997), The Burning Tigris (2003), June Tree (2001) and Ziggurat (2010).