MARCH 10, 2018 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVIII, NO. 33, Issue 4528 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF Yerevan Scraps Armen Turkish-Armenian Sarkissian Protocols YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenia on March 1 for- mally annulled the 2009 protocols to normalize its relations with Turkey, citing Ankara’s continuing Elected New refusal to implement them unconditionally. President Serzh Sargsyan signed a relevant decree immediately after chairing a meeting of his Armenian National Security Council which discussed and approved his long-anticipated move. “I am asking the foreign minister [Edward President Nalbandian] to notify Turkey about our decision, after which no obligation stemming from those agreements will be legally binding for us,” he said. YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The Armenian par- The two protocols signed in Zurich in October liament voted on Friday, March 2, to elect 2009 committed Turkey and Armenia to establish- Armen Sarkissian, a former prime minister ing diplomatic relations and opening their border. who has long resided in Britain, Armenia’s Shortly after the signing ceremony, Ankara made new and largely ceremonial president. clear that Turkey’s parliament will ratify the deal Sarkissian was nominated for the post by David Ignatius moderating the Aurora Dialogue panel, featuring Marguerite Barankitse, only if there is decisive progress towards a resolu- the outgoing President Serzh Sargsyan (no Lieutenant William Keegan and John Prendergast tion of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict acceptable relation) and the ruling Republican Party of to Azerbaijan. Armenia (HHK) in January. He was also The Armenian government has rejected precon- endorsed by the HHK’s junior coalition part- From Pain to Healing ditions. The United States, the European Union ner, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Russia have likewise repeatedly called for their unconditional implementation. Aurora Dialogues in Heart of September 11 Tragedy Sargsyan insisted on Thursday that signing the protocols was worth it because the international NEW YORK — In the shadows of where the Twin Towers once stood as sym- community has no doubts now that the onus is on bols of American pride and under the reflective gaze of the Statue of Liberty Turkey, not Armenia, to normalize Turkish- that represents equal opportunity for all Armenian relations. those seeking a better life, the Aurora Sargsyan also made clear that despite walking By Taleen Babayan Humanitarian Initiative hosted its Aurora away from the deal Yerevan remains committed to Special to the Mirror-Spectator Dialogues on Thursday, March 1, at the unconditionally improving its ties with Ankara. “If National September 11 Memorial and there are [relevant] proposals tomorrow or the day Museum. after, we will be ready to discuss those proposals,” A visionary initiative that launches Armenians onto the world humanitarian he said. platform, the Aurora Initiative hosted the dialogues, titled “Solidarity Beyond President Armen Sarkissian Borders: Stepping Up When Others Step Back,” to discuss and champion the tireless efforts of individuals around the globe who strive to create positive Premier Meets with change in the face of adversity, much like those who came to the rescue of (Dashnaktsutyun), and businessman Gagik Armenians during the Genocide over a century ago. Lyon Mayor Tsarukian’s alliance, which is officially in Featuring Aurora Prize finalists Marguerite Barankitse (2016) and Dr. Tom opposition to the government. YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Armenian Prime Catena (2017), alongside retired Port Authority Police Department Lieutenant The opposition Yelk alliance, the fourth Minister Karen Karapetyan on March 6 received and Special Ops Lt. Bill Keegan and John Prendergast, founding director of the political group represented in the National Lyon Mayor Georges Képénékian. Enough Project, the evening’s panel, moderated by David Ignatius, associate edi- Assembly, has rejected Sarkissian’s candida- Karapetyan praised Armenian-French relations tor and columnist for the Washington Post, explored the issue of heroism. cy. Yelk, which holds nine seats in the 105- and noted one of the most important components see AURORA, page 10 member parliament, has also questioned his of the relations is cooperation at local levels. eligibility to serve as head of state. Karapetyan welcomed the cooperation between see PRESIDENT, page 2 Yerevan and Lyon, in particular, in the fields of urban development, economic cooperation and tourism. He also expressed hope that Lyon businesspeo- ple will attend the conference which will be held in New Yorker Boyajian Makes Yerevan within the framework of the International Organization of La Francophonie in October. Karapetyan expressed confidence that the His Case for Congress launch of Yerevan-Lyon direct flight from April 19 will further create closer ties. Képénékian agreed and hoped for increased didate, thirty-three-year-old Donald G. cooperation. By Aram Arkun Boyajian (“Don”), is vigorously making his case in the Democratic primary for New Mirror-Spectator Staff York State’s rural northern 21st Congressional district, which includes the CAMBRIDGE, N.Y. — Congressmen of Adirondack Mountains and Thousand INSIDE Armenian descent are a rare commodity. At Islands regions. present, there are only two, but a third can- Boyajian’s paternal grandfather, original- ly with the last name of Nersesian, came to Saratoga County in upstate New York Armenia UN from Aintab, with his name being changed to Boyajian by the American authorities out Noted Poet Diana Ambassador of a misunderstanding. He arrived during the period of Der-Hovanessian Dies Page 6 the Armenian Genocide. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Diana Der- Boyajian’s maternal grand- Hovanessian, poet and long-time pres- parents came to Providence ident of New England Poetry Club, from Palu. INDEX died on March 1, 2018. She was the Boyajian pointed out, Arts and Living . 13 author of 30 books of poetry and “Since both sides of my fami- Armenia . 2,3 translations, several plays, and was ly are 100 percent Armenian, Community News. 6 twice a Fulbright professor of Editorial . 18 I grew up going to the American Poetry. International . .. 4,5 Armenian Apostolic Church, see DER-HOVANESSIAN, page 8 Don Boyajian doing ACYOA [Armenian see BOYADJIAN, page 20 2 S ATURDAY, M ARCH 1 0 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Armen Sarkissian Elected Financial Times Gives ‘Heritage Tourism’ New Armenian President Award to Yerevan PRESIDENT, from page 1 ment, he would remain the country’s third time in 2013. YEREVAN (Armenpress) — fDi Intelligence, a ser- Sarkissian was elected in secret bal- most powerful man in that case. Russian President Vladimir Putin vice from the Financial Times, has recognized lot by 90 votes to 10. He gave a short Under sweeping constitutional promptly congratulated Armen Yerevan with a special award for “Heritage Tourism.” speech in the parliament moments changes controversially enacted by Sarkissian on being elected Armenia’s “The capital of Armenia, Yerevan has been recog- after the announcement of the vote Serzh Sargsyan, the new president of new president on Friday. nized with a special award for Heritage Tourism. results. the republic will have largely ceremoni- In a congratulatory message report- Many opportunities exist in the city for investors in “I want to thank those who voted for al powers. In particular, he will appoint ed by the Kremlin, Putin expressed con- the areas of heritage tourism and leisure facilities. me and those who voted against me,” members of the government, Armenian fidence that Sarkissian will contribute One such opportunity is the restoration of Erebuni, he said. “I will invest my long experi- ambassadors abroad and the Armenian to a “further development” of Russian- a historical archaeological museum reserve. The city ence and knowledge and my entire army’s top brass. But all of those offi- Armenian relations and “deepening of has also been commended for its International energy in properly performing the cials will have to be nominated by the Eurasian integration to the benefit of Outreach, in its efforts to put itself on the map for duties of Armenia’s president and prop- prime minister first. the brotherly peoples of the two coun- foreign investors. Yerevan co-operates with more erly serving the Republic of Armenia, Sarkissian, 64, has repeatedly stated tries.” than 50 cities globally, and is a member of eight its citizens and our people.” in recent weeks that despite the lack of Sarkissian has avoided detailed pub- international organizations. Initiatives are in place “And I certainly expect your and our executive powers he intends to play a lic statements on foreign policy issues to expand international ties with sister and partner citizens’ support for and participation major role in Armenia’s political and since being nominated for president by city agreements.” in our future important victories,” economic life. He has pledged, among the outgoing President Serzh Sargsyan added the president-elect. other things, to strive to heal what he in January. But he did stress the eco- Only seven Yelk deputies cast ballots sees as serious divisions existing within nomic importance of Armenia’s mem- French Mayor, NKR on Friday, suggesting that three other the Armenian society. bership in the Russian-led Eurasian Foreign Minister Meet lawmakers affiliated with the HHK, A physicist and mathematician by Economic Union (EEU) when he Dashnaktsutyun or the Tsarukian Bloc education, Sarkissian worked at the addressed the parliament on Thursday. STEPANAKERT (Public Radio of Armenia) — On secretly broke ranks to vote against Cambridge University when he was “Armenia joined the EEU, which is March 5, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serzh Sarkisian’s preferred successor. appointed as newly independent an important and significant fact for Artsakh Masis Mayilian received the delegation from It was not clear who they are. Armenia’s first ambassador to the the simple reason that a republic of Bouc-Bel-Air, France, headed by Mayor Richard Mallié.