JANUARY 6, 2018 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVIII, NO. 24-24, Issue 4518-19 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF Musa Dagh Rescue Philadelphia Community Leader Papken Megerian Dies Photos Unearthed WYNNEWOOD, Penn. — home after a long sickness. 1962. They met while volun- YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — The Papken Megerian, vice chair- Born on April 15, 1939 in teering as officers on the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI) has man of the Armenian Aleppo, Syria, to Garabed and Giligian Elementary School discovered 25 never-before-seen photos depicting Democratic Liberal Party Elize Megerian, survivors of Alumni Association. Their first scenes from the evacuation of Musa Dagh. (Ramgavar) District the Armenian Genocide, child, Garo, was born in 1963. Musa Dagh was the site of a successful Armenian Committee of the Eastern Papken was the oldest of four On July 4, 1968, Papken and resistance during the Armenian Genocide. Allied United States and Canada, siblings, though he also had his family emigrated to the warships, most notably the French 3rd squadron in publisher of the Armenian three older paternal siblings United States and settled in the Mediterranean under command of Louis Mirror-Spectator and member from Garabed’s first wife, who Philadelphia, where son Aram Dartige du Fournet, sighted the survivors, just as of the Central Board of the died in an untimely fashion. and daughter Tanya were soon ammunition and food provisions were running out. Tekeyan Cultural Association Papken initially worked with born. French and British ships reportedly evacuated (TCA) of the United States and his father and older brothers. Papken Megerian worked 4,200 men, women and children from Musa Dagh Canada, passed away on He married his wife, Anahid for Fidelity Bank and became to safety in Port Said. December 25 at 5 a.m. at his Derderian, on August 19, see MEGERIAN, page 7 The pictures were taken in September 1915 by a French Navy officer. They portray the process of transporting the civilian Armenian population to French warships. Prof. Akçam Receives Upstander Award The photos will be available for public viewing in April, AGMI director Hayk Demoyan said. From World without Genocide Lapshin Announces Plans to Visit Armenia ecution of perpetrators; and By Bonnie Russell remember those whose lives MOSCOW (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Russian- and cultures have been Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin, who was destroyed by violence.” released from a prison in Baku last month, has WORCESTER (Telegram & Gazette) — Akçam, one of the first promised to visit Armenia very soon. Clark University history professor Taner Turkish intellectuals to Lapshin was detained in Belarus at Azerbaijan’s Akçam will be honored for the decades he acknowledge and openly dis- request for visiting Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) has spent gathering historical evidence to cuss the Armenian Genocide, and extradited to Baku where he was jailed for sev- document the 1915 Armenian genocide, holds an endowed chair at eral months before his release in September. the mass killings of 1.5 million Armenians Clark’s Strassler Center for that took place at the hands of the govern- Holocaust and Genocide Armenian Military Most ment during the Ottoman Empire. Studies. An outspoken advo- Akçam will be honored with the 2018 Clark University history professor Taner Akçam cate of democracy and free Trusted Institution Outstanding Upstander Award from the expression since his student World Without Genocide organization. days at Middle East Technical YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The Armenian military According to its website, World Without works “to protect innocent people around University in Ankara, Turkey, he is an inter- remains the most trusted institution in Armenia, Genocide, housed at the Mitchell Hamline the world; prevent genocide by combating nationally recognized human rights activist. according to an opinion poll conducted recently. School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, racism and prejudice; advocate for the pros- see AKÇAM , page 5 The Armenian branch of the US-funded Caucasus Resource Research Center (CRRC) inter- viewed residents in more than 1,600 households Piano Great Kissin across the country in November as part of its annu- al survey. According to its findings released last week, 51 Visits Armenia percent of Armenians “fully trust” and another 26 percent “rather trust” their armed forces. The YEREVAN (Armenpress) — President CRRC’s previous surveys found similarly strong Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting December popular support for the Armenian army 28 with renowned pianist Evgeny Kissin, The latest CRRC poll shows that the Armenian who was in the country for the 18th Apostolic Church and other religious organizations Yerevan Prospects music festival, the in the country were the second most trusted insti- President’s Office said. tution, with 74 percent having confidence in them. During the meeting, the president wel- The poll found much lower degrees of public comed Kissin and said that not only are his trust towards the executive and legislative talent and masterful performances appreci- branches of government. Only 18 percent of ated in the country, but that he is also those polled said they trust President Serzh beloved for his humanity, beloved as a Sargsyan, according to the CRRC. Public confi- friend of the Armenian people. dence in the Armenian parliament was found to He noted that the Armenians would be even weaker. The American Armenian Rose Float participated in the 129th annual Pasadena never forget Kissin’s support during the Tournament of Roses Rose Parade. 1988 earthquake, nor his participation in the New York concert dedicated to the com- American Armenian Float Takes Home memoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and the unique perfor- INSIDE mance of Komitas’ Krunk, which touched Judges’ Award at Rose Parade the hearts of all Armenians. Kissin said his love and honor for the PASADENA, Calif. (LA Times) — Three local entrants in the 2018 Rose Parade Armenian people, who have centuries old walked away with awards for their floats during the chilly annual New Year’s Day Review of culture and history, is mutual, and said that parade. all his life he will return to Armenia. The Burbank Tournament of Roses, the La Cañada Flintridge 2017 By Anthony Clark Carpio Tournament of Roses and the American Armenian Rose Float Pages 8-13 received awards for their floats, which impressed the thousands of parade-goers on Monday. The American Armenian Rose Float ’s entry, titled “Armenia Roots,” received the Judges Award. INDEX The entry is a tribute to Armenian women, whether they be mothers, daughters, Arts and Living . 14 grandmothers or aunts, who work tirelessly to be the foundation of their family, Armenia . 2 said Noubar Derbedrosian, a board member of the association. Community News. 4 “There is no one like the women in our lives — our moms, our sisters, our wives Editorial . 18 — that will give of themselves without asking for anything in return,” he said. International . 3 see FLOAT, page 20 Pianist Evgeny Kissin with President Serzh Sargsyan 2 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 6 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Karapetyan Laments Economic Cost Yerevan 2800th Of Armenian Political Limbo Anniversary Jubilee YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The linger- stated in recent weeks that Sargsyan growth, is a better way to boost living Commission Meets ing uncertainty over who will govern should stay in power as prime minister. standards in the country. Armenia after President Serzh Also in April, Armenia will switch to “I think that by 2019 many more YEREVAN — Chaired by Prime Minister Karen Sargsyan completes his final term in a parliamentary system of government, people will feel that we have moved and Karapetyan, the jubilee commission for preparation April is adversely affecting the coun- meaning that most of the sweeping are moving the economy in the right and coordination of events dedicated to Yerevan’s try’s economy, Prime Minister Karen powers currently enjoyed by the head direction,” said Karapetyan. 2800th anniversary met in late December in the Karapetyan said in an interview pub- of state will be given to the prime min- The 54-year-old former business exec- Office of Government. lished this week. ister. Karapetyan has repeatedly indi- utive vowed to speed up economic Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Aram Sukiasyan present- “Unfortunately, that is the case,” he cated his desire to retain his post. growth through major reforms and a ed the program of events dedicated to the anniver- told the newspaper 168 Zham. “We Speaking to 168 Zham, the premier fight against corruption when sary celebration, after which a number of organiza- again said that the HHK Sargsyan named him prime minister in tional issues were discussed. leadership will decide in September 2016. The ruling HHK’s The Premier made a point of ensuring close coop- April “who will occupy governing board gave a largely positive eration between the Town Hall of Yerevan and the what post.” “Of course, assessment of his track record a year public agencies in order to organize and implement individuals always play a later. the planned activities properly and in a timely man- [major] role,” he said. “But ner. The Prime Minister instructed the heads of gov- the more the role of indi- ernment departments to submit to the Town Hall viduals is minimized … the their proposals within the shortest possible time. more predictable and promising that [govern- Armenia Raises Infant Mortality Rate ment] system becomes.” Joined by key members Income Tax for Drops by half in of his team such as Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan Finance Minister Vartan High Earners 10 Years Aramian and Economic Development Minister YEREAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — The infant mor- YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenians have to acknowledge that and … ensure Suren Karayan, Karapetyan spent most tality rate has been cut in half in Armenia, in the past earning more than 150,000 drams that there are not many [business-relat- of the extensive interview defending 10 years.