DECEMBER 8, 2018 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXIX, NO. 21, Issue 4565 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF The Armenian Mirror- Artsakh President’s Spokesman Provides Spectator’s Annual Overview of Recent Developments Winter Break WATERTOWN — The last issue of the GLENDALE — Davit K. Babayan, head of the Central Information Department of the Armenian Mirror-Spectator before its annual Office of the Artsakh Republic President and deputy head of the Artsakh Republic winter break will be that of December 22. President’s Office, and doctor of historical sciences, spoke Publishing will recommence with the issue of about recent developments concerning the Artsakh January 5, 2019. The Mirror-Spectator offices By Aram Arkun Republic on November 19 during his visit to greater Los will be closed starting December 24, and reopen Mirror-Spectator Staff Angeles with President Bako Sahakyan of Artsakh. on January 2. Babayan revealed the purpose for his visit, saying: “We are here for the [Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Thanksgiving Day] telethon but we have many other unrelated meetings, as we want to Pashinyan Wants to keep close ties with all Armenian communities throughout the world. This telethon is dedicated to irrigation, solar energy and similar issues. This combination of traditional Transform Sevan into and modern technologies is very important.” He later added, “The telethons are very Major Resort important events. And I think it is incorrect to value them exclusively in terms of the volume of donated money… The annual telethons are much more important from the YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The political force led perspective of cementing ties between the diaspora and the homeland, serving as a by Nikol Pashinyan wants to make Sevan a major unique device for mutual charging with national energy, common destiny, hope and resort, acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol dedication between Artsakh, Armenia and the diaspora.” Pashinyan said in Sevan during the pre-electoral see ARTSAKH, page 9 campaign of “My step” block on November 29. “The lands of Sevan National Park are divided between some officials. Sevan coastal areas are rented with ridiculous money. One of my first tasks Archbishop Khajag Barsamian Appointed Legate to Vatican has been to examine all the cases and to define ade- quate money to be paid to the national park. We ence at the Vatican will “definitely be helpful at which time Pope Francis presided. must make Sevan a high-level resort city,” By Florence Avakian for deepening further” the relationship They also organized the inauguration of Pashinyan said. between the two churches. St. Gregory of Nareg’s statue at the He emphasized that everyone should have equal Barsamian was warmly welcomed to the Vatican, discussed the present political sit- access to Sevan both for leisure and business. ROME — Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Vatican by Armenia’s Ambassador to the Holy uation in Armenia, the condition of the The acting Pm noted that as a result of the men- former Primate of the Eastern Diocese for See Mikayel Minasyan whose working rela- Christian communities in the Middle East, tioned policy new touristic and non-touristic jobs 28 years, has been busy since arriving in tionship with Archbishop Barsamian on many and how to strengthen the Mekhitarist will be created in Sevan. Rome on his new assignment from projects during the Armenian diplomat’s Congregation at St. Lazaro in Venice. Early parliamentary elections will take place on Echmiadzin by Catholicos of All Armenians assignment in Rome for more than six years, “The differences between churches December 9. Karekin II. have borne successful results for Armenia. should not be obstacles for them to coop- Appointed in September 2018 as the Also welcoming the former Primate was erate and have dialogue issues relating Paylan Decries Lack of Pontifical Legate of the Armenian Church Armenia’s Ambassador to Italy Victoria challenges existing in the world today. Bagdassarian, who see VATICAN, page 7 Free Press in Turkey extended a special invite to the archbishop ISTANBUL (Armenpress) — Ethnic Armenian at a concert organized lawmaker of the Turkish parliament Garo Paylan by the Armenian criticized the lack of media freedom in Turkey on Embassy in celebration Incarceration and November 30. of the 2,800th anniver- He criticized all pro-governmental newspapers on sary of Yerevan at Injustice Addressed Twitter. Paylan presented Sabah, Yeni Shafak, Rome’s Opera House. Milliyet Turkiye and Star newspapers in the parlia- Following his arrival At Najarian Talk ment and criticized them. at the Vatican, “At present, press in Turkey has two directions: Barsamian has had per- either it must praise the sultan or be free. But the sonal meetings with By Alin K. Gregorian free press has its price and difficulties, such as vio- lence, restrictions in advertisement and arrests,” Cardinal Kurt Koch, Mirror-Spectator Staff President of the the lawmaker said. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian Pontifical Council for Paylan noted that any force which is not being Promoting Christian BOSTON — The annual K. George and Dr. criticized makes mistakes. Unity, and with Cardinal Carolann S. Najarian Lecture on Human “They [the authorities] want the people not to in Western Europe, and Representative of Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Rights, held at Faneuil Hall, this year read newspapers, not to criticize and ask questions, the Armenian Church to the Holy See, he Congregation for the Oriental Churches. addressed a human rights topic in the US, but this first of all harms Erdogan because any has been meeting with high-ranking His meetings with Cardinal Pietro rather than the world, and the human force which is not subject to criticism, makes mis- Vatican officials to strengthen the relation- Parolin, Secretary of State at the Vatican, rights were those of the incarcerated. takes,” he said. ship between the Roman Catholic and were especially significant. The two have The program, held on November 14, fea- Armenian churches. known and worked with each other for a SARA JANJIGIAN TRIFIRO PHOTO In relaying the appointment in a long time; they organized Pope Francis’ September 1 letter this year to Pope Francis, visit to Armenia, as well as the commemo- the Catholicos received the Catholic ration of the 100th anniversary of the Pontiff’s response that Barsamian’s pres- Armenian Genocide at St. Peter’s Basilica, INSIDE Oxford University Armenian Studies Chair Armenian Prof. Thomson Dies Museum LONDON — Prof. Robert W. Thomson (1934- 2018), former Calouste Gulbenkian Professor of Page 12 Armenian Studies at Oxford University (1992- 2002), who died recently, is remembered by his colleagues and students for his monumental con- From left, Cherise Fanno Burdeen, Middlesex tributions to Armenian, Syriac, Georgian and Sheriff Peter Koutoujian and Mark A. Levin INDEX Byzantine studies. Arts and Living . 12 Thomson was one of the most prolific scholars Armenia . 2,3 of Armenian history and letters and leaves behind tured two experts on the justice system Community News. 6 an invaluable corpus of studies, translations and from Texas, Cherise Fanno Burdeen and Editorial . 17 commentaries. May his soul rest in peace. Marc A. Levin, who sat on a panel moderat- International . 4,5 see THOMSON, page 20 ed by Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian. see INCARCERATION, page 10 2 S ATURDAY, D ECEMBER 8 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Veteran Lawmaker Accused of Bribery YEREVAN (RFE/RLKL) — Law- she spoke to RFE/RL’s Armenian ser- currently campaigning for reelection in enforcement authorities on Monday, vice (Azatutyun.am) in late October. the December 9 polls, it is not clear President Visits Spitak December 3, moved to arrest on cor- She said that the mining licenses were whether the 101-seat parliament will ruption charges a member of subsequently revoked and that she make a quorum. Besides, its largest fac- YEREVAN (Armenpress) — President of Armenia Armenia’s outgoing parliament repre- never got her money back. tion is controlled by the HHK. Armen Sarkissian paid a working visit to Lori senting former President Serzh The former minister has not yet pub- The HHK’s deputy chairman, Armen province, on December 4. Sarkisian’s Republican Party (HHK). licly commented on the allegations. Ashotyan, denounced the criminal pro- His first stop was the Agroholding Armenia LLC. Armenia’s Office of the Prosecutor- A statement by the prosecutors said ceedings as politically motivated “selec- The company’s unique pavilion and products pre- General said that the lawmaker, Aram four other individuals, presumably tive justice” and a pre-election “dirty sented at the Armenia Expo 2018 in Yerevan in Harutyunyan, received $14 million in close to Harutyunyan, have already ploy” by Prime Minister Nikol September attracted the notice of the president. The bribes when he served as minister of been charged in the corruption case. Pashinyan. Ashotyan said that they company is engaged in cattle breeding and dairy pro- environment protection from 2007- Two of them are currently on the run, were deliberately timed to coincide duction. 2014. It said a businesswoman, Silva it said without giving any names. with the election campaign. The Sarkissian got acquainted with the company activi- authorities could have easily waited ties and upcoming programs, tasted the products and until the outgoing parliament’s tenure talked to the workers. Currently the company’s prod- expires on December 24, he said. ucts are consumed mainly in Armenia. Ashotyan went on to claim that He praised the cooperation with international com- Pashinyan is thereby trying to reverse panies having experience in this field. a drop in his approval ratings. “Nikol While in Spitak, he and his wife, Nune, laid flowers Pashinyan’s approval rating is falling at the cross-stone dedicated to the memory of the because the HHK is opening people’s 1988 devastating earthquake victims.