OCTOBER 8, 2011 MirTHE rARoMENr IAN -Spe ctator Volume LXXXII, NO. 13, Issue 4207 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States German and Italian French Leader Specialists to Study Armenian Heritage Cornerstone of Sanahin Monastery Praises Friendship Boston Neighborhood With Armenia on Complex Unique Collaboration between Private and Public Sectors SANAHIN, Armenia — German and Italian special - ists will study the crumbling Sanahin monastery Sargisian’s Visit complex, which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. PARIS (RFE/RL) — French President Deputy Minister of Culture Arev Samuelyan said Nicolas Sarkozy accentuated his country’s in a press conference, last Friday, that architects “exclusive friendship” with Armenia as he from Venice would arrive this week to study the hosted his visiting Armenian counterpart, state of the monastery complex and conduct laser Serge Sargisian, on Wednesday, September scanning. Specialists from Germany have visited 28. the monastery twice to study the cracks in the “President Sargisian’s official visit to monastery complex. The next visit of German France will become an occasion for empha - experts is scheduled for October. Samuelyan said sizing the exclusive friendship that exists an international tender for reconstruction of between the two peoples and will give a Sanahin will be announced till late November. fresh impetus to our cooperation,” Sarkozy The Medieval monastery in the village of Sanahin said, as reported by his press office. (X-XIII centuries) is one of the medieval landmarks The two presidents reportedly had a din - of Northern Armenia. ner and discussed a number of issues, includ - Last April, Prime Minister Tigran Sargisian visit - ing conflicts in the South Caucasus and par - ed Sanahin and drafting a program for its restora - ticularly the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. tion. The government has approved 90 million The two are also believed to have dis - drams for that purpose. cussed Sarkozy’s upcoming visit to Armenia as part of his South Caucasus tour to take place in October. Major Landslide in Sargisian arrived in Paris after complet - From left, Vartan Mardiros, Aurelian Mardiros, Donald Tellalian and Antranig Mardiros with the skeleton of the monument at A&A Industries in Peabody Tavush Province Buries Cars, Five People BOSTON — Come springtime, the Armenian community of the greater Boston Missing area can see the handiwork of acting as one, namely, the completion of the Armenian Heritage Park, a unique privately-funded public project. VANADZOR (Armenian Radio) — On October 2, at The ceremonial groundbreaking was 7:03 p.m. a number of cars were caught in a landslide held on September 9, 2010, with the par - at the 86th kilometer of Vanadzor-Bagratashen high - By Alin K. Gregorian ticipation of Gov. Deval Patrick, Catholicos way near the Ayrum railway bridge, the Ministry of Mirror-Spectator Staff of All Armenians Karekin II and Boston Emergency Situations reported. Mayor Thomas Menino. A probe into the details of the accident is under The park, located between Faneuil Hall way. French President Nicolas Sarkozy meets his Marketplace and Christopher Columbus Park, at the tip of the North End, will have The Ministry of Emergency Situation reports Armenian counterpart Serge Sargisian. a labyrinth, a circular winding path in grass and inlaid stone, celebrating life’s jour - that seven persons are missing. Search efforts at ney, with a single jet of water, representing hope and rebirth. the site continue. The focal point of the park will be an abstract sculpture, a split dodecahedron mon - The government asked drivers to refrain from dri - ing a working visit to the United States ument. The statute and the base are being constructed by A&A Industries of ving along Vanadzor-Baghratashen highway until it where he addressed the 66th session of the Peabody, which has been founded and run by the Mardiros family of Wakefield. The can be shored up. United Nations General Assembly on Friday Mardiroses are donating the sculpture, both the top and the base, which including and met with representatives of the local material and labor, is estimated to cost about $500,000. Armenian community. Andranik Hakobyan to see HERITAGE PARK, page 16 Besides meetings with French officials, including Speaker of the French National Box in 2012 London Assembly Bernard Accoyer, Prime Minister Olympics Francois Fillon, Mayor of Paris Bertrand Charles Aznavour dedicated to the 20th On Thursday, a reception for Sargisian Delanoe, Sargisian also met with local anniversary of Armenia’s independence. All was organized at the Paris mayor’s office LONDON (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Armenian boxer prominent Armenians. the proceeds from the concert sponsored during which the Armenian president also Andranik Hakobyan (75 kilograms) scored a crucial On Wednesday evening, Sargisian attend - by Sargisian and Sarkozy will go to the met with representatives of the local win in the International World Boxing ed a concert by French-Armenian singer Aznavour Pour l’Armenie charity. Armenian community. Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, to secure entry to 2012 London Olympics. In the one-eighth finals, Hakobyan beat Mexico’s Juan Mercado. Karabagh Negotiators The remaining boxers from Armenia, who Tekeyan Centre Fund Armenia dropped out of championship, have already Meet with Sargisian, returned to Armenia. Celebrates 20th Anniversary Aliyev in Warsaw

YEREVAN — On September 10, Tekeyan who prominent officials, art and science WARSAW (RFE/RL) — Armenian Centre solemnly celebrated the 20th workers, benefactors, friends and supporters President Serge Sargisian on Thursday INSI DE anniversary of its foundation. The Centre from Armenia, Karabagh and the diaspora. met with the mediating troika brokering welcomed more than 200 guests, amongst Tekeyan Centre was the dream of a solution to the Karabagh conflict, Armenians all over fresh off his trip to France. He came to the world, and today Warsaw to attend the Eastern Salute to it is a reality. But the Partnership Summit. path to success was According to a statement released by Armenia thorny. In 1991, the president’s press office, at the meet - Armenia was strug - ing Sargisian and the three co-cochair - page 14 gling for its indepen - men of the Organization for Security dence and it was and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) forced to be at war. Minsk Group, Ambassadors Bernard Most of the country Fassier of France, Robert Bradtke of the was an area of a disas - United States and Igor Popov of Russia, INDEX trous earthquake. Art discussed “issues relating to the current Arts and Living ...... 13 and literature, educa - stage of the negotiating process” and Armenia ...... 2, 3 tion and science were “details regarding the OSCE Minsk Community News...... 5 Group’s upcoming visit to the region.” Editorial ...... 18 The dignitaries at the Tekeyan Centre, from left, Nar Khachadourian, striving to survive. International ...... 4 Vazgen Manukyan, Edmond Azadian, Vartan Ouzounian, Gegham Just at this very The three international mediators, too, Gharibjanyan, Papken Megerian and A. Krikorian moment London issued a statement from Warsaw, also see TCA, page 20 see TALKS, page 4 2 S ATURDAY , O CTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Armenia’s Ex-President Confirms

Armenia to Step up Possible Return to Big Politics Fighting Drugs before being replaced by then Prime exert stronger pressure on the government By Ruzanna Stepanian Minister Sargisian, widely believed to be his and possible get broader concessions. YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Fighting against drug handpicked successor. Meanwhile, HHK spokesman Eduard addiction and illegal drug trade are the priorities The ex-president listed only three major Sharmazanov took Kocharian’s desire to of the government national security, Secretary for YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenia’s for - factors that he said might force him to return to active politics in stride, but said Republic of Armenia National Security Council mer president Robert Kocharian has not return to active politics: “the absence of a the current ruling party was determined to Arthur Baghdasaryan said this week. ruled out the possibility of his return to big tangible and stable improvement of the sit - support Sargisian’s policies and reelection According to him, a national program of fighting politics, but has markedly refused to link uation in country’s economy and people’s bid. drug addiction and illegal drug trade has been any such move with outside developments. welfare, and, consequently, the growth of “It is up to him [Kocharian] and his polit - worked out collaboratively with the National The Yerevan-based Mediamax news hopeless moods and migration; the ical team to decide [whether he returns to Council’s staff and confirmed by the Armenian agency on Friday published an exclusive demand for my return to big politics by var - politics or not]. It does not change any president’s decree, as a result of which a commis- interview with the ex-leader, in which he ious layers of the society; and my inner plans of the HKK, which, like before, has sion dealing with these issues has been set up. comments on the more frequent talk about belief that I can radically improve the situ - and will have a clear reform plan and is Baghdasaryan noted that according to official his plans to make a political comeback in ation.” determined to carry out reforms under the data, in the first quarter of 2011, as compared with time for the country’s next parliamentary “The ways of return to active politics leadership of its president, Serge the last year, there is a 7.4-percent growth of law or presidential elections. may vary given these three factors. Other Sargisian,” Sharmazanov said. violations, and the number of the revelations has Speculation about Kocharian’s return to circumstances only add a political resource Meanwhile, David Shahnazarian, a added by 10 percent. “But the issue remains trou- active politics intensified last weekend in but are not fundamental,” said Kocharian. senior representative of the HAK, which bling,” he said. the wake of the announcement made in Analysts have also speculated that the holds Kocharian responsible for deadly Baghdasaryan also said that the European Union Russia that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin possible pressure from Kocharian as a polit - post-election clashes in March 2008, made (EU) has called on the Republic of Armenia and and President Dmitry Medvedev would ical rival may force Sargisian and his cur - more poignant comments regarding the ex- other member states of the Eastern Partnership to exchange their offices after next year’s rent political opponent Levon Ter- president’s statements. enhance cooperation in this sphere. He said that presidential election in which Putin’s victo - Petrosian, who currently seem to be on the “Broad sections of the Armenian public the EU has dispatched a special expert to Armenia. ry appears to be almost a foregone conclu - opposite sides of the political fence, to start want to see Kocharian as a defendant in sion for many. moving closer towards each other in the court. These are only attempts by him to Yerevan to Host Fifth In Armenia where Russia’s influence run-up to the polls. avoid a defendant’s status in the future, remains particularly strong due to the Negotiating teams representing the gov - nothing more,” Shahnazarian said. ‘Return’ Music Festival South Caucasus nation’s deep political, erning coalition led by Sargisian’s economic and military ties with Moscow, Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) and YEREVAN (Arminfo) — Mariam Shahinyan, the pro- the kind of development in the Kremlin the Ter-Petrosian-led opposition Armenian moter of the “Return” music festival, said at a press could not but trigger a storm in the form National Congress (HAK) held several Government conference this week that told media on Monday of predictions of similar scenarios, with ex- rounds of formal talks in July and August Determined to Try that a total of six concerts will be given during the president Kocharian said to be contemplat - around the political future of the country festival. Among the participants are Hrachya ing a bid to supplant incumbent President before the opposition alliance suspended To Continue MCA- Avanesyan, violin (Belgium); Mariana Shirinyan Serge Sargisian in the next presidential its participation over the arrest of a group (Denmark), Vazgen Vardanyan (Slovenia) and Ashot vote slated for 2013 or become Armenia’s of its young activists. Armenia Program Khachatryan (Germany) piano; soprano Beth next prime minister after regaining his At the latest HAK rally in Yerevan on Williams (US) and Valery Tolstov, flute political foothold through next May’s par - Friday, Ter-Petrosian offered a “reasonable” YEREVAN (Armenpress) — (Switzerland). liamentary polls. compromise to Armenia’s current political Prime Minister Tigran Sargisian Shahinyan said that some of the musicians will be “I am amazed that my possible return is leadership, signaling his readiness to recon - has organized this week a recep - performing in Armenia for the first time. “We do linked to political processes in Russia… I sider his demands for holding snap presi - tion on the occasion of the suc - not seek famous names, but at the same time we am sure political processes should ripen dential and parliamentary elections by the cessful implementation of want to introduce brilliant musicians successfully here in Armenia, and not be directly pro - end of the year. At the same time, the oppo - Millennium Challenge Account- performing in abroad,” she said. Shahinyan said jected from outside,” commented sition leader urged his supporters to turn Armenia (MCA-Armenia). that the musicians will give master-classes on side- Kocharian, who served as Armenia’s presi - out in much larger numbers at the next Welcoming the guests, Sargisian lines of the festival. “The festival is held in Armenia dent for two successive terms in 1998-2008 rally that was scheduled for this Friday to said that the government sup - for the fifth time, which, I think, is a big victory,” ports executive director of Shahinyan added. Millennium Challenge corpora - The opening of the festival was held at the tion, Daniel Yohannes. Aleksandr Spendiarov Theatre under the auspices According to Sargisian, at the of First Lady Rita Sargisian. Government Increases Payment meeting with Patrick Fine, vice president for Compact Operations To Families of Soldiers of the Millennium Challenge Government Rejects Corporation, the results of the Opposition Pressure ($81) and to a child of age — 23,000 program were summed up. By Siranuysh drams ($62). If they wish, they can “New standards and a method - YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenia’s political leader- ology have been elaborated with - Gevorgyan receive all the allowances together at ship indicated late on Monday that it is undaunted once from the same body. By the new in Millennium Challenge by round-the-clock rallies staged by the Armenian order, in order to receive state aid, the Corporation, which will become National Congress (HAK) and will not even negoti- YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — The gov - families have to take a document from the object of study of our govern - ate with the opposition alliance until they are over. ernment has agreed to increase benefits either the ministry of social affairs or ment, and we will try to meet Representatives of President Serge Sargisian’s to survivors of servicemen killed in the any other authorized inspectorate con - those standards. On behalf of the governing coalition scoffed at the HAK’s stated line of duty. firming their status as a deceased ser - Armenian government, I express readiness to resume a dialogue with the govern- Artem Asatryan, deputy minister of viceman’s family and submit it to gratitude to the US government ment, which it suspended in late August in protest Labor and Social Affairs, said on regional departments of the state social for its extended support,” against the arrest of an opposition activist. Monday that the monetary allowance to insurance service. By Asatryan’s data, Sargisian said. The HAK linked the resumption of that dialogue 5,300 families has been defined as some 1,500 families have applied to be Stressing that the most impor - with the activist’s release until this month. Its top 30,000 drams ($81) starting September included in the new lists. tant standards of the program leader, Levon Ter-Petrosian, signaled his readiness 1, instead of the 10,000 drams ($27) Various public figures have every now concern not only the targets to drop this precondition as his bloc set up a tent they were getting before; in addition, and then turned the insufficient state defined by law, but also strength - camp in Liberty Square on Friday in a bid to 20,000 drams ($54) is paid for each care and attention towards the families ening democracy in Armenia and heighten pressure on the Sargisian administration. child in a family. of soldiers who died during the creation of economic basis, Members of a government team that negotiated The deputy minister also informed that Karabagh war or the war veterans in Sargisian said that the Armenian with HAK representatives in July and August reject- the payment procedure of the monetary general into a target of criticism against government is determined to ed this offer in a written statement issued after a allowances to the families of deceased ser - the authorities. They keep stressing that exert efforts to continue this pro - meeting held in the Armenian parliament. vicemen has also changed; the families by neglecting and ignoring them the gram in Armenia. The prime min - “We do not think that the illegal gathering held will now get the money separately, not as state is disappointing those people and ister noted that MCA-Armenia is by the HAK will make a renewed dialogue produc- part of their family benefit. their families who gave their lives for the one of the most successful mani - tive,” they said. “We will wait until the end of that “Our citizens who until now have sake of the country, and this fact causes festations if Armenian-American illegal process before discussing details of our been receiving their money from three public discontent and triggers migration. cooperation. meetings with HAK representatives.” different structures, within different Manvel Yeghiazaryan, commander of Fine said that by making con - The statement was circulated as Ter-Petrosian timelines, in different formats, will now the legendary Arabo brigade during the siderable investments in irrigation answered written questions in front of several thou- receive all at once from the same struc - Karabagh war, asked: “If a person has infrastructures and agribusiness sand supporters rallying in Liberty Square. Most ture, by a single payment list, as provid - devoted his/her life, nerves, health, sphere of Armenia, they have questions related to government decisions made ed for by the improved procedural patriotism to the motherland, doesn’t taken a step to reduce poverty. during his 1991-1998 presidency, Armenia’s rela- order,” said Asatryan. s/he have a right to live a decent life?” “We have had big achievements tions with Georgia and Russia as well as the role of Some 5,000 families of deceased ser - He expressed his frustration over the during the program, and we are the Armenian Apostolic Church. vicemen that are considered to be poor fact that many of his comrades-in-arms very happy for that. This example receive state allowance. Besides that, got disappointed in the authorities shows that Armenia undertakes these families receive the so-called “sec - because of the years of neglect and works for providing the welfare of ond pension”, for example, the second define them as those “who bring down its citizens.” benefit given to a child is 30,000 drams the nation’s spirit.” S ATURDAY , O CTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 ARMENIA Armenia Tree Project Begins Propagation Of Rare and Endangered Species

By Armine Tokhmakhyan and Jason Sohigian

YEREVAN — The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has been publishing its Red List of Threatened Species since 1963. The IUCN is the world’s main authority on the conservation status of plant and animal species, and the Red List is published periodically as the most comprehensive inven - tory available. A series of regional Red Lists are produced by countries and organizations to assess the risk of extinction to species within a smaller geographic area. The Ministry of Nature Protection released its own two-volume Red Book of Plants and Animals of the Republic of Armenia in 2010. “The country’s attractiveness and public welfare are direct - ly linked with the splendor and richness of its natural heritage,” writes Aram Harutyunyan, Armenia’s Minister of Nature Protection, in the preface. The production of the Red Book is another step forward in the preservation and recovery of the region’s biodiversity. There are approximately 3,600 plant species in Armenia, and 123 are endemic or found nowhere else on the planet. According to the authors, these plants may become endangered because of a number of influences including deforestation, the overuse of resources like water and develop - ment of land, which provides habitats for plants and animals. The new Red Book includes infor - mation about 452 plant and 40 Elderberry Tigrani (Sambucos Tigrani) is one of the 452 rare plants listed in the fungus species that are rare, Red Book of ; it is propagated along with information on 223 the Republic of Armenia plant species that are in danger of by Nursery Manager Samvel Ghandilyan at ATP’s tree nursery in Karin Village. extinction. “In response to the concern over the loss of native plants, Armenia Tree Project has a policy “Our nurseries serve the communities of of growing only indigenous trees Armenia by providing fruit and decorative trees in its three nurseries,” explains to more than 900 planting sites,” explains Areg Samvel Ghandilyan, ATP’s Maghakian, ATP deputy director of operations. Nursery Program manager. The “As a result of this work, we will soon be able only exception to this is “natural - to observe some of the species included in the ized” trees, which were intro - Red Book in the parks, churches, and schools duced long ago, have not been throughout Armenia.” observed to have a negative ATP’s next initiative is the restoration of impact on the local ecosystem, Armenian heritage fruit trees. In the past, and provide an added benefit of Armenia had numerous varieties of apple, food security (fruit and nut trees). peach and apricot trees. These fruit trees are “An ecosystem is a community now rare and measures are being taken to of plants, animals and smaller ATP is growing heritage fruit trees and endangered trees and shrubs listed in the Red Book at its Karin Nursery, preserve the heritage trees from disappear - organisms that live, feed and including Alpine Maple (Acer Thrautvetteri) pictured here and Halfsphere Rose (Rosa Gaenuspherica) ance. interact within the same physical “Last year we started to produce Heritage components of an area or envi - Fruit Trees at ATP’s Karin and Khachpar nurs - ronment, including the soil, water and sunlight. When you intro - ditions without negative impacts, which is why ATP has made eries,” adds Maghakian. “In 2010, we success - duce plant species that are not native to the area, there is a risk this a priority in our nursery and tree planting programs.” fully grafted Parvana and Shaqareni apple, Malacha and that the local ecosystem will be negatively affected, creating a “ATP started to pay special attention to the propagation of Dzmernuk pear and Yerevani and Sateni apricot trees, which will less suitable environment for local species,” adds Ghandilyan. “In endangered species of plants at our nursery in Karin. These be delivered to community planting sites in coming years. As part recent years we’ve noticed that many native species that com - include nine trees and shrubs that are registered as rare in the of our mission to re-green Armenia, ATP has a commitment to prise our local ecosystem have either vanished or drastically Red Book and two that are in danger of extinction,” Ghandilyan preserve our precious biodiversity by planting native and endan - reduced in numbers. Native and naturalized species possess cer - says. “These are Alpine Maple or Acer Thrautvetteri and gered trees all over the country.” tain traits that make them more likely to thrive under local con - Halfsphere Rose or Rosa Gaenuspherica.” For more information about ATP, visit www.armeniatree.org.

State Sen. Simitian Visits NKR, US Embassy in Baku Remains Neutral

STEPANAKERT (PanARMENIAN.Net) — of powers between federal and state governments California state Sen. Joseph Simitian paid a visit last in the US Constitution, state officials act inde - week to Nagorno Karabagh, to meet with the lead - pendently of the United States government. “The ership there. United States government had no control over his The US Embassy in Baku released a statement schedule, nor did Simitian consult with the saying that they are aware of press reports of a visit Embassy about his travel plans,” APA quoted him to Nagorno Karabagh by Simitian. As a state sena - as saying. tor, Simitian does not represent the United States On October 3, Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign government, spokesman for the US embassy in Affairs blacklisted Simitian for his visit to “occupied California state Sen. Joe Simitian, second from left, meets with NKR President Azerbaijan, Keith Bean, stated. territories” of Azerbaijan “without prior coordina - Bako Sahakian, second from left. Advisor David Babayan, right, translates. He noted that under the doctrine of separation tion with Azeri authorities.” 4 S ATURDAY , O CTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL International News AGBU’s 2011 Moscow Summer Intern Program Concludes, Attracting More Participants Than Ever Before Georges Kazazian to MOSCOW — From June 26 to August 5, 13 Armenian university students par - Perform in Cairo ticipated in the Moscow Summer Intern Program (MSIP). Following the success CAIRO (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Author Jacinta of similar programs in New York and Candinas’s Cairo — Lucerna — Coira, which has Yerevan, MSIP was launched last year been published this year, is about a series of post- and it has quickly grown, almost dou - card exchanges between Jacinta Candinas (Cairo) bling the number of its participants this and Manuel Vázquez (Lucerna) and includes short year, while establishing its place among stories and poems by Andri Perl (Coira). AGBU’s summer youth program offer - Egypt’s official book launch will take place on ings. Arriving from four countries — October 8 in the presence of Candinas. The event Armenia, Canada, France and the will also showcase a concert by Cairo-born Georges United States — this year’s Armenian Kazazian, Ahram Online reported. college students spent six weeks in the Kazazian has performed at some of the most pres- Russian capital, home to the world’s tigious festivals around the world and has com- largest Armenian-diasporan community. posed soundtracks for several films as well as Program participants were immersed in released several albums. Moscow’s entrepreneurial culture and were exposed to the hustle and bustle of Armenian Boxers this global hub of trade, commerce, diplomacy and innovation. AGBU Interns during their visit to Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour Attacked in Baku Before the AGBU interns arrived, stu - dents were interviewed by MSIP staff BAKU (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Armenian boxers, about their educational interests and tional meeting with Karen Mikayelian, Catherine’s Armenian Apostolic Church, participating in the International Boxing future ambitions and then matched up executive director of the International which dates to the 18th century. They Association (AIBA) World Championships, were with full-time, unpaid internships in Organizing Committee for the also attended live performances of attacked this week. English-language work environments Preparation of the Western Armenian “Spartacus” and “Swan Lake” at the According to Azerbaijani police, a group repre- that would help them reach their career National Congress, interns participated Mariinsky and Alexandrovsky theaters, senting the Karabagh Liberation Organization goals. Secured through AGBU’s net - in a discussion about the Armenian and had a meeting with local Armenian (KLO) infiltrated the championship venue. As the work of Moscow-based institutions, host Genocide and Armenia’s foreign policy. youth at the St. Petersburg Armenian Armenian boxer was entering the ring, their shouts companies and organizations, this year During the course of the summer, stu - Sunday School. “Armenians, get out” and “Karabagh or death” the following organizations welcomed dents also visited St. Petersburg, where Before the 2011 season came to an end, were followed by launching stones. MSIP participants: the Association of they spent a few days exploring the participants attended a reception to honor The match was suspended. The Armenian boxer, Russian Banks, Central Partnership monuments of czarist Russia, including the gracious professional hosts who made judges and referee left the venue. Digital, Cigar Clan Magazine, the Hermitage Museum, the Peter and the summer intern experience unforget - Henderson and Hayas, Russian Paul Fortress and the historic St. table. Turkey Holds Military Research Center of Surgery, SKOLKO - VO School of Management, Star Expo Exercises near Border Exhibition Company/Gostiny Dvor, the Sargisian ‘Satisfied’ with Progress in Moscow Times newspaper and Troika HATAY, Turkey (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Turkey’s Dialogue Investment Bank. A few of the EU-Armenia Association Agreement Talks military will conduct an exercise in this southern interns, seeking to gain greater expo - province, where more than 7,000 Syrians have sure to various fields of interest, chose WARSAW, Poland (RFE/RL) — satisfied with the progress made in the taken refuge from Syrian President Bashar al- to participate in internships at two dif - Armenian President Serge Sargisian Association Agreement negotiations. Assad’s security forces. ferent companies simultaneously. voiced his nation’s determination to We feel determined to maintain and con - The October 5-13 “mobilization” exercise, keep momentum in its relations with tinue to make progress at this pace and announced on the military’s website on Tuesday, Exploring All That Moscow Has the European Union by moving closer now are taking steps to carry out the October 4, may have coincided with a visit that To Offer to concluding an association agreement necessary measures towards creating a Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was expected to MSIP participants were housed in the as he spoke at the Eastern Partnership Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade have made to refugee camps in Hatay after he dormitories of the Higher School of Summit here on Friday. Zone with the EU,” said Sargisian, returned from South Africa this week. Economics, which is one of Russia’s The two-day summit in the Polish cap - addressing the Warsaw summit. The army said the exercise involved the 39th leading universities. SIVAM, an ital that began on September 29 brings “We view this process as an addition - mechanized infantry brigade and 730 reserve sol- Armenian young professionals’ group in together the leaders or officials of six al incentive to promote fundamental diers, Reuters reported. Moscow, worked with AGBU to organize former Soviet states, including Armenia, institutional and structural reforms in Turkey’s once-close relations with Syria have the MSIP program, while acting as men - that are working on their association Armenia,” Sargisian added. soured as Erdogan has fiercely criticized Assad’s tors to the interns. The AGBU program agreements with the EU. Such agree - In his speech, Sargisian also reaf - crackdown on protesters, urging him to end the was staffed by coordinator Angela ments would essentially raise the level firmed Armenia’s intention to launch bloodshed and enact reforms. Sarkysian and activities coordinator of the relationship between Armenia, “simultaneous and large-scale reforms in Syria has a longstanding territorial claim to Anahit Khadjabekian. Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova several directions at a time” with the Hatay province but had put this on the back burn- Evenings and weekends were filled and Ukraine on one side and the 27- assistance of EU partners. er in recent years, when Erdogan and Assad culti- with several cultural and educational nation bloc on the other, with an oppor - “We are committed to pressing ahead vated close ties. seminars, including introductory tunity of a permanent free trade agree - with our large-scale reforms in accor - Erdogan said last month that Assad would be Russian language courses, Armenian ment and a simplified visa regime with dance with EU standards in efficient ousted by his people “sooner or later” and warned dance classes, meetings with leaders of EU countries being among the benefits. governance, democracy, human rights, that Syria could slide into a sectarian civil war the local Russian-Armenian community Meanwhile, the EU requires that the six rule of law and various fields of public between Alawites and Sunnis. and sightseeing tours. Students had the ex-Soviet states implement reforms life,” stressed Sargisian. Ankara, which has already imposed an arms opportunity to meet with Bishop Yezras before rising to that level of relationship. In his remarks the Armenian leader embargo, has said it is preparing further sanctions Nersissian, Primate of the Armenian The EU and Armenia announced also expressed his conviction that the against the Syrian government. Apostolic Church, Diocese of New major progress in their negotiations on EU’s experience of “establishing lasting Nakhichevan and Russia. their association agreement meant to peace and welfare” and its example of Charents Home Allowed Participants also attended a joint deepen their political, economic and “political and economic integration” can event with the Higher School of other links. Armenian and EU officials also be applicable in the South Caucasus. To Go to Ruin in Kars Economics and AGBU Academics. formally opened negotiations on the “Unresolved conflicts must receive AGBU Academics is an international accord stemming from the EU’s Eastern their fair and sustainable solutions,” ISTANBUL (Panorama) — A group of Armenian pil- network of Armenian students and was Partnership program last July. They said Sargisian, emphasizing that grims who traveled to Western Armenia visited the founded by Camilio Azzouz-Kiwanian of have held several rounds of negotiations Armenia remains committed to finding birthplace of Armenian writer Yeghishe Charents France, who was also among this year’s since then. a negotiated peace to the Nagorno- and the house where the writer was born in 1897. MSIP participants. During an educa - “In Armenia we have been genuinely Karabagh conflict. According to Ermenihaber.am news site, the pil- grims were upset to see that his house has been abandoned and was in ruins. They attempted to buy the house in order to rehabilitate it, but the owner Karabagh Negotiators Meet with Sargisian, Aliyev in Warsaw of the land demanded $2 million for it, which made them unable to buy the house. TALKS, from page 1 jointly heading the Minsk Group, in sive peace settlement.” Amid the upheavals of the Armenian Genocide, reporting about their meeting with their May 26 Deauville, France, state - According to the statement, the co- Charents volunteered to fight in a detachment in Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev earli - ment “to assist the sides to achieve such chairs also will propose to all the parties 1915 in the Caucasian front. Sent to Van in 1915, er that day. They said during both meet - a settlement.” additional measures aimed at “strength - Charents was witness to the destruction that the ings they discussed “next steps aimed at The co-chairs presented their work ening implementation of the ceasefire, Turkish garrison had laid upon the Armenian pop- reaching a peaceful settlement of the plan for the coming months, leading up improving the atmosphere on the ulation. A victim of Stalin, he died in prison during Nagorno-Karabagh conflict.” to the December OSCE Ministerial ground and promoting understanding the 1937 Great Purge. He was rehabilitated in 1954 In the statement published on the Council in the Lithuanian capital of among peoples of the region.” after Stalin’s death. OSCE’s official website the co-chairs Vilnius and said they will “continue to Bradtke, Fassier and Popov plan to reaffirmed the commitment made by work with the sides to delineate their visit the region again in the near future the presidents of the United States, current differences on the basic princi - to carry out this work plan, the state - France and Russia, the three countries ples as a framework for a comprehen - ment added. S ATURDAY , OCTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 Community Ne ws

Repatriate Survivor Westport’s Oztemel Calls for Unity to Helps Team to Pan- Save Armenia Armenian Hoop Gold WESTPORT, Conn. (The Hour) — Former Staples basketball standout Andrei Oztemel By Mitch Kehetian has taken his game to new heights. The 6-foot-6 forward, who will be going into BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — his junior season on the Ithaca College team, Journalist-author Tom Mooradian warned was a member of the Los Angeles-based squad recently that the dwindling population in pre - that won the gold medal late last month at the sent day Armenia could lead to a self-inflicted fifth Pan-Armenian Games. mortal wound in the small former Soviet repub - The games, conducted in Yerevan, Armenia, lic. include play in nine sports and are open to “I fear for the ancestral homeland’s future,” Armenian citizens as well as men and women Mooradian expressed in his chilling lecture at of Armenian descent. this affluent community’s public library. Teams represent cities, not countries, and the Mooradian spent 13 years behind the Iron Los Angeles squad that Oztemel played for was Curtain before the Soviets granted him an exit one of 24 that competed in the men’s basket - visa to return to America in 1960. As for his ball tournament. concerns over Armenia’s declining population, “A lot of people don’t understand the signifi - he said the chilling thought that the bloodless- cance of these games simply because a lot of equivalent of “genocide is taking place in people don’t know Armenia exists,” said Armenia threatens our nation’s very existence.” Sen. Carol Liu (center) with Hera Grigorian, Antranig Kasbarian and Carla Oztemel, a business administration major at Mooradian was an 18-year-old idealist in 1947 Garapedian Ithaca. “But being of Armenian descent and when he boarded a Soviet Union-bound ship going back to Armenia is comparable to people out of New York with 150 other Armenian repa - of Jewish descent going on birthright to Israel.” triates. Thousands also The All-Area co-MVP as a senior at Staples took the same mission from LA Coalition Holds Benefit and a two-time All-FCIAC pick, Oztemel and Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and the Los Angeles squad played seven games in Greece. eight days, culminating with an overtime win in “We thought we were Event for Women’s Shelters the championship game against a squad from helping Soviet Armenia re- Sochi, Russia, that had defeated LA for the populate after the loss of 2009 title. lives in World War II, but In Armenia Oztemel called the sense of cultural pride he Tom Mooradian we learned quickly the felt while in Armenia “amazing.” Communist Central LOS ANGELES — It was an evening both festive and somber on Thursday, An independent republic since the collapse of Committee in Moscow had September 15, as a diverse group of area Armenians came together on behalf of the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia is one of the other plans. Some of the repatriates were the Yerevan-based Women’s Support Center (WSC), which seeks to establish shel - world’s oldest civilizations but had been invad - whisked off our ship when we reached Batumi, ters that protect women suffering from domestic violence. ed and ruled by a succession of empires. Georgia, on the suspicion of being Dashnak Co-sponsored by the Tufenkian Foundation, Armenian International Women’s Oztemel was selected for the team by Carl spies. We never saw them again. You were Association (AIWA) and USAID, the WSC reached out recently to various groups Bardakian, coach of the Los Angeles team, afraid to ask.” and individuals in Los Angeles, who came together to offer resounding support after a recommendation from his Ithaca team - On reports of Armenia’s declining population through a fundraising reception, held in Atwater Village at the residence of Dr. Avo mate, Eric Halejian, who was the point guard since declaring its freedom from Soviet rule in Tavitian. The reception was co-organized by the Armenian Bar Association, on the Pan-Armenian tournament team. 1991, Mooradian was blunt: “The brain-drain of Armenian-American Medical Organization, Armenian Dentists’ Association, After winning Armenia’s young, educated population must Armenian Youth Federation, AGBU Hye Geen, Organization of Istanbul Armenians its first six games, stop before the country faces a new threat to its and GALAS. The result was a diverse mix of more than 150 activists, profession - Los Angeles survival.” als, supporters and journalists who learned about Armenia’s problems with domes - squared off against In citing published reports of the country’s tic violence and what can be done about it. Sochi in a packed population data taken from 1991 to 2005, The evening’s program featured remarks by Tufenkian Foundation Director Miga Arena in Mooradian said nearly one million Armenians Antranig Kasbarian and independent filmmaker/activist Carla Garapedian. Yerevan. The reportedly have left the country for jobs and life Kasbarian noted that domes - crowd of more in foreign countries. tic violence today is one of than 2,000 includ - He said, “Armenia and the diasporan com - Armenia’s most widespread- ed Armenian munities must unite to stem the exodus of yet-unheralded problems, as President Serge young educated Armenians. A united Armenian it is largely treated as a pri - Sargisian. front, politically and spiritually, must take on vate, family affair rather than With team cap - the challenge of helping Yerevan execute the a legitimate social concern. tain Mike difficult decision in elevating Armenia’s eco - He also commented that it is Danielian pouring Andrei Oztemel nomic future to the priority level. If we fail a result not simply of patriar - in 49 points, Los Armenia will be left open to hostile aggression chal custom or backward Angeles defeated from its neighboring enemies.” mentalities, but also of the Sochi, 93-86, in a hard-fought overtime In a hushed tone he repeated that “the severe social tensions and encounter. Turkish genocide of the Armenians started with dislocations created by Los Angeles had beaten Aleppo (Syria), its intellectuals in Istanbul then swept across Armenia’s continuing under - Stepanakert (Artsakh) and Tehran (Iran) in the the western Armenian villages by massacring development. All of these preliminary rounds, earning a spot in the play - the young men.” lead to problems that impact off round. Los Angeles downed Aleppo again in Mooradian was quick to acknowledge that the family and none is more the round of 16, and conquered Cairo (Egypt) freedom has its negatives, and does not resent destructive than domestic in the quarterfinals. The Los Angeles squad that young, educated Armenians are being violence, he noted. then defeated Tehran in a rematch in the semi - lured to jobs in Russia and America — most To address domestic vio - finals to earn its shot at Sochi. notably in California — where he spoke recently. lence effectively, he said, myr - The teams from both Cairo and Tehran “Many come to the US, get their higher iad efforts are required — From left, Glendale Mayor Laura Friedman with included professional players. degrees then seek American citizenship ranging from humanitarian Lena Bozoyan “The style of play was quite different... it was because there is no work or economic future in care to political activism. For definitely solid competition,” said Oztemel. Armenia. Sure they have freedom now, but they its part, the Tufenkian “I’ve never won anything of that magnitude also have a need to seek a better life for their Foundation has promoted the establishment of a Women’s Support Center which in the sport that I love, so it was definitely spe - families,” he added. encourages women to come out of their isolation and seek help for themselves cial for me,” said the 2009 Staples grad, son of But he cautioned that if the “brain drain of and, when possible, their spouses as well. The result thus far has been modestly Glenn and Laurel Oztemel of Westport. leadership continues who will protect Armenia? successful, Kasbarian noted, as women often find themselves subject to intensified As a freshman at Ithaca, Oztemel played in We can’t let that happen as it did in 1915 — this abuse once their partners discover they have come out and sought treatment open - all 28 of the Division III Bombers’ games, start - time by our own lack of bold leadership for the ly. The logical next step, therefore, is to establish shelters that afford women full ing two. He was named Empire eight rookie of future of the people.” protection and anonymity as they seek to regain their mental and physical health the week three times in a season in which he As one who survived 13 years of self-exile following abuse. averaged 10.4 points and 4.4 rebounds. behind the Iron Curtain, Mooradian, now 81, Garapedian is the director of “Screamers” and “Lifting the Veil” (the latter con - As a sophomore last winter Oztemel played said the three major Diaspora-Armenian politi - cerning the plight of women in Afghanistan). In her remarks, she focused on the in 27 games with 18 starts. He averaged 12.9 cal parties, the Hunchaks, the Ramgavars and broader social and cultural ramifications of domestic violence: “Talking about points and 5.3 rebounds in just over 26 min - Dashnaks must help Armenia “stem the tide of see BENEFIT, page 12 utes per game. He also connected on 40 per - see UNITY, page 7 cent of his shots from outside the three-point line. 6 S ATURDAY , OCTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS

Sherman Holds Student Town Hall Meeting at AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School

CANOGA PARK, Calif. — On Monday, House Foreign Affairs Committee to recog - September 26, following Armenian nize the Armenian Genocide. Sherman is an Independence Day, Rep. Brad Sherman (D- original cosponsor of the legislation to rec - Sherman Oaks) addressed more than 100 ognize the Genocide of 1915-1923. Since high school students inside the auditorium at coming to Congress in 1997, he has co-spon - Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) sored every resolution dealing with the issue Manoogian-Demirdjian School. Sherman has of the Armenian Genocide. regularly hosted town hall meetings for high “Meetings like this are critical to the public school students during his time in Congress policy process. They provide an opportunity including other Armenian high schools in the for me to hear about the most pressing con - West San Fernando Valley. cerns of the Armenian community and to Sherman spoke about federal issues, the elaborate on the work for Armenians and stu - conflict in the Middle East, the economy and dents that my colleagues and I are tackling in military academies and internship opportuni - Congress,” said Sherman. “These students ties in the Sherman Oaks and Washington, are the future leaders of the Armenian com - DC offices. Sherman also responded to ques - munity. They contributed to substantive con - tions on a wide range of issues including the versations on a variety of issues that are Armenian Genocide, US and Turkish foreign important to the community and the lives of policy, health care and college loans. students alike. I thank the students for their After speaking with the students, Sherman participation in the meeting.” presented Vice Principal Anahid Nalbandian He encouraged students and their families Rep. Brad Sherman Speaks at the Student Town Hall. with a flag flown over the United States capi - to visit his website tol. (www.BradSherman.house.gov) for more Sherman highlighted his work on the information.

OBITUARY ST. JAMES ARMENIAN CHURCH Charles S. Klanian 2011 ANNUAL BAZAAR! SINGER ISLAND, Fla. — Charles S. “Chuck” Pittsburgh. The classroom was designed by Friday, October 14, 2011 (10 a.m.- 9 p.m.) Klanian, 87, of Singer Island, died on architect Torkom Khrimian after the 10th cen - Saturday, October 15, 2011 (10 a.m.- 9 p.m.) Wednesday, September 7. tury library of the Monastery at Sanahin and He was buried in Providence, RI. was dedicated on August 28, 1988. The He was the son of Armenian immigrants, Nationality Room Program began in 1926 to Sarkis and Santoukd “Mary” Klanian, who create actual working classrooms at the univer - owned a small grocery store on Canal Street in sity to represent the various ethnic communi - New York City, where he was born. Eventually ties that have settled and lived in the greater they moved to the corner of Vermont Avenue Pittsburgh area. Members of churches, schools ARMENIAN FOOD, DELICACIES & PASTRIES! and Naraganset Boulevard in Providence. and fraternal, labor and social organizations (Served from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.) In 1942, after graduating from Hope High worked to finance the rooms and presented Shish Kebab, Chicken Kebab, Losh Kebab, Kheyma and Eetch! School, he enlisted in the United States Army them as gifts to the university. Today, the Boereg, Manti, Yalanchi, Porov Kufteh, Tourshi, Choereg, Air Corp. He was assigned to the European Armenian Classroom, made of Indiana lime - Cream & Nut Khadaif, Bourma, Baklava & more! Theater, 8th AF, 303rd Bomb Group H, 360th stone, proudly stands with 27 other Nationality Bomb Squadron as a navigator on a B-17G, Rooms at the University’s Cathedral of named “Aloha.” He flew 33 missions out of Learning. BOOTHS AND VENDORS! Including the Farmer’s Market, Silent Auction, Molesworth, England with his last tour ending Upon retirement, Chuck and Alice Klanian Armenian Items, the popular Attic Treasures, in March 1945. moved to Singer Island, where they spent many and vendor booths, including the fun photo booth! After WWII, Klanian was accepted to Brown years enjoying the company of friends and fam - University, from which he graduated in 1949 ily until Alice’s death in November 2002. After Featuring great prizes $100 RAFFLE! with a degree in mechanical engineering. Prior her passing, he remained an active member of in the popular Grand Prize - $5,000 to graduating from college, he married the love St. David’s Armenian Church in Boca Raton $ 2 Raffle! Three $1,000 and four $500 prizes! of his life, Alice. Together, over the years, and as and enjoyed surf fishing as well as playing ($2 per ticket) Purchase your ticket by they moved to various communities, they raised bridge. Later in life, he enjoyed watching his October 1, 2011 to be entered into an four children: Paul, Chazz, Harry and Loree. favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees, Super Raffle! extra $500 early bird drawing at the (1 for $10, 3 for $20, 10 for $50) Most of his adult life Klanian lived in and football team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. ACYOA Reunion Dance! Pittsburgh, Penn., where for 36 years he In addition to his four children, he is survived worked for Westinghouse Electric Corporation. by three sisters, Alice Arakelian, Margaret Featuring our new At Westinghouse he managed various projects Koshgarian and Annette Topakian, as well as KidZone! in the area, of aeronautics, nuclear propulsion five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and for the US Navy, power generation systems and many nieces and nephews. Pumpkin patch! Photo Booth! Crafts and carnival games! Play Space! Clown and balloon animals! Karaoke! & More!!! nuclear waste management. In 1986, he was In his memory, donations may be made awarded the corporation’s highest employee payable to the University of Pittsburgh and award, the Order of Merit for excellence in the mailed to: Nationality Rooms Program, 1209 St. James Armenian Church 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472 (617) 923-8860 [email protected] field of engineering. Approximately, 100 Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh, employees have received the Order of Merit dur - Pittsburgh, PA 15260. Add “The Charles ing the company’s history. Klanian Memorial-Armenian Scholarship Fund” While in Pittsburgh, and as testament to his to the memo part of the check. The donations Armenian heritage, Klanian played a leadership will help to defray the costs for US students role, responsible for raising money and concep - who major in international studies at the tual design and construction of the Armenian University of Pittsburgh to travel and study in Nationality Classroom at the University of Armenia. GF UiNrEaRgAoL sHiaOMn E James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC Michael Krikorian Funeral Counselor KEY LARGO, Fla. — Michael Krikorian, a 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 long time resident of both Watertown and Key www.giragosianfuneralhome.com Largo, passed away on August 16. He was 88. He emigrated as a young boy from Larnaca, Cyprus, settling in the Cambridge and Watertown area. He served in the US military during WWII as Telephone (617) 924-7400 a pilot and was awarded the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and dis - Aram Bedrosian tinguished service in the CBI theater. After his military service, he served for 25 years as a captain for Northeast Airlines and Funeral Home, Inc. Delta Air Lines. Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 He is survived by his children: Joyce Drennan, John Krikorian, Erik Krikorian and Zakia MARION BEDROSIAN Fiacchino (James Krikorian, deceased); sister, 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN Bertha Hoyen, brother, Harry Krikorian, and Michael Krikorian WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN several grandchildren, nieces and nephews. S ATURDAY , OCTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS Greater-Boston Community Commemorates Armenia’s Independence

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — On Sunday, September Apostolic Church. and accompanied on the piano by Michael as Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister from 1999 25, the Cambridge Yerevan Sister City CYSCA Chairwoman Cheryl Shushan opened Becker. In her opening comments Kaprielian to 2005. Association (CYSCA) hosted a celebration of the the program welcoming the guests and intro - observed that what was a dream 20 years ago is Shougarian recounted his first visit to greater 20th anniversary of Armenian Independence, in ducing the evening’s mistress of ceremonies, past today a reality — an independent Republic of Boston as Armenia’s ambassador. He met the collaboration with the Armenian Cultural Massachusetts state representative Armenia. Also present was Rev. Avedis Armenian community in the very hall he was Foundation (ACF), Armenian General and Massachusetts Registrar of Motor Vehicles, Boynerian, pastor of the Armenian Memorial speaking now. He cited the many difficulties Benevolent Union (AGBU), Armenian Rachel Kaprielian. Fr. Vasken Kouzouian of Holy Church. Armenia faced: the 1988 earthquake, unfriendly International Women’s Association (AIWA), Trinity church followed with a prayer, in both Cambridge Mayor David Maher congratulated neighbors to the east and west, the war in Armenian Library and Museum of America English and Armenian, blessing the event’s par - both CYSCA for its work and Armenia for its Nagorno Karabagh (Artsakh) and blockades by (ALMA) and the National Association for ticipants, Armenia and its people. The Lord’s achievements during a difficult 20 years. He Turkey and Azerbaijan. As in previous centuries, Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). The Prayer (Hayr Mer) was sung by the Arlington- stressed that he takes seriously Cambridge’s rela - he stated, nothing is new. We have never had the event was held at the Holy Trinity Armenian Belmont Chorale led by director Barry Singer tion with Yerevan. luxury of having Canada and Mexico as neigh - Also giving brief remarks were three state rep - bors. Armenian independence from the Soviets resentatives, all of whom represent portions of necessitated a sudden change of mindset regard - Cambridge — Alice Wolf, Jonathan Hecht and ing national security, geopolitics and Armenia’s MMetropol-Residenceetropol-Residence Will Brownsberger. Wolf recalled the official mission. Should Armenia, for example, look 2 Mashtots Ave. Yerevan. Armenia CYSCA delegation she led in 1988 when she was towards Russia or the United States? Armenians Ideal for Family vacations then vice mayor of Cambridge, and Armenia was were never anti-Russian, he stated, but were anti- Daily, weekly and monthly low rates, starting $65.00 per day/ residence still under Soviet rule. Hecht, who now holds Soviet. But now, he asserted, Armenia’s future is The four star residences at the heart of Yerevan with a kithcen and private bathroom is an Kaprielian’s old seat in the Massachusetts House with Europe. We should look towards Brussels ideal place to stay for families and couples. This luxurious residence is convenient for what- ELSA RONNINGSTAM PHOTO rather than towards Washington or Moscow. ever purpose your visit is. Armenia needs a pragmatic mind set. Citing Armenia’s many problems he indicated Armenia’s need to eliminate corruption and improve democracy. But the most severe prob - lem, he stressed, was the mass migration out of Armenia. Shougarian, together with the other speakers, reflected on the problems Armenia confronted during its past and expressed with certainty that working together we can over - come our present difficulties as well. The program was interspersed with two per - formances of Armenian music by the Arlington- Belmont Chorale, including music by Alan Hovhaness, Komitas, Alexander Haroutunian, Keynote Speaker Ambassador Rouben Edgar Hovhannisian and Aram Khachaturian. Shougarian addresses the Boston-area celebra - Following the formal part of the program a tion of Armenia’s independence anniversary. reception was held with delicacies donated by many CYSCA supporters and collaborating orga - Reservations in English please call Sevag at 011-374-93211217 nizations. Reservations in Armenian please call Onnig at 011-374-94435445 of Representatives, congratulated the Armenian CYSCA expressed its thanks to supporting community. While acknowledging the difficulties organizations including the ACF, the AGBU, Armenia has and continues to face, Hecht AIWA, ALMA and NAASR. Individuals and busi - expressed confidence that the Armenian people, nesses who supported this event include the including the diaspora, will continue building a Atinizian Family Foundation, Jonathan Hecht, democratic, equitable and prosperous society in Harry and Hripsime Parsekian, Jack Achmakjian, Armenia. Avedis and Houry Boyamian, Vartkes and Elissa The keynote speaker was Armenia’s first Karaian, Jack and Eva Medzorian, Neil and ambassador to the United States (1993-1999) Elinor Olken, Jacob Pilibosian, Peter and Helen since Armenia’s first republic (1918-1921), Smith, Carolyn Atinizian, Mary Goudsouzian, Ambassador Rouben Shougarian. Shougarian is Lynne Kanaian, Ruth Medzorian-Falletti, currently a professor at Tufts University’s Barbara Merguerian, Suzanne Moranian, Olga Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. His pre - Proudian, Rose Zartarian, Arax Market, Eastern vious posts have included senior staff member - Lamejun, Masis Bakery, Sevan Bakery and David ship in the Armenian National Assembly’s Medzorian Video. Special thanks were offered to Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, diplo - Arax Badalian and her committee for their work matic posts to Italy, Spain and Portugal, as well in making this event a success.

AMAA’s ‘Children Helping Children’ Luncheon To Take Place at Wellesley Country Club WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. — The Boston- art prints, oriental rugs, dinner for eight and area Orphan and Child Care Committee of the more. All proceeds are donated to the AMAA’s Armenian Missionary Association of America Orphan and Child Care Fund to benefit needy (AMAA) announces its 16th Annual Children children in Armenia. Individuals or businesses Helping Children Luncheon, to take place on wishing to donate goods or services, or those Thursday, October 27, at the Wellesley Country wishing to purchase a ticket for the event may Club. do so by contacting Michele Simourian. The luncheon will feature a raffle and both Founded in 1918, the Armenian Missionary live and silent auctions, and will be hosted by Association of America (AMAA) is a nonprofit, celebrity guest host Mike Wankum of Channel charitable organization that provides services 5 News. Auction items this year will include to underprivileged youth through education, tickets and memorabilia from all major Boston relief and mission ministries. For additional sports teams, amazing diamond jewelry, framed information, visit amaa.org.

Repatriate Survivor Calls for Unity to Save Armenia UNITY, from page 5 onship team in 1946. a white collar cultural genocide of our country.” When asked about his political posture as a He said, “they must place the issue of student scholar, Mooradian said, “I was not a Armenia’s declining population at the same communist. I was just an obedient son whose level of getting Turkey to recognize the communist card-bearing father convinced me I Genocide. If we fail now, historians will blame could help Soviet Armenia. Instead, I learned this generation for our self-inflicted white collar how to survive — thanks to basketball. When genocide.” Armenia proclaimed its freedom from the cor - Mooradian, a retired suburban Detroit news - rupt Soviet Union 20 years ago, I cried with paper editor, is author of The Repatriate , a per - tears of happiness for my friends in Armenia.” sonal memoir that focuses on his near death at He added, “with God’s blessing,” he plans to the hands of the KGB — and how his talent as visit Yerevan next year. “I want to take a walk in a star basketball player in the Soviet Union our ancestral homeland — as a free Armenian.” made it possible to survive. He was captain of (Mitch Kehetian is the retired editor of The his Detroit high school basketball champi - Macomb Daily .) 8 S ATURDAY , OCTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS

Tribute to Prof. Parounag Tovmassian, PART 2

and public activity was commemorated under the honorary By Hagop Vartivarian chairmanship of Patriarch Yeghishe Derderian and the presiden - cy of Alex Manoogian. Other participants included Dr. Haroutiun Yozghatian, chairman of Lebanon’s Regional Executive, and Lebanon had already turned into the center of Armenian life Antranig Antreassian, who had come specially from Los Angeles; in the Middle East. The Eighth General Representative Assembly Vartkes Bedrosian, president of the Writers Union of Armenia; in Cairo, from October 23, 1946 to November 2, with a conclud - Garbis Nazarian, chairman of the AGBU Regional Committee of ing session from October 11 to 22, 1947, became fateful for the Lebanon; Hovhannes Tabakian, chairman of the TCA executive ADL for various reasons. First of all, the slogan “With the home - of Lebanon. Tovmassian himself spoke. land, and for the homeland” was adopted. Parounag and Angel Tovmassian donated $250,000 towards The party headquarters was transferred from Cairo to Beirut the construction of a TCA center in Yerevan. and Parounag Tovmassian was elected chairman of the Central Executive. Kersam Aharonian was elected secretary. Tovmassian Some Personal Memories remained in this post until 1982, for a full 35 years. Tovmassian maintained an ongoing correspondence with The repatriation movement began, emigration from the dias - everyone, big and small. I have a folder full of correspondence pora to Armenia. Approximately 100,000 Armenians repatriated from him. I was appointed in Boston to the position of executive from Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Greece and France to secretary of the TCA Central Executive, and he, frequently with Soviet Armenia. The ADL played a central role in this large-scale his wife, would come during the summers to visit his sister, who undertaking. also happened to be the treasurer of the TCA Central Executive. Immediately afterwards, the Cold War between the West and He would encourage me; he would embolden me to remain in the Soviet Union began. As a result of this, the North Atlantic office. No matter how thorny the path was, new forces would Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed, and included Turkey, always come to take the place of the old. He visited the Baikar which did not participate in World War II. As a result of the Cold offices nearly every day. He turned it into a habit, just as in War, the ARF officially took the side of the West and the sad con - Beirut he would visit Zartonk . sequence of this was the division in Diasporan-Armenian life and After I moved to New Jersey, he would still come and visit me. the Cilician See. Taking advantage of his presence, I organized a reception in our Tovmassian remained as the always-alert watchman of house in Kearney. The editor of Azg , Hagop Avedikian, was also Armenian-Diasporan relations. Nearly every year he visited present. Most of the ADL members from New York and New Yerevan, where he examined all the important issues affecting Jersey attended. There were around 100 faithful and friends. We Armenian national life together with men of state. Sometimes he took oaths of membership from five new people, including my acted severely towards those led by the anti-nationalist counsel wife, Arpie. Tovmassian spoke paternally, and occasionally fla - instructed by world communism who sometimes forgot our Prof. Parounag Tovmassian vored his words with humor. In his presence, we would ascend Armenian values. Through his very delicate, innate diplomatic one level and see the Armenian national horizon differently. talent, Tovmassian had a beneficial influence on these relations. It had been one year since I had accepted the Boston position. Beginning in the1950s, the opportunity was given to the grad - from serious internal political party crises. The party turned into He wrote me in a letter dated August 12, 1977, “In general I am uates of Lebanese secondary schools to study in the establish - a trustworthy and respected political organization thanks to stingy in my praise. Stingy towards the truly faithful, dedicated ments of higher education in Soviet Armenia. These individuals Tovmassian’s prudence, state of organization, and consistency. and unselfish workers of the Democratic Liberal Party because then returned to their communities and took on important The 50th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was com - I believe that praise can be encouragement for them, but I fear Armenian national or political party positions. They became edi - memorated in a pan-Armenian fashion, and after this, the frosty that true political figures, leaders who are guided by a non-per - tors of our official newspapers, and the talented among them relations between the two political parties ended. Relations pro - sonal spirit, one of sacrifice, would consider that praise as wrote important books on the political party and ideology. ceeded in a warmer atmosphere, which in general benefited reward. In that circumstance, something would be missing from Tovmassian was able to assemble around him healthy-thinking Armenian communities everywhere. Tovmassian provided seri - that unbreakable true happiness which comes from the depth of university graduates who were successful in their fields and were ous and lasting works for publication on the Armenian Case, the soul and mind, from the inner world, from the feeling, the party members. He formed his central executive from them, and among which the monumental work Houshamadean Medz thought, of having served our magnificent Armenian people.” it was able to give direction with a single will to the ADL practi - Egherni [Memorial to the Great Catastrophe], edited by Kersam He was happy about my move to New York, and my pursuing cally until the Lebanese Civil War. Aharonian, will remain unparalleled. my personal business: “New York is not I can quickly note some constructive accomplishments which He participated as one of took place during the period of his chairmanship. Land was bought in Bourj Hammoud and the Vahan Tekeyan School was erected, in particular with the unwavering support of comrades of the Baikar chapter. The Tekeyan chapter’s land became property in the heart of Beirut, and then the beautiful seven-story Tekeyan Center rose up, this time generally through the Zartonk chapter comrades. Similarly, our chapter arose on the land allotted by Patriarch Yeghishe Derderian of Jerusalem. In Athens, the Nor Ashkharh weekly began to appear. Moving from Boston to Watertown, a place full of Armenians, the chapter obtained the Baikar build - ing. Nor Or , a newspaper published every three days, moved from Fresno to its new building in Los Angeles. All this took place despite the Cold War, the civil wars and the persecutions directed at our leadership. He cooperated extensively with the elder generation of politi - cal party members living in Beirut, including Hmayag Kranian, Hovhannes Seksenian, Mikayel Natanian, Nerses Shirinian, Mgrdich Mserlian, Dr. D. Bezirian, Hagop Torosian and Garabed Abajian. Enthused by them, Tovmassian planned his future work. The number of political party chapters quadrupled throughout the world. We achieved great successes in Canada. Hundreds of youth came and joined our ranks. In Lebanon alone, the Mgrdich Portoukalian university youth chapter, the Shoushanik women’s chapter and, during the days of Lebanon’s civil war, the Armenag Yegarian defense detachment — which played a life-saving role in securing the physical safety of leaders and the people of the Armenian-populated quarters — were formed. The Arshag Chobanian chapter was founded in Yerevan for the diasporan Dr. Parounag Tovmasian and other ADL activists and leaders celebrate. university students in Armenia, and later Armenia’s Democratic Liberal Party was formed. The publication of political party lit - erature was given new impetus. the representatives of the three Armenian political parties who only the pulsing heart of America’s [Armenian] national life, but Despite the unfriendly policies of the Lebanese state authori - met with Turkish political officials in Zurich in connection with of the world. There, you will be able to serve both the nation and ties of the time, the ADL always participated in the parliamen - the Armenian Case. our political party more seriously. tary elections as a political force, presenting its candidates — The policy of “positive neutrality” adopted by the three politi - Hratchia Shamlian and Megrdich Messerlian. It was able to polit - cal parties during the Lebanese Civil War turned out to be a Thoughts about Tovmassian ically gain the favor of Lebanon’s other faction, and the friend - blessing. Unfortunately, two-thirds of the Lebanese Armenians, •The ADL 16th General Representative Assembly: “You became ship of Muslim leaders in general, assuring Armenians’ security. more than 200,000 Armenians, emigrated. Tovmassian became the flag bearer of the fortification of homeland-diasporan relations His frequent visits to various districts, and in particular in the dispirited by witnessing this panicked exodus. His advanced age, for the sake of the vitality of the Armenian diaspora, aiding in the United States, became useful in order to maintain ties between together with a series of illnesses, forced him also to leave indivisibility and unity of our people.” the center and the districts. Armenian-American political party Lebanon and settle in Watertown with his sister, Flora Gopoyan. •Archbishop Torkom Manougian: “He demonstrated inde - members, trusting in his person, participated through large-scale Tovmassian, beginning in the 1960s, had together with his structible loyalty towards the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, donations in the plan for the Vahan Tekeyan School’s land and brother-in-law a trading company, Tateossian-Tovmassian and unswerving conviction about the unity of the Armenian then the building’s construction. It was the same in the case of Company, which was involved in importing from European coun - Church, the preservation of centuries-old traditions, and the the Tekeyan Center. tries. supremacy of Holy Echmiadzin.” From the Eight to the Sixteenth General Representative On April 18, 1982, in Irwin Hall of American University of Assembly, the ADL had the good fortune of remaining distant Beirut, the 50th anniversary of Tovmassian’s national, education see TOVMASSIAN, page 9 S ATURDAY , OCTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS Manoogian Sunday School Gets Underway at St. David Armenian Church

BOCA RATON, Fla. — On Sunday, September emphasis is on communication, reading, writing Department, the curriculum is executed seam - songs of the Badarak, and occasionally they 11, more than 50 students were registered to and literature, with a special consideration on lessly. are asked to serve on the altar and to sing in attend the Alex and Marie Manoogian Christian education, Bible study and Armenian The staff regularly meets with Fr. Nareg the choir. Armenian and Sunday School at St. David culture. Berberian to discuss the progress of the stu - The school does fundraising during the year Armenian Church. For the next nine months on With the efforts of Nadia Isguzar, school prin - dents. Berberian will conduct a parent/teacher to offset the cost of the school expenses. They Sundays, they will receive four hours of training cipal, and Armen Melkonian, executive school meeting to stress the years ahead for not only in religious education but also board chairman, and all the teachers, namely, these children are extremely impor - Armenian language, history and culture. Karine Markaryan, Kindergarten; Lilit tant in the formation of their charac - During class, the students are required to speak Mnatsakanyan, Grade 1; Ani Vartanian, Grade ter and for maintaining a positive Armenian only. All of the graduates read and 2; Shake Potoukian , Grade 3; Tamar Merjian, identity. He will encourage the stu - write Armenian fluently. Grade 4; Garo Vartanian, Grade 5; Talin dents to stay engaged in their The school is for children in Kindergarten Kalender and Nadia Isguzar, Grade 7; Marine Armenian community by actively par - through Grade 7 and has nine teachers. Their Smbatyan and Marieta Mnatsakanyan, Music ticipating in the ACYOA events and activities throughout the year. He believes they are the future of St. David Armenian Church and the responsibility will be passed on to St LeonLeon ArmenianArmenian ChurchChurch & them to carry the torch of our forefa - thers to uphold our rich ancestral TTeTekeyanekeyan CulturalCultural AsAssociationA sociation heritage and ensure its place with impending generations. The staff and board members of the Manoogian Sunday PresentPresent Under the guidance of Berberian, School they prepare programs for the Feasts of Holy Translators, New Year appreciate Isguzar’s invaluable contribution as !"#$%& '"('& )'* ' ' and Great Carnival. Once a month they come %& '& & &'" % &  to the church and instead of a sermon, school principal, continually demonstrating her Berberian entertains their questions about innovative and skillful abilities toward school Christianity. Most of the children know the programs. A PHOTOGRAPHICPHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEYJOURNEY THHROUGHROUGH WWESTERNESTERN ARMENIAARMENIA AANDND Tribute to Prof. Parounag Tovmassian TTHEHE AARARATRARATAT 1111 CCLIMBLIMB TOVMASSIAN, from Page 8 essary and irreplaceable impulses of a true ExperienceExperience tthehe adventure,adventure, pperilserils aandnd eexhilarationxhilaration aass TThehe AraratArarat 1111 traveltravel ffromrom •Lawyer Hratchia Setrakian: “You are completely leader.” ArmeniaArmenia ttoo TTurkeyurkey toto climbclimb thethe ssummitummit ofof Mt.Mt. Ararat.Ararat. worthy of our people’s full appreciation.” •Dr. Robert Jebejian: “The circumstances •Haigashen Ouzounian: “As a source of favorable to Armenians that have been created WitnessWitness thethe beautybeauty ooff WWesternestern ArmeniaArmenia aass capturedcaptured bbyy HrairHrair HHawkawk KKhatcherianhatcherian authority in the security of all these national by your and your fellow travelers’ efforts have duringduring priorprior aandnd subsequentsubsequent vvisitsisits iincludingncluding thethe historichistoric BBadarakadarak pperformederfoformed aatt thethe establishments, and the dissemination of the become a delight for all of us and a model inspi - CChurchhurch ooff HHolyoly CrossCross onon LakeLake Van'sVan's AAkhtamarkhtamar Island.Island. Armenian faith and understandings, you ration.” Climberslimbers SaroSaro HartounianHartounian aandnd SSetheth SetrakianSetrakian willwill alsoalso bbee aavailablevailable toto shareshare ttheirheir endowed the ADL with imperishable moral •Nazar Nazarian: “I recall those old days peersonalrsonal eexperience.xperience. prestige, turning it into the centripetal force of with great pride when hundreds of us as stu - Haawkswks mmostost recentlyrecently publishedpublished book,book, YYergirergir 2, wwillill bbee availableavailable fforor ssale.ale. Diasporan-Armenian life.” dents would await your classes.” •Archbishop Serovpe Manoogian: “It is the •Antranik L. Poladian: “Those youth who Date:Date: FFriday,riday, OOct.ct. 221St1St appreciation of nonnegotiable patriotism, dedi - received a university education through

TTime:ime: 88:00:00 ppmm cation to our people’s spiritual values, and our Professor Tovmassian’s advice and arrangements church’s historical role and the pure defense of are large in number. Many of them, again on the Place:lace: SSTT LLEONEON its hierarchical orders; he not only was the lead - advice of their mentor, entered into national ser - ARMENIANARMENIAN CHURCHCHURCH ing figure for these ideals, but also inspired an vice, and at present hold responsible positions CCharlesharles & GraceGrace entire generation through them.” throughout the Armenian diaspora.” PPinajianinajajian YouthYoYouth CenterCenter •Dikran Tosbath: “It is not given to everyone •Edmond Y. Azadian: “And how many have to have a calling of responsibility, never having traveled that journey with you and after you, 112-612-61 SSaddleaddle RiverRiver RRdd the slightest care of turning it into a career, and today with profound admiration remember FairFair Lawn,NJLawn,NJ CallCall ShoghigShoghig CChalianhalian forfofor moremore which he never sought; he pursued two goals, your wisdom, your patriotism, your faith in and Information***201-803-0240Infoformation***201-803-0240 to serve, and to know how to serve.” love for the future of the Armenians.” •Dr. Nubar Berberian: “Your benevolent atti - •Missak Haigentz: “Your person and work tude towards our press arises without a doubt are identified with the last half-century of the from your political party and national sense of wonderful work of the ADL making the nation duty and constant zeal, which compose the nec - prosperous, and Armenian-nourishing enchant - ed thought.” Death and Funeral Tovmassian died on December 25, 1991 in Watertown. The funeral was conducted with suitable solemnity at St. James Armenian Sponsor a Teacher in Armenia and Karabagh 2011 Church, presided over by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, the Primate, who in an impressive eulogy reflected on Tovmassian’s national and church service. Tovmassian’s body was buried Since its inception in 2001, TCA’s ‘Sponsor in Ridgelawn Cemetery, Watertown. The Nazarian brothers, Garbis, Noubar and a Teacher’ program has raised over $477,750 Nazar, were present on behalf of the AGBU, along with Dr. Pergrouhi Svajian. and reached out to 3,700 teachers and After the memorial meal, the editor of Baikar weekly, Krikor Keusseyan, conducted a short school workers in Armenia and Karabagh. program. Dr. Haroutiun Arzoumanian, Hampartzoum Berberian, Dr. Nubar Berberian, £ Dr. Vatche Ghazarian and Fr. Papken Maksoudian spoke. The brother-in-law of the deceased, Haig Tateossian, spoke words of K Yes, I want to sponsor teachers in Armenia and Karabagh to continue thanks on behalf of Tovmassian’s family. helping them to educate the children, our future leaders. I would like to have That very evening, we participants in the the teacher’s name and address. funeral ceremony, Sarkis Paskalian, Bedros Piandarian, Vatche Ghazarian, Sonig Vayejian K $160 K $ 320 K $ 480 K other $ ————————— and I, returned in the same car to New York. Name There was emotion. It was a giant oak of Address Armenian national life that had fallen. Not one City State Zip code word was exchanged during those four hours. Tel: There was nothing left to say at that time. Tovmassian has been set in the pages of the Make check payable to: Tekeyan Cultural Association – Memo: Sponsor a Teacher 2010 history of the ADL alongside such names as Mail your check with this form to: Vahan Tekeyan, Arshag Chobanian, Mihran TCA Sponsor a Teacher Damadian, Ardag Tarpinian and Hratch Yervant 5326 Valverde, Houston, TX 77056 as an enlightened individual and as a great and true national, political leader. Your donation is Tax Deductible. (This article was translated into English for the Mirror-Spectator from Armenian.) 10 S ATURDAY , OCTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS The Internet Paves Way For Doctor to Help out in Homeland

By Armond Kotikian, DDS, MD

STEPANAKERT, Karabagh — I got in very late Sunday night into the capital of Karabagh. After the eight-hour bus ride, my body wanted to lie down, but my heart and mind were pumping with adrenaline. Question after question raced through my brain: are the parents going to trust me, given that I am from another country? Are the anes - thesiologists going to be able to intubate (place the tube in the windpipe) some of the more chal - lenging patients that I have met via the web for the past four months? What kinds of instruments are going to be available to me? This was unchart - Dr. Armond Kotikian, a Los Angeles-based oral and maxillofacial surgeon, in the operating room in Stepanakert, Karabagh. Kotikian traveled to ed territory and I was anxiously awaiting sunrise. Karabagh in July 2011 to join Dr. Sasun Vahanyan, the only oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Karabagh, for a week of surgeries. The two doctors were Earlier this year, the Armenian Medical introduced to each other through the International Medical Congress of Armenia and YouTube. (Photograph by Sara Anjargolian) International Committee connected me with Dr. Sasun Vahanyan, the only oral and maxillofacial room for an incision and drainage of the mass on surgeon in all of Karabagh, which has a popula - her neck. Within moments of draining the mass, tion of close to 200,000. After looking me up the child began to breathe easily and was obvi - online and watching one of my interviews on ously going to make a full recovery. I thought to Youtube, Vahanyan invited me to come to myself, this was the most rewarding “lunch Karabagh to perform surgeries together. break” I ever had. I arrived at the Children’s hospital in Shortly afterward, we headed to the adult hos - Stepanakert on a Monday morning, excited and pital. There we saw a 60-year-old patient with a apprehensive. I was soon greeted by the smiling painful swelling on the floor of his mouth, which 29-year-old Vahanyan, whom I had met only over he had been tolerating for the past three months. skype. As I approached the entrance to the Oral It looked to me like oral cancer. He, also, was and Maxillofacial Surgery clinic, there were about going to need surgery.

Twenty-nine year old Dr. Sasun Vahanyan is the only maxillofacial surgeon in Karabagh. After see - ing a YouTube video interview of Dr. Armond Kotikian in Los Angeles, he invited Kotikian to travel to Karabagh and join him for a week of maxillofacial surgeries. The two doctors communicated via skype for months about patient cases and made plans for the surgeries before Kotikian arrived to Stepanakert. In the background are Kotikian and Dr. Alexi Eyvazi, a dentist from Los Angeles who accompanied and assisted Kotikian in Karabagh.(Photograph by Sara Anjargolian)

On my last day, I was proud of our work, but globe, I found a good friend and excellent col - wished we were able to treat more people. There league in Stepanakert. The exchange of knowl - were close to a dozen patients who still needed edge and experience between us taught me surgery — a reason to return in the near future. I lessons that no modern day dental or medical hope that the surgeries we performed will make school can teach. The only major disagreement life for our patients a bit easier and I hope some between myself and Vahanyan that week was the A reluctant patient (Photograph by Sara Anjargolian) of the skills I passed on to the staff will help them endless debate over the check after every meal. treat patients for years to come. (Dr. Armond Kotikian is a Los Angeles-based 50 parents and children hovering around the only Over dinner that evening, we reviewed all the Perhaps most importantly, half way across the oral and maxillofacial surgeon.) entrance. They stared at me, their first impres - patients we had seen that day and mapped out sions settling in, while I focused only on trying to our approach for the rest of the week. Over the get to the door. I apologized about 15 times next four days, Vahanyan and I operated on 20 before I was able to make it to the white door. patients and averaged 12-14-hour days. We per - The clinic measured about 200 square feet but formed multiple cleft palate cases, cleft lip cases, had everything I needed to get started: a brown removed several oral and neck tumors from adult desk and one examination chair. I hadn’t had a and pediatric patients, performed cleft lip revi - chance to digest my surroundings when the sions, removed one set of wisdom teeth and even patients and their parents began flooding in, with did a bone graft from the hip to the oral cavity for or without an appointment. This was nothing like a patient with a defect in the upper jaw. There an average day in my usual clinic. By 1 p.m. we had was no air conditioning in the hospital and the seen 31 patients and promised most of them we temperature would reach the low 90s at noon. would do their surgery. The cases ranged from cleft The nurses had special sterile instruments to dab lip and palate, to trauma patients, to patients with our foreheads so we wouldn’t contaminate the oral tumors to simple wisdom teeth extractions. My field with our sweat. The hospital water occa - years of training kicked in and I was excited to do sionally ran out and the operating nurses had to as much as I could in the short time I had. rinse our arms and hands with small buckets of As we were getting ready to walk out of the water after we scrubbed. I was operating with clinic for lunch, a scene like one from a movie instruments I thought didn’t exist anymore. unfolded. A helpless mother from a neighboring Despite all this, things went as smoothly as they village came in carrying her 27-month-old daugh - do in our pampered operating rooms in the ter who was minimally responsive. The child had United States. I learned quickly that as long as a critical neck swelling, which was keeping her you have the skill set and will, everything else falls Baby boy with his mother, father and grandmother after cleft lip surgery (Photograph by Sara from breathing normally. After a one-minute eval - into place. Anjargolian) uation, we immediately took her to the operating My only regret is that I could not stay longer. S ATURDAY , OCTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 COMMUNITY NEWS Lowell Veterans Award $150,000 in Scholarships

$7,000 was divided among seven students, “The future of our younger generation is some - Boghosian as its first commander. By Tom Vartabedian including one in Armenia and another in thing we take seriously. Anything we can do to The numbers grew enough to be officially Providence, RI. enhance that goal will be encouraged. Many of chartered and in 1961, they joined the More than 200 guests turned out on these recipients have graduated college, started Veterans’ Council of Lowell. LOWELL, Mass. — Since 1990, members of September 24 to applaud the recipients during careers and showed their gratitude by con - Over the decades, they have served the the Sam Manoian Post, Armenian-American a dinner-dance at Sts. Vartanantz Church in tributing to the fund. The moral responsibilities Armenian-American community with diligence Veterans, have done more than march in Chelmsford. they’ve exercised are exemplary.” and pride, volunteering at veterans’ hospitals, parades, conduct graveside services and donate Over these 21 years, a total of 136 Armenian Honored were: Aghavny Bebirian, Pelham, assisting the indigent, sponsoring Christmas NH; Nicole Gaspari, Chelmsford; Katie parties for children and donating Easter bas - Berberian, Merrimack, NH; Sam Boghigian, kets to children. Roses are distributed after Nashua, NH; Jason Keshian, North Andover; church services on Mother’s Day. John Kalajian, Providence, and Lilit Members conduct special graveside services Solomonyan, Armenia. for veterans and have never missed a Memorial The student from Armenia has a dad who Day Parade or Armenian Genocide commemo - operates a car import and makes repeated trips ration. to the Merrimack Valley for business. He signed In 1975, the organization purchased a build - on as an associate member of the Post and ing and named it the Sam Manoian Post, in lends his support wherever possible. An older honor of a devoted past commander. Ten years sibling, Astghik, was given a scholarship previ - later, they erected a monument dedicated to ously. Armenian settlers who became a vital part of The group’s history dates back to 1947 when the Greater Lowell fabric. Armenian-American Veterans of World War II Members have served this country in World gathered at the Pine Street Potato Chip War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, Company on Gorham Street and elected Menas Vietnam War and Iraq. SOAR to Celebrate Anniversary Sam Manoian Post, Armenian-American Veterans of Lowell, presented scholarships to seven high school graduates September 24. From left, George Manuelian, Scholarship Committee chairman; Aghavny Bebirian, Pelham, NH; Nicole Gaspari, Chelmsford; Katie Berberian, Merrimack, NH; Sam On October 22 Boghigian, Nashua, NH; Jason Keshian, North Andover and Aram Jeknavorian, commander. Also honored were John Kalajian, Providence, RI, and Lilit Solomonyan, Armenia. PHILADELPHIA — The Society for tional and grant support, install three new Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR) will cele - chapters and expand their Child Sponsorship brate its sixth anniversary on Saturday, October Program. Each sponsor is matched with a child, Easter baskets to children. high school graduates have been endowed with 22, starting at 6 p.m., at The Woman’s Club of with the entire donation designated for the They have contributed to the educational scholarships — and the buck doesn’t stop here. Bala Cynwyd. The event will include an open child, not the orphanage. SOAR assumes the welfare of Merrimack Valley and beyond — to “It’s a tradition we hope to continue for a life - bar, mezza, buffet dinner, silent auction and cost of wiring the expenses so no funds go the tune of $150,000. This year’s distribution of time,” said Commander Aram Jeknavorian. entertainment provided by vocalist Marina V towards operational use. The sponsor receives a and pianist Kariné Poghosyan. photo, profile and health updates from the SOAR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, child. The minimum sponsorship is $50/month, registered in the US and Armenia, whose mis - which goes towards tuition (or a savings sion is to distribute food, clothing, medicine, account for future tuition), educational sup - educational supplies and other essential plies, musical tutoring, medical care and other resources to orphanages throughout Armenia, items or services necessary for a child’s person - Nagorno-Karabagh and Javakhk. The organiza - al growth. tion is composed of a National Board of The organization has a loyal donor base Directors, chapter boards in 14 cities through - throughout the United States and most pur - out the US and Armenia, a Board of Trustees chases are made in Armenia to help stimulate headquartered in Philadelphia and partners in the local economy. A strict quality control pro - Armenia who all volunteer their time. tocol is in place, and the organization also has Founded by George and Erica Yacoubian in a zero-tolerance policy for fraud, theft and/or May 2006, shortly after they adopted their older daughter, Liliana, from Armenia, SOAR is the only non-profit organization that focuses exclusively on providing humanitarian relief to orphaned children living in Armenia, Nagorno- Karabagh and Javakhk. SOAR also supports an annual summer camp in Tsaghkadzor which accommodates 800- 1,000 orphaned and otherwise disadvantaged children between the ages of 8 and 15, aiming to lessen the immediate and long-term impact of poverty in children’s lives through a wide range of athletic, cultural, spiritual and social activities. In its short existence, SOAR has experienced significant growth from year to year in not only its distributions to the orphanages, but also its geographic presence. As SOAR views Armenia’s children as the most vulnerable in Armenian society, it is committed to expanding its efforts in the years to come. This past year, SOAR launched six new chapters, bringing the total Liliana Yacoubian number of chapters to 14: Chicago, Delaware, Detroit, Florida, Fresno, Idaho, Los Angeles, New England, New York/New Jersey, North deception. Carolina, Northern California, Seattle, There are several ways to help SOAR. In addi - Washington, DC and Yerevan. tion to the Child Sponsorship Program, there is In 2010, SOAR’s assistance to the orphan - the Balik-Jan project, which provides knitted ages totaled approximately $118,000, and clothes to the children. Donations of goods are included the renovation of a medical suite at always needed, particularly baby supplies, bath the Kharberd Orphanage; physical therapy and towels, bedding, new clothing, shoes, diapers, gym equipment for the Children’s Home of musical items and personal hygiene products. Gumri; kitchen equipment for the Gavar Financial donations can be made online on orphanage; a new washer and dryer and the SOAR’s website (http://www.soar-us.org). renovation of the ventilation system for Bequests, endowments, in lieu of gifts and Vanadzor; new beds for Vardashen; new chairs funds, are always available. for Nubarashen; coats and shoes, clothes, The cost of attending the program is $35 for school supplies and hundreds of toys for all of adults and $15 for children. the children who look forward to early For more information on SOAR, visit Christmas presents. In 2011, their distributions www.soar-us.org or contact National SOAR have already exceeded $300,000. president, George S. Yacoubian Jr., at gya - In 2012, they hope to increase their founda - [email protected]. 12 S ATURDAY , OCTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS University of Michigan Sponsors a Special Project on Armenian Studies ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Armenian Studies http://www.ii.umich.edu/asp. dent in the master’s degree program at the Major Program at the University of Michigan, Ann This project has been conducted on two lev - Center for Russian, East European and Arbor, will host the second workshop on “The els: workshops that strategize the project and a Eurasian Studies of the university. Prof. Jirair State of Armenian Studies” October 14-16. The research team at the University of Michigan Libaridian directs the project with support from Initiative project aims to create a quantitative and quali - that processes the data and produces initial the Executive Committee of the Armenian tative analysis of existing programs, organiza - analysis. The first workshop in 2008, also held Studies Program at the University. tions and institutions relevant to Armenian on the Ann Arbor campus, defined the parame - Support for the project has been provided At AUA studies. ters of the project and included the participa - by the Harry Ardashes Paul Memorial Fund, The primary aim of this session will be the tion of leading scholars from Europe, Armenia established by Dr. Ara Paul in memory of his consideration of the first draft report prepared and the US. The final report, completed by May brother, Harry Ardashes. Paul, a founding BERKELEY, Calif. — The American by the team at the University of Michigan. The 2012, will also consider recommendations to all dean of the School of Pharmacology, now University of Armenia (AUA) has dates of the workshop will coincide with a parties interested in the various dimensions retired, has been a valuable member of the announced a major initiative to enhance series of events marking the 30th anniversary represented by the field. Armenian Studies Program and university awareness of the graduate university of the establishment of the Alex Manoogian The project is managed by Vahe Sahakyan, a communities. located in Yerevan, Armenia. President Chair in Modern Armenian History and of the PhD student in the Near Eastern Studies The project has had the sponsorship and sup - Bruce Boghosian, PhD, is recruiting for a formalization of the Armenian Studies Program Department of the University, with volunteer port of the National Association for Armenian leading professional as vice president of of the university. For a detailed schedule, visit support from Naira Tumanyan, a graduate stu - Studies and Research. University Advancement who will be responsible for bringing awareness of the university and its many programs to American residents; to improve the alum - ni relations programs in ways that are dif - Milwaukee Community Celebrates Anniversary ferent from normal American university chapters and to improve fundraising. Boghosian is looking to this position MILWAUKEE, Wis. — On Sunday, September to lead the capacity for the many priori - 25, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan ties that the faculty and administration Primate, presided over the 25th anniversary cel - recognize as essential for the campus to ebration of the construction and consecration of continue its planned growth. Boghosian Milwaukee’s St. John the Baptist Armenian has hired the firm Paschal Murray, Inc., a Church’s present sanctuary. specialist in university advancement posi - The day began with celebration of Divine tions, to assist with the search. Liturgy by the Rev. Tateos Abdalian, the former Details of the position and contact pastor of St. John Church who was instrumental information are available at in encouraging and organizing the community in www.paschalmurray.com. their effort to construct the sanctuary in 1985. AUA has many essential connections Until then, the church services were being held to the US. Borne out of a relationship in the cultural hall. with the University of California, and Rev. Nareg Keutelian, the pastor of St. John’s, specifically the engineering faculty at UC served as the deacon during the Liturgy. “It was Berkeley, the campus in Yerevan has a moving experience serving as a deacon during many faculty members who have been today’s celebration” said Keutelian as he served trained in American universities. the same parish as a deacon 25 years ago when Abdalian was the pastor. “It brought back trea - sured memories.” At the conclusion of the service, Barsamian ordained two altar servers — Michael Kashian Metro Detroit Group and Thomas Hammer — to the rank of acolyte. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordains Michael Kashian and Thomas Hammer to the rank of acolyte, Both have been working with Keutelian to pre - with Fr. Tateos Abdalian (left) and Fr. Nareg Keutelian assisting. Works to Promote pare for the ordination. Both newly-ordained parishioners received Certificate of Ordination Awareness of the from the Primate, who congratulated them on spoke on the Diocesan theme of “Ministry of the stating of the Divine Liturgy is enriched and our their accomplishment and encouraged them to Faithful.” He reminded the faithful of Christ’s faith deepened,” he concluded. Armenian Genocide call to follow Him, saying that “over and over Donnie Rask, a multi-talented young musician, again, our Lord uttered this call to people from performed Rachmaninoff pieces on the piano. every stage in life.” He, along with Seabrook and Arek Kashian, was Through Education In his keynote address, Abdalian spoke about ordained acolyte two years ago. Rask also plays BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — Committed to their the importance of community and working the church organ during Divine Liturgy fre - mission to promote awareness of, and gain for - together to achieve goals as a parish. Abdalian quently. mal US recognition for the first genocide of the said he was emotionally overcome during the cel - Keutelian acknowledged the parents for their 20th century, the Metro Detroit Armenian ebration of the Divine Liturgy at St. John the selfless sacrifices in bringing these young men Genocide Committee in collaboration with Baptist Armenian Church. “I felt the presence of and women to church for training and ensuring Facing History and Ourselves, announces the my parents, in-laws and family members — those their participation in the various Diocesan pro - fifth educator’s workshop, in Michigan, on the who had served at the Holy Altar during my pas - grams. Armenian Genocide. The Knights of Vartan, torate, as well as past parishioners of St. John, all The program concluded with the singing of Detroit Lodge, sponsors the project initially who had entered their eternal rest,” he said. He Der Getso by Keutelian and benediction by the conceived and sponsored by Edgar Hagopian expressed a feeling of “being together as one Diocesan Primate. and his Hagopian Family Foundation. Rev. Tateos Abdalian delivers the keynote address dur - through the Holy Sacrament. As celebrant, I St. John the Baptist Church began as a mis - Richard Norsigian, a member of the commit - ing a banquet at St. John the Baptist Church. could not have asked for more.” sion parish in West Allis, in 1940 and saw the tee as well as a retired principal from the South Other highlights of Sunday’s banquet included consecration of its first house of worship in Lake School District, coordinated the event remarks by William Seabrook, on behalf of the 1942. with Wayne County RESA. Michigan educators continue their service to the Armenian Church. Altar servers. Seabrook, who was ordained an The cornerstones for the new church were are invited to attend the workshop to be facili - The Primate also conducted a Thanksgiving acolyte two years ago, reflected on the continued blessed in 1986 by then-Primate Archbishop tated by Dr. Mary Johnson, senior historian for Service for the Republic of Armenia on the occa - altar server training classes conducted by Torkom Manoogian, with the assistance of Facing History and Ourselves, who will use text sion of its 20th anniversary of independence. Keutelian. “With our participations in these Abdalian, who served the parish from 1984 to and video to present a background on the “uni - During the banquet and program attended by training sessions, attending St. Nersess Summer 1989. The completed building was consecrated verse of obligation” and segue into the history some 100 parishioners and friends, Barsamian Conferences and Midwest Hye Camp, our under - by Manoogian in November of that year. of the Armenian Genocide. Educators will be provided with resource and teaching materials. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, November 9, at Wayne County RESA and is LA Coalition Holds Benefit Event for Women’s Shelters in Armenia open to all Michigan high school educators. Workshop costs are underwritten by the com - BENEFIT, from page 5 life is, however tough, you don’t beat women and frustration, hope and aspiration, that mark mittee and is free to participants. Breakfast and domestic violence in Armenia has been one and children.” the problem of domestic violence and efforts to lunch is included with the workshop. of the big taboos. The fact we are talking Also greeting the audience were California solve it. Mkhitarian proceeded to offer a pre - Participants will also be advised of the of the about it now, could not have happened with - Sen. Carol Liu and Glendale Mayor Laura miere performance, with his signature guitar Fourth Annual Armenian Genocide Essay out a shift in thinking in Armenia. It’s a glim - Friedman, both of whom expressed support accompaniment, which drew accolades from Competition open to all Michigan High School mer, it’s new. Sometimes, if you are in a small and confidence that the shelter initiative would those in attendance. The new song will soon be Students, sponsored by the Hagopian Family village, you might wonder if it’s there at all,” succeed. released publicly. Foundation, with cash awards for both the win - she stated. The program was emceed by Nareg By evening’s end, Keshishian announced that ning student and the instructor. Details for the “It’s a new idea — what I would call ‘Enough.’ Keshishian, who acknowledged various guests more than $40,000 had been raised toward the competition can be found on line at Enough — domestic violence does not have to in the audience, including actor John Heard. effort, with another fundraiser of similar scope www.armeniangenocideessay.com. be tolerated. In any household. In any family. Armenian jazz pianist Sergey Kyosayan provid - now being planned on the East Coast. He also The Metro Detroit Armenian Genocide Enough — it is no longer acceptable to perpe - ed music. announced that USAID has pledged partner - Committee members are Edward Bedikian, Ray trate violence against women. It is no longer One of the evening’s highlights came when ship support, which will hopefully build upon Boujoulian, Corinne Khederian, Ani Kasparian, acceptable for men to take their frustrations singer/songwriter Gor Mkhitarian announced the amounts raised in order to develop a robust Paul Kulhanjian, Richard Norsigian, Shirley out by beating their wives. This is part of old that he had composed a song dedicated to the shelter program including all needed staff and Sarkisian, David Terzibashian and Madeline Armenia, not new Armenia. However difficult occasion, expressing the combination of pain facilities. Thomasian. S ATURDAY , O CTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 Arts & Living

Young Musician Art Exhibition and Finds Inspiration in Concert at AUA’s The Divine Liturgy Akian Art Gallery Of the Armenian A Focus on Art on the Third Day of Church AUA’s Celebration of Education Week YEREVAN — During a week-long Celebration HOLLISTON, Mass. — When Michael of Education, the American University of Sabounjian decided to work on his senior pro - Armenia (AUA) opened an exhibition of art - ject at Holliston High School, he was inspired work by Karen Alekyan and Hrach Vardanyan, by the hymns he grew up with at the Church of both of Gumri, followed by a quartet musical the Holy Translators in nearby Framingham. In concert by renowned singer-composer Lilit a unique undertaking, he would spend the next Pipoyan and her group. The exhibition was year arranging and adapting the music of the open through Friday, October 7. Armenian Church for English speakers. This exhibition was the third such major Working from translations of choir songs event after the opening of the Akian Art Gallery completed by Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan and on June 1, last year. AUA’s Akian Art Gallery revised by the Very Rev. Daniel Findikyan, was made possible by the donation of the Akian Sabounjian rearranged the placement of lyrics Family Foundation and helps realize the uni - and the breakup of individual notes while pre - versity’s objective of promoting art as part of its serving the melody of each piece. overall mission. AUA President Bruce “I felt that having this as a tool for the church Boghosian said, “AUA is proud to be able to would be beneficial,” he said, adding that it exhibit premiere artwork from contemporary might help young non-Armenian speakers artists and private collections. The Akian become better acquainted with the hymns of Gallery allows us to host world-class exhibitions the badarak . that are open and accessible to all Yerevan resi - Sabounjian focused specifically on the dents. Especially because we do not offer Yegmalian Divine Liturgy, which is commonly degree programs in the arts at this time, we feel used in parishes in the Eastern Diocese. Among that it is particularly important for AUA to host the hymns he adapted are Khorhoort Khoreen these kinds of exhibitions. Fine art is, after all, (Deep Mystery), Sourp Sourp (Holy Holy), an essential part of the human intellectual Krisdos Ee Mech (Christ in our Midst) and Der endeavor and ought to have a place at every Voghormya (Lord Have Mercy). institute of higher learning. We are particularly Some of the many cookbooks written by Arto Der Haroutunian “It was a very complicated process,” said happy to be able to promote the works of Stuart Britton, choral director at Holliston High young, talented Armenian artists.” School, who supervised Sabounjian’s project. The display of fences by Alekyan illustrated “He really stretched himself as a student.” unexpected facets of the extraordinary within Elise Durgarian, the choir director at Holy ‘Crosses + Icons’ the ordinary through artworks that compel the Translators Church, was also supportive of the viewer to examine their surroundings with project. She helped assemble four singers to fresh eyes. The artworks play with the tradi - record some of Sabounjian’s adaptations and tional notion that art must express everyday offer feedback. Exhibit Celebrates Form life, but it also must be elevated beyond that, Britton was so impressed with Sabounjian’s both in its content and its medium. The artist work that he invited him to conduct Holliston’s explained that his works “can be compared to choral group. Sabounjian’s classmates learned And Christianity contemporary art designed to transfer the view - and sang Sourp Sourp in Armenian and in the er into the past, both mentally and emotional - English language adaptation during a concert ly.” Vardanyan’s works are frank expressions of last December. NEW YORK — Crosses and icons as powerful metaphors of our transient, mate - feeling, which add to his description of each “I was amazed at how quickly a non- rial bodies connect us to our immaterial, spiritual selves. Presented by the Women’s work, but do not overwhelm the viewer with Armenian choir learned the Armenian lyrics Guild Central Council of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), interpretation. He simply said that he expresses “Crosses + Icons: Celebrating Spirituality,” is a group art exhibition that will be held in his works the emotions felt in himself and on October 29 and 30 at the Gulbenkian Hall of the St. Vartan Cathedral complex. others. As the title of the exhibition indicates, works by the above four artists based in Following the opening of the art exhibition, Yerevan address an extensive and rich range of representations of the concept of there was a display of pastries, created by AUA spirituality through religious, collective and individual symbols, icons and approach - chefs, both artistic and tasty. In addition, a con - es. The exhibition will present paintings and several newly-invented mediums that cert took place, including: Pipoyan, piano and reveal original, cutting-edge art, all of which skillfully resist technological repro - voice, Manan Garukyan, violin, Guerondi duction. Antonyan, cello, and Nelly Manoukian, flute. History is a powerful presence in the paintings and other artworks of Ararat The Akian Art Gallery was converted to an inti - Sarkissian. Sarkissian’s vast output includes depictions of the Armenian alphabeti - mate concert hall that mesmerized the capacity cal characters produced in a cycle of unique prints made of embossed handmade audience to Pipoyan’s own compositions and paper in conjunction with the medium of oil. In his Yerevan studio, Sarkissian other Armenian folk music. “This evening was a painstakingly simulates two-dimensional khachkars as historical memories of perfect mixture of excellent talent,” said one of recently eradicated tombstones of our ancestors, such as those insensitively abol - the attendees. “Both the art exhibition and con - ished in the ancient Armenian cemetery of Jugha in 2005. As Sona Hamalian indi - cert will stay with me for a long time to come. cates, “much of Ararat Sarkissian’s art reflects a lifelong fascination with signs, This evening was a perfect expression of art in khachkars , crosses and icons. It’s a fascination that goes to the heart of symbol- different forms.” Michael Sabounjian with Archbishop Khajag making and recording history — its mechanics, cultural underpinnings and evolu - Alekyan was born in 1975 in Gumri. From Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the tion across the ages.” The numerous mediums that Sarkissian ingeniously re-invents Armenian Church of America (Eastern) 1998 to 2004, he attended the Academy of Fine reveal a relentless urge and rare commitment to the field of visual representation Arts in Yerevan. Since 2009, Alekyan is lectur - that is at once Armenian and universal. er of graphic art and design at the Gumri A series of paintings by Sarkis Hamalbashyan reach back to the icons of medieval and truly grasped the authentic Armenian feel branch of the Academy of Fine Arts. Alekyan’s manuscripts. These images are replete with references to a broad range of Western of the hymn,” Sabounjian said. “It was a plea - solo exhibitions include the 1989 After the art-historical masterpieces as well, evoking the figures of Velasquez with the sure to work with such a cooperative and ver - earthquake exhibit in Venice, Italy; his exhibit at intense, bold, highly-colorful and expressionistic signature of German satile choral group.” the Art College of Gumri, in 2002; the Future Expressionism of the 20th century. In a suite of paintings, Hamalbashyan tackles Following their performance at the school, that has passed in Yerevan, in 2007 and in the Armenian pair of a man and a woman enveloped in their traditional garbs, cre - Michael Sabounjian’s father, the Rev. Krikor Punta del Este, Uruguay, in 2011. Alekyan also ating fascinating images as paradigms of an Armenian fauvism. In another painting, Sabounjian, who serves as the pastor of Holy has participated in several group exhibitions, Hamalbashyan transforms an ordinary, everyday genre scene of a person having a Translators Church, invited the group to give a including the following five exhibitions in 2008: meal into a chromatically-powerful picture that absorbs the spectator into an unde - performance for the parish. They sang in Pop-Art at the Aslamazyan Sisters’ House finable time and place. Through his “primitivistic” style, both his domestic scenes Armenian during the Christmas Eve liturgy in Museum in Gumri; Installation at Gallery 25 in and religious icons reveal the boundless power of painting. These highly-engaging January and at the Christmas dinner that fol - Gumri; the International Biennial exhibition in figures are replete with references to such Armenian masters as Martiros Saryan lowed, with Michael Sabounjian conducting all Gumri; Feminism at One Gallery in Yerevan; and Minas Avetisyan. Hence, Hamalbashyan constructs a postmodern language performances. 20th Anniversary of the Gumri Earthquake, in where histories richly pile up and traditions are continually renewed. “He had enough conducting chops that he was Yerevan; Social Mutation and The Way It Is With strong graphic lines and layers of paint, Mariam Khachatryan (Moko) able to learn how to lead the choir,” said Britton, exhibitions in Yerevan, in 2009; the see EXHIBIT, page 15 adding that Michael Sabounjian’s classmates were International Biennial in Gumri in 2010; the enthusiastic about learning the new pieces. Rusty Pumpkin and the Body, New Figurative see INSPIRATION, page 17 see AUA, page 17 14 S ATURDAY , O CTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING Salute to Armenia

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — September 10 was the occasion of the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. The performance was presented by The Armenian Music Festival of Rhode Island, Inc., and it was supported by Saints Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church, Saints Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church and Armenian Euphrates Evangelical Church. The program, titled “Salute to Armenia,” was held at the Catholic Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence. Approximately 1,000 people were in attendance for this program under the aus - pices of The Embassy of Armenia to the United States and the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations. Co-chairs were Aram Garabedian, Ara Bohigian and conductor Konstantin Petrossian. Many members of the clergy as well as local politicians were in attendance lending their sup - port to this event. Garen Nazarian, Armenia’s ambassador to the United Nations was the guest speaker. Guest composers, Martin

Ambassador Garen Nazarian

With such a huge number of soloists, space dictates that the comments be as succinct as possible. The concert opened with the soulful Dzon Hayrenikeen for Chorale and Orchestra by Chaushyan. Joanne Mouradjian, soprano, along with Alexan Tokatlyan, violinist, per - formed Gomidas’ Groong with incredible The Rev. Monsignor Anthony Mancini expression. Kate Norigian, soprano, accompa - nied by David Griego, flautist, performed the folk tune Dzidzernag, Gakavig , seemingly cre - Vardazarian and Levon Chausyan, from ating the beautiful effect of the delicate birds. Armenia, whose works were performed, attend - Garo Nichanian, bass-baritone, seems to evoke ed. Many soloists and the Armenian Chorales of verve. Gohar Manjelikian, mezzo-soprano per - Rhode Island and Greater Worcester along with formed Siro Khosk Hayastaneen by the Philharmonic Community Symphony Varazaryan with her mellifluous tones. David Orchestra of Rhode Island comprised the talent Ayriyan, performed the traditional folk tune for the evening. Dele Yaman on the kemancha , the Armenian The daunting task of coordinating all of the string instrument. Soprano Debra Pjojian talent for this evening fell to Petrossian. He has delivered a skillful performance of great vision concerning the assemblage of such Khachatourian’s Karoon Yerevan. David musical talent. Due to the number of standing Gevorkian and Mher Saribekyan each played ovations, it was apparent that the audience the Armenian wooden wind instrument, the agreed. duduk. Victoria Avetisyan, mezzo-soprano, Ambassador and Mrs. Garen Nazarian with committee member George Chakoian

provided a superb rendi - tion of Petrossian’s Diramayr . Tenor, Yeghishe Manucharyan, performed a demanding aria from the opera “Anoush” with incredible clarity. The youngest of the evening’s performers, just 9-years-old, David Alexander, sang beautiful - ly America the Beautiful , in honor of 9/11 victims. A special reception was co-hosted and sponsored by Sylvia Long and Sondra Pitts. A reception for the public was sponsored by Aram Garabedian. A recep - tion for the performers was sponsored by the Urartu Society. The evening was pitch perfect — a night to be Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian proud to be Armenian. Aram G. Garabedian, co-chair — Shirley Ventrone S ATURDAY , O CTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 — GrandARTS & LIVITNG ribute

Konstantin Petrossian, David Alexander and Ara Boghigian, co-chair Gohar Manjelikian The soloists of the chorale

Joanne Mouradjian and Alexan Tokatlian Levon Chaushian and Kon. Petrossian David Gevorkian and Mher Saribekian

David Ayriyan Debra Pjojian Garo Nichanian

Martin Vardazarian Yeghishe Manucharian Kate Norigian and David Griego

‘Crosses + Icons’ Exhibit Celebrates Form and Christianity

EXHIBIT, from page 13 paint and beholder. hand emerges an aesthetic sensibility that can tionate, undying place, a beguiling motherland, creates paintings that echo opulent Gothic The viscous physicality present in the ges - be summed up as surreal elegance. This para - a timeless fatherland, an exotic homeland, our stained-glass windows. A close look at Moko’s tures of the oil paintings of Hamlet Hovsepian dox is not only an aesthetic one but embodies marvelous soil. paintings reveals intense gestural engagements, translates as allegory of the pictorial narratives the body-spirit duality. In this sense Hamlet The exhibition is curated by Vicki whereby surfaces at once contain controlled, of Genesis — the Creation of the Universe, Hovsepian’s paintings reveal themselves as alle - Hovanessian, collector and director of VH angular and geometric lines in the company of Earth and Life… In these pictures space and gories of matter, space, body, spirit and tran - Contemporary Art, with the collaboration of loose, painterly brushstrokes. As this duality matter are given rise through ongoing coloris - scendence. Raphy Sarkissian, Faculty at the School of the connects her work to aspects of Cubism, tic dialogues. Brushstrokes — broad, narrow, By conflating archeology and contemporary Visual Arts, New York. Constructivism and Abstract Expressionism, it curvular, diagonal, vertical and horizontal — creativity, “Crosses + Icons: Celebrating The exhibition is open to the public, free of gives rise to a distinct direction of postmodern culminate in dramatic spaces that at times sug - Spirituality” showcases works by some of the charge. Viewing hours on Saturday, October abstraction. In Moko’s compositions, line func - gest landscapes while at other times reveal pure greatest contemporary artists to an Armenian- 29, are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday, October tions not as mere support; it is design with its forms in vacant, spiritual spaces. From what American audience . The exhibition unwraps a 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Opening reception will own values. This labor of love of Moko com - seems to be eruptive graffiti marks that indi - riveting experience, as if it were a part of a jour - take place on Saturday, October 29, from 4:30 pellingly bridges the gaps between the artist, cate a form of obsessive tracing of the artist’s ney to a virtual old and new Armenia — an affec - p.m. to 7 p.m. 16 S ATURDAY , O CTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING Armenian Heritage Park Marks Unique Private and Public Collaboration

HERITAGE PARK, from page 1 The base was transported to Boston this week from the firm’s headquarters in Peabody. Speaking recently from their sprawling, 120,000-square-foot headquarters, the members of the Mardiros family, including Aurelian Mardiros, who founded the firm along with his wife, Anahit, and their sons, Antranig and Vartan, discussed their work, the evolution of A&A Industries and their decision to gift the monument and the base to the Armenian Heritage Park. (A third son, Gary, also works for the family firm but was away the day of the visit.) The monument, designed by architect Donald Tellalian and engineered by Gregorian Engineers, is 14 feet long, 10 feet wide and one foot deep and was lifted by crane to be put into the hole dug for it. The base had “steel rods and templates of what the sculpture would look like facing down,” said Antranig Mardiros. In fact, much thought and effort has gone into the base so that the reconfiguring of the statue would always go smoothly. Tellalian said that the reconfigurations for the next 30 years have already been planned.

From Rom ania to Boston The Mardiroses got the idea to donate the sculpture after they were approached by the Knights of Vartan. “Three years ago, the Knights of Vartan held a convocation and they brought up that the most important thing is that whatever we do, the Armenian Genocide should be recognized at the Armenian Heritage Park. It is important Work is being done on the reflecting pool at the Armenian Heritage Park that we acknowledge what happened 100 years ago. There is not a price that you can put on that,” said Aurelian Mardiros. His brother, Vartan, concurred, adding that the got as many involved as possible and worked on Kalustian said they would need to raise at least Aurelian Mardiros arrived from Romania in size of their plant also helps them in getting some a mission statement and guidelines. This cause $200,000 more to get to a grand total of $6 mil - 1975 and married Anahit, a fellow Romanian- large contracts as well as contracts for large items, is one everyone shares. The community lion to ensure that the project will be main - Armenian, in 1980. which smaller companies with smaller plants would deserves a lot of credit. We all worked hard to tained in perpetuity. He started his firm in 1978. The company not be able to accommodate. keep people focused. We were finally speaking To reach its goal, the Armenian Heritage does specialized machining and manufacturing The company has about 40 employees. with one voice.” Foundation will host a fundraiser on November jobs, where precision to the minutest degree is Anahit Mardiros, the chief financial officer of Kalustian said the mission of the park is two- 7, titled Party at the Other Park, at the Ted called for, in fields such as defense, high tech, the company, said, “We want to see the compa - fold: remember the Armenian Genocide and cel - Williams Pavilion Club of Fenway Park. medicine and aerospace, including working on ny grow and see the children follow in our foot - ebrate the immigrant heritage. Thus, he said, “it Minimum donation is $150 per person. For a part of a Rolls Royce aircraft engine. They do steps and stay tied to the community.” is very, very inclusive.” donations of $1,000 or more, visitors can have not do any architectural work and the Road to the Park “It is the moral satisfaction of doing something a tour of the park. There will be food, drinks, as Armenian Heritage Park project is the first of The Armenian community’s road to the for the community,” Aurelian Mardiros added. “The well as sports and television celebrities. its kind for them. Armenian Heritage Park has been a long and value of this project is that when a tourist comes to “It is going to be a fun event,” Kalustian said. The next area they are expanding into is arduous one yet the project was able to unite Boston, we are going to get a level of recognition for Kalustian praised the efforts of all involved in our identity and our culture.” designing and constructing the monument, as Tellalian also praised the North End commu - well as several others for keeping everyone on nity for their support. the same page. Kalustian explained the road to the opening Kalustian praised not only the Armenians of the park. “It’s progressing well. There was a involved with the project, but several well- delay in July when we uncovered the remnant placed friends of the community. of a slurry wall from an earlier construction but “[Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation] it is no trouble.” Jeff Mullan and Gov. Deval Patrick were incred - The heavy construction, he noted, would be ibly cooperative.” completed in the fall, with the rest of the work In addition, the K. George and Carolann S.

The base of the monument at A&A Industries, before being delivered to the site at the Armenian Heritage Park robotics, Antranig Mardiros said. the Greater-Boston Armenian community as Aurelian Mardiros had learned the trade of few have in recent decades. precision cutting in Romania and when he “It was definitely worth it,” said Tellalian, arrived in the US, he studied business for three adding that it was “the generosity and skills of years. He combined his two areas of knowledge such families as the Mardiros family, and the by opening a precision cutting plant in South unity of the Armenian community and resolve of The abstract monument at the A&A Industries’ plant, before the triangular plates are installed on the Boston in 1978. The company moved several fundraising” that has made the project possible. skeleton times, each time to a bigger plant, until they Concurred Antranig Mardiros, “It shows that finally settled into their massive digs in unity among Armenians actually exits.” Peabody in 1994. “We sowed the seeds for that early on,” said finished by spring. Najarian, MD Lecture on Human Rights, a pro - One of the reasons for their success has been James Kalustian, the president of the Armenian gram of the Armenian Heritage Foundation, will that the firm took jobs only in the high tech Heritage Foundation and a tireless proponent Fundraiser, Lecture Planned be held on Thursday, October 20, at 7 p.m. at and semi-conductor industries, rather than of the project. “The Knights spearheaded a So far, the project has raised close to $5.8 Faneuil Hall, with keynote speaker Paul automotive. “This is a fast-paced, high-growth group of organizations and churches. We want - million. Kalustian said that $3 to $3.5 million is Rusesabagina, a Rwandan human rights activist. sector,” said Antranig Mardiros. ed to make sure that everyone was involved. We needed to build the structure and the reflecting The program is free and open to the public. S ATURDAY , O CTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 17 ARTS & LIVING

Young Musician Finds Inspiration C A LENDAR In the Divine C A LENDAR Liturgy of the

Armenian Church CALIFORNIA

INSPIRATION, from page 13 NOVEMBER 19 — The Armenian EyeCare Project will hold its A dedicated member of the Armenian ninth Annual New por t Gala, honoring Gov. George Church, Sabounjian is a graduate of his Deukmejian, on November 19, 6:30 p.m., at the Balboa Bay Club, parish Sunday School, who has served Newport Beach. For info and reservations, call (949) 675-5611. as a sub-deacon and helped train young acolytes to serve on the altar at Holy FLORIDA Translators Church. He has also partic - ipated in various Diocesan programs, The Armenian Cultural Association of America, Inc. presents: including St. Vartan Camp and the sum - Armenian Heritage Cruise XV. Leaving January 21, 2012. 15th mer conferences at St. Nersess Anniversary Celebration. For more info, visit Armenian Seminary. www.ArmenianHeritageCruise.com. This fall, Sabounjian began course - work at Boston College, where he will MASSACHUSETTS continue studying music. In the mean - time, he is working on adapting the OCTOBER 13 — Book reading/signing with Mark Mustian, author priest and deacon’s chants of the Divine of the award-winning novel The Gendarme, at the Armenian Liturgy. Library and Museum of America, 65 Main St., Watertown on Thursday, at 8 p.m. The Gendarme has been published in eight lan - guages. Additional information is available at www.markmustian.com. Art Exhibition and OCTOBER 14-15 — St. James 2011 Annual Bazaar. Armenian food, delicacies and pastries, shish, chicken and losh kebab, kheyma and On October 13, Mark Mustian, author of the Concert at AUA’s eetch, boereg, manti, yalanchi, porov kufteh, tourshi, choereg, award-winning novel, The Gendarme, will give khadaif, bourma, baklava and more. Booths and vendors: Farmer’s a book reading/singing at the Armenian Market, Armenian items, Attic Treasures and more, $2 Raffle and Library and Museum of America, 65 Main St., Akian Art Gallery Super Raffle, $100 Raffle, featuring the new Kidzone. St. James Watertown, at 8 p.m. For more info, visit Armenian Church 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown. For more info or www.markmustian.com. AUA, from page 17 raffle tickets, e-mail [email protected] or call (617) 923-8860. Art in Armenia exhibitions in Yerevan, in NOVEMBER 11 — The Knights of Vartan Ararat Lodge Number 1 2010; A Book About Death exhibit at the annual ceremony at the Renaissance Waterfront Hotel on Long Firehouse Gallery in New York; the Black and Wharf, Boston, Friday. Guest speaker, Primate of Artsakh, White exhibit at the historic museum of Archbishop Pargev Martirossian. Reception, 7 p.m.; dinner, 8 p.m. the UN), 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Nisi Estiatorio, 90 Grand Ave., Florida in Uruguay and Me Among My Friends Man of the Year is Aurelian Mardiros, Community Leader Award to Englewood. RSVP by October 1. Donation, $40. Mail checks to AIWA Open Personalities exhibit at the MA Vrubel Registrar Rachel Kaprielian and the Faithful Knight Award to John NJ affiliate, 1 Manatauk Ave., Fort Lee, NJ 07024. For info, e-mail Museum in Omsk, Russia. Peterson. [email protected] or call Rose at (201) 941-9890. Vardanyan was born in 1987 in Gumri, OCTOBER 20 — The K. George and Carolann S. Najarian, MD OCTOBER 15 — The Armenian American Health Professional Armenia. From 2005 to 2010 he attended the Lecture on Human Rights. Endowed Public Program of Armenian Organization (AAHPO)’s 2011 Gala Banquet and Fundraiser “Help Gumri branch of Yerevan Institute of Fine Heritage Park. Faneuil Hall, Boston. 7 p.m. Keynote speaker, Paul Save Lives! Support the Continuing Medical Education of Doctors in Arts. During his years at the institute, he Rusesabagina, human rights activist; US Presidential Medal of Armenia” will take place on Saturday, October 15 at the Marriott founded the 15/3 Studio-Art Group. Freedom (2005); president and founder, The Hotel Rwanda Glenpointe, 100 Frank W. Burr Boulevard in Teaneck. Cocktails, 6:30 Vardanyan has exhibited at the Gumri Rusesabagina Foundation; author, An Ordinary Man, Penguin 2006. p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m. Donations are $150. To RSVP by mail, International Contemporary Art Biennial in The Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation was founded in 2006 include a list of names of the attendees along with a check made out 2007 and 2010. His other exhibitions include by Rusesabagina, the real life hero of the acclaimed film “Hotel to “AAHPO” and mail to AAHPO, PO Box 645, Far Hills, NJ 07931. participation in the international exhibit dedi - Rwanda.” Portrayed by Don Cheadle in the film, Rusesabagina saved RSVPs can also be submitted online at www.aahpo.org. cated to Mozart’s 250th anniversary in the lives of more than 1,200 people during the Rwandan genocide Vienna, Austria, in 2006; Art Irrespective of and has been honored internationally for his heroism. Charlie NEW YORK Methods exhibition in Gumri, in 2007; City Clements, executive director, Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Exhibition in Gumri, in 2007; Undercurrent Harvard Kennedy School of Government will introduce OCTOBER 12 — The Armenian Network of America — Greater NY Shifts in Yerevan, in 2008; City 2, also in 2008; Rusesabagina. Region, NY Armenian Students Association and The Zohrab Football Diplomacy, an interactive project OCTOBER 22 — Fall Harvest Bazaar, noon-8 p.m., First Armenian Center present an exclusive book reading and signing event. with 15/3 in 2009 and a solo exhibition in Church, 380 Concord Ave., Belmont. Great food, fun and the mar - Mark Mustian, The Gendarme, at the Zohrab Center, 630 Second Fresno, Calif., in 2008. ketplace. Lamb, beef, chicken and losh kebab dinners grilled fresh all Ave., New York City, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., cocktails; 7 p.m. book Pipoyan graduated from the Romanos day with pilaf and salad, enjoy in our Fellowship Hall or packed for reading/signing. RSVP Taleen Babayan (212) 686-0710 or e-mail Melikyan musical college. She writes both the home. Yalanchi, cheese boreg and falafel. Home made manti, kufte, [email protected]. Books will be available for purchase lyrics and music of the songs she performs. choreg, string cheese packaged for the freezer. Handmade pastries, (cash and checks only). Free and open to the public. Her repertory includes folk music, developed dried fruits, nuts. Marketplace includes books, children’s items, “attic for classical and national musical instruments, treasures” and more. Handicamp ramp and MBTA train and bus line. OCTOBER 28-30 — The annual symposium weekend of the which she accompanies with piano or guitar. For info, visit www.FACBelmont.org or (617) 484-4779. All welcome. Women’s Guild Central Council. At the St. Vartan Armenian Pipoyan has had performances in several NOVEMBER 17 — Party at the Other Park! Benefit for the Cathedral Complex and Diocesan Center, New York City. For infor - countries. Her three solo and two group Armenian Heritage Park Endowment. Fenway Park, Boston. mation, contact Rita Oscherician at (201) 398-0153 or margheri - albums have received several awards by the Advance reservations only. For details and reply form, visit [email protected]. Republic of Armenia and have won pan- www.ArmenianHeritagePark.net. OCTOBER 30 — Shushi Armenian Dance Ensemble of St. Vartan Armenian awards. FEBRUARY 11, 2012 — The Armenian Sisters’ Academy 30th Cathedral, New York City, presents Independence celebrating the Antonyan was born in Yerevan. Upon gradu - Anniversary Gala, Saturday, at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, 20th anniversary of Armenia’s “Independence.” Twentieth anniver - ating the Tchaikovsky Secondary School, he Boston. Additional details to follow. sary of Karabagh and 20th anniversary of the Shushi Armenian studied cello at the Yerevan State under the Dance Ensemble. 150 Performers. 5 p.m., Felician College, 262 Main renowned Medea Abrahamayan. Shortly after, NEW JERSEY St., Lodi. Donation: $100, $50, $40, $30 and $25. For tickets, call he was selected as laureate of the 1999 Marie (201) 745-8850, Sossy (201) 779-9007, Diocese (212) 686- “Virtuosi of the 21st century” international OCTOBER 15 — Armenian International Women’s Association 0710. Purchase tickets online at www.shushidance.org. contest in Moscow. He continued his studies at (AIWA) New Jersey affiliate is hosting Health and Wellness MAY 19, 2012 — HMADS Gala Dinner Dance. Details to follow, June the Ino Mirkovitch Academy of Music in Luncheon honoring Mary Toumanjian (AIWA NGO representative in 25. HMADS 30th Commencement Exercise at 8 p.m., Kalustyan Hall. Croatia, under Kiril Rodin. Upon his return, he was employed by the Armenian State Chamber orchestra while doing post-graduate studies at the Yerevan State Conservatory. He has earned accolades at several international contests. Orchestra, Armenakob Studio and Opera- has performed at the National Museum of 2007. She has worked in the jazz orchestra of Garukyan was born in Vanadzor. She stud - Studio of the State Conservatory, 2000-2004. Armenia during the Museum Nights, and at the State Radio and Television of Armenia as ied violin at the Yerevan College of Music after In 2005, Manan founded the New Quartet the Vardges Surenyanc-150 event. She has flutist, and at Yerevan State Conservatory as Romanos Melikyan, 1986-1991 and at the group, where she also performs. She has given first performed with Pipoyan in December an accompanist. She has performed in several Yerevan State Conservatory, 1991-1996. benefit concerts in Montreal and Toronto, 2010 at the Cafesjian Art Center and contin - jazz festivals in Armenia and abroad. Manan has performed with the Armenian Canada and has performed in Artsakh, France, ues to do so on special occasions. Manoukian is the winner of the Amadeus con - Philharmonic Orchestra, 1991-2002 and sub - US and Armenia, including a solo performance Manoukian studied flute and piano at the test and actively performs in various jazz sequently with the Youth Chamber Orchestra at the Embassy of France in Armenia in 2009. Yerevan State Conservatory and earned her ensembles and has been featured in several of Armenia, Renaissance (Veradznund) As the violinist of her New Quartet Group, she baccalaureate degree 2004 and doctorate in recordings of leading musicians of Armenia. 18 S ATURDAY , O CTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

T HE A RMENIAN COMMENTARY Mirror- Turkey — The Regional Bully

Angry rhetoric was also exchanged across the border with Spectator By Edmond Y. Azadian Greece, which was asked to provide a military base to Israel after tensions escalated with Turkey. Ankara also frowned upon Azerbaijan over the warming of its relations with Israel, which is Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu took his office providing unmanned drones and military hardware to with a self-styled peace offensive to give a human face to his Azerbaijan. One of those drones was only recently shot down in country’s battered foreign policy. His goal was double-pronged: Karabagh. Established 1932 zero problems with neighbors and spreading new Ottomanism to Israel makes a point with the world community that its secu - An ADL Publication increase Ankara’s hegemony over nations formerly enslaved by rity is compromised by rockets launched from the Gaza Strip. the Ottoman Sultans. The two goals were inherently incongru - One must place the carcass of the Azeri drone next to those rock - ous because peaceful relations with neighbors required respect ets, reminding the world that Armenia is equally entitled to towards their sovereignty, which Ankara’s policymakers did not secure its borders against drone attacks. EDITOR Alin K. Gregorian seem to care about. The Turkish onslaught on its neighbors is mostly derived by For those analysts studying Turkish foreign policy, its domestic policy. It is in the interest of the government to keep ASSOCIATE EDITOR Davutoglu’s policy was a force to reckon with. But it enjoyed the its borders under tension, to silence internal dissent. Aram Arkun acquiescence and the encouragement of the major powers, Ergenekon arrests have made the Turkish military restive. On because as Turkey began to implement its newfound policy, it ART DIRECTOR the other hand, the Kurdish self-determination struggle is con - Marc Mgrditchian was mindful to pay its dues to those powers. It did not take too tinuing relentlessly to warrant vigilance. long to divulge the farcical nature of that policy, as Turkey adopt - Turkey is getting away with murder, because, despite its vitri - PRODUCTION ed a hostile posture against its neighbors. olic exchanges with Israel, basically it is serving that country’s Dilani Yogaratnam Ankara’s arrogance is nurtured by its economic boom, just as long-term interests, by helping to dismantle all the hostile Arab the rest of the world — including its neighbor, Greece — is in regimes. Ankara has also agreed to install NATO rocket defense alarming crisis. Russia and the Arab world are tributaries feed - system in Malatia, supposedly to protect Europe from potential CONTRIBUTORS: ing Turkey’s economic recovery. Iranian rockets, but actually the move is directed at Russia, by Elizabeth Aprahamian, Daphne Abeel, Dr. The irony of Turkish history is that countries which have resurrected Cold Warriors, because Russia has a military base Haroutiune Arzoumanian, Edmond armed Turkey and boosted its economy eventually become next door in Armenia. Even if the installation is limited to Iran, Azadian, Prof. Vahakn N. Dadrian, Diana dependent on Turkey, which, in turn, becomes the necessary evil that still compounds Ankara’s hostility towards the Damascus- Der Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, in formulating their policy and projecting their power in the Tehran axis. Kevork Keushkerian, Sonia Kailian- region. Turkey boasts the second largest standing army in NATO, Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s diatribes against Israel are at best lip Placido , H arut Sassounian, Mary Terzian, after the US. Therefore, the Turkish leaders believe they are enti - service designed to appease the credulous Arab street, so as to Hagop Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian, tled to a policing role in the region. gain more lucrative contracts in Muslim countries. Taleen Babayan Ankara ruined its relations with almost all neighboring coun - A few words about the Arab spring or Arab awakening, which is tries, while paying lip service to the idea of reducing its problems nothing more but an Arab nightmare. Egypt for one, supposedly CORRESPONDENTS: with them to zero. Let’s take a look at some of those “neigh - overthrew the dictatorship to bring anarchy, instability and a rise Armenia - Hagop Avedikian borly” relations. of Muslim fundamentalism. The same is prescribed to the other Boston - Nancy Kalajian To begin with, it shelved the much-heralded protocols with countries. Regimes which have been hostile to Israel at any given Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian Armenia. However, recently it placed the issue again on the back time are targets of this “awakening.” Iraq was the first one on the Contributing Photographers: burner of the parliamentary agenda to signal a gleam of hope to list and now Israel has set up shop in Northern Iraq. Although Jacob Demirdjian, Harry Koundakjian, Jirair US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, the architect of the proto - Muammar Qaddafi gave up all his nuclear and biological warfare Hovsepian col policy. ambitions, he was not forgiven because at one time he demon - Relations with the legitimate government of Cyprus were strated hostility toward Israel. Now the overthrow of another sov - The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published already at a freezing point and Turkey not only refused to move ereign nation, Syria, is on the agenda, through US muscle, and this weekly, except two weeks in July, by: in a positive direction, but it also threatened to send its warship time with Turkish cooperation, while Yemen is looming in the Baikar Association, Inc. to Cyprus to block the exploration of oil and gas on the conti - background, another hotbed for Arab nationalism! 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 nental shelf off that country. The matter was further complicat - Ankara’s bullying policy towards its neighbors was wrapped up Telephone: 617-924-4420 ed by the involvement of the American oil company, Noble, and in Erdgoan’s speech at the UN. He again paid lip service to the FAX: 617-924-2887 Israeli participation in the exploration. But the bluff did not last Palestinian cause, but the centerpiece of his discussions with www.mir rorspectator.com long, since Ankara blinked first. President Barack Obama, while also supposed to be the E-Mail: editor@mirrorspectator .com Ankara had already strained relations with Tel Aviv, over the Palestinian statehood, was switched by him that of fighting PKK For advertising: [email protected] Mavi Marmara incident, for which Turks demanded a public apol - “terrorism.” The US president agreed, after telling him bluntly ogy and which it did not get. that US was to veto Mr. Abbas’s bid for Palestinian statehood at Not too long ago, Syria had become one of the major trading the UN Security Council and the only way to attain that state - partners of Turkey, with whom the visa regime was eliminated hood was through negotiations with Israel. That way Erdogan SUBSCRIPTION RATES : with great fanfare. Ankara reversed its policy and hosted a Syrian did not compromise Turkey’s bid to be elected to the Security U.S.A. government in exile, which angered Damascus to such a degree Council membership in the future. 2nd Class $75 a year that it placed a ban on Turkish imports. At one point, Turkey Armenians have been patting each others on the back that the 1st Class $120 a year announced that it was prepared to send its troops to Northern football diplomacy drove Ankara into a corner and that the ball Canada Air Mail $125 a year Syria (Der Zor included) to “protect” minorities, among them is Ankara’s court. That ball might wait at that court for a long Armenians. time, since Turkey has still a lot of bullying to do with its neigh - All Other Countries Today, Turkey is meddling in Syria’s internal affairs to desta - bors, with the open encouragement, duplicity and hypocrisy of Air Mail $190 a year bilize that country. the major world powers. Display advertising r at e: $7 per column inch

© 2010 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA and additional mailing offices. Analysis: Putin’s Election as President Will ISSN 0004-234X POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, P.O. Box 302, Change Armenia’s Foreign-Policy Trends Watertown, MA 02471-0302 Other than the editorial, views and opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily and the French, even despite more than patent know, President Putin has had a more prag - reflect the policies of the publisher. By Naira Hayrumyan assurances that Armenia remains a member of matic approach to the problems of the region the Collective Security Treaty Organization than Medvedev,” said Minasyan. and within the former military and political The analyst stressed that in this case the The domestic political intrigue in Russia has relations with Russia. It is alleged that recent - pressure on the parties to the Karabagh con - Copying for other than personal use or ended as it became known that the candidate ly the Russian leadership received information flict in terms of preventing a new war will con - internal reference is prohibited without of the ruling Yedinaya Rossia (United Russia) from their intelligence services that Armenia tinue to grow, and generally, Russia will try to express permission of the copyright party for the presidency in 2012 will be cur - has entered into more binding relationship freeze the process. owner. Address requests for reprints or rent Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and cur - with the United States and NATO,” says In his turn, member of the Russian Academy back issues to: rent President Dmitry Medvedev is ready to Armenian political scientist Igor Muradyan. of Sciences Alexander Skakov believes that “in Baikar Association, Inc. work in the government. Under the presidency of Putin, Russia will reality it does not matter whether Medvedev or 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 This announcement made on Saturday has toughen its policy in the South Caucasus. anyone else be president, to make progress in become an occasion for expert opinions that Such an opinion in an interview with REG - resolving the Karabagh conflict was impossible Russia will strengthen its policy in the South NUM news agency was expressed by another per se.” Caucasus, including in its relations with Armenian political analyst, deputy director of “The return of the ‘helm’ of Russia into the Check us out at Armenia. the Caucasus Institute in Yerevan, Sergey hands of Vladimir Putin is taking place against “The Russians have started to blackmail Minasyan. “Under Putin, Russia will maintain the background of a massive and very danger - mirrorspectator.com Armenia over the apparent rapprochement of a more assertive policy in the South Caucasus, ous asymmetry in international processes and the Armenian leadership with the Americans and it will meet the interests of Armenia. As we see ANALYSIS, page 19 S ATURDAY , O CTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 19 COMMENTARY

present key excerpts from his prepared remarks: Armenian Genocide. At the same time, thank heaven I have “Denials of genocide are very unfair, unjust and ugly. been able to say now for many years that we have won the They are also extremely dangerous not only to the victim battle for recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Israeli people, but to our human civilization. Denials of genocide culture, our media, and in our public. When a few years ago are disgusting attempts to humiliate the victim people once a delegation of four of us — Prof. Yair Auron, Prof. Yehuda My Turn more, and hurtful reopening of wounds of stigmatizing and Bauer, former Minister Yossi Sarid and myself — came to lay persecuting the victim people once again. wreaths at the Armenian Genocide Memorial [in Yerevan], By Harut Sassounian “Moreover, denials of genocide are also loud and clear we indeed represented our larger Israeli society. affirmations of the legitimacy of violence; they are retroac - “At this very writing we have been informed that the tive justifications of the specific violent killing that was Knesset will hold a major hearing on recognition of the Dr. Charny Deserves Much done in the genocide; and they are warnings and calls for Armenian Genocide. The overall Knesset has already voted Credit Should Israel Recognize renewal of violence — whether towards the same victim — now for the third time in Israeli history — to hold hear - people or to other peoples. In fact, it has become clear that ings on possible recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian Genocide denials of genocide often are messages from the deniers Each of these votes has represented some progress towards that they are already engaged in or preparing to be violent our goal. In the Israeli system a proposal then has to be Armenians have good reason to be offended by the once again. reviewed and decided by a major committee of the Knesset. Israeli government’s failure to acknowledge the Armenian “It is not at all by chance that [Turkish prime minister] Politics are not simple, as you know, and our opponents Genocide. It is unconscionable that some victims of the Erdogan in the last year twice has threatened to expel have succeeded in the past in defeating the recognition at Holocaust can be so insensitive about those who have suf - 100,000 Armenians from Turkey; and it is not at all by this level. fered a similar fate. Israel’s callous denial has been moti - chance that Erdogan’s Turkey — a regime that is bizarrely “This time the proposal will go to the Committee on vated by its unethical desire to appease Turkey — its devoted to denials of the Armenian Genocide — continues Education where, unlike proceedings in the Committee on “strategic ally.” to be violent towards the Kurdish people who have suffered Foreign Affairs and Security where a proposal even can be Dr. Israel Charny, like so many Israeli citizens, vehe - thousands of destroyed villages, tens of thousands of dead, buried without any discussion at all and no one knows mently opposes his government’s shameful stand on the and who are frequently not allowed by the Turkish gov - what happened, discussion and voting in the Education Armenian Genocide. He is the longtime director of the ernment to use their language or celebrate their culture. Committee will be publicly known to us. My closest col - Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide in Jerusalem and “Israel has been attempting to have a good relationship leagues and I have not been too hopeful of success, but former president of the International Association of with Turkey very much at the expense of the truth of the now there is more possibility of success than we previous - Genocide Scholars. On numerous occasions, Dr. Charny Armenian Genocide. I am convinced this policy has been ly estimated. In truth, the possibility of recognition is has taken a strong stand against Israeli officials, rebuking deeply wrong. Of course, I do not believe that nations — greater now that Turkey has shown its vicious side to them for their deplorable position on the Armenian especially small ones — can afford not to evaluate political Israel, and there are many of us who will be ashamed if we Genocide. realities and security risks, but I think that in the long run now achieve recognition for this reason rather than on the Earlier this year, the president of Armenia awarded Dr. there must be limits to the extent of realpolitik and that basis of a real correction of Israel’s error all these years.” Charny a presidential medal and a $10,000 prize for his life - denials of the history of a genocide are beyond the limit As Israeli journalist Raphael Ahren accurately pointed long efforts to champion recognition of the Armenian that should be acceptable. out in a recent Ha’aretz article: “If Israel recognizes the Genocide. “I cannot take leave without a further reference to the Turkish genocide of over 1 million Armenians in the near Since Charny did not have the opportunity to make a State of Israel’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide. future, it may be largely due to the decades long efforts of speech during the award ceremony in Yerevan, I wish to Israel has been entirely wrong in not recognizing the American-born scholar Israel Charny.”

Putin’s Election as THE ALL ARMENIAN CARTHOLICOS OF BLESSED MEMORY President Will community. During those years, under bombing national Christian consciousness of the popula - Change Armenia’s By Ashot Vavyan attacks, many implementations were made in the tion, established promotional and educational religious, national, educational, cultural and con - institutions, prepared young clerics, formed the Foreign-Policy structional spheres of the community. In the organizational structure of the Holy See, opened Trends The prophets are persons sent by God, trans - communities everywhere he found warm recep - Church Dioceses, reconstructed and built dozens mitting His words, called to certain mission by tion. He was enjoying a great reputation, sympa - of churches, published numerous books, pre - ANALYSIS, from page 18 the Almighty. They are the men of future, whose thy and respect also among the religious and sented the ambitious program for the 1700th the crisis of a global economic sys - words and actions are not accessible for the sur - political figures of other nations, which was very anniversary of Christianity, shepherded entrust - tem. And the task for today is to rounding, and for understanding them certain beneficial for the church and the nation. As a ed worldwide flock … . Thanks to the years last - ensure a new ‘Putin dynamics’ in the period of time is needed. This is the reason for famous figure of the ecumenical and interreli - ing efforts of the well known ecumenical figure Russian foreign policy, to clearly des - which they are not perceived in their own sur - gious movement, his exhortation to his people and his theological, scientific valuable works in ignate its accents,” says REGNUM rounding, and even are subjected to persecu - was to “keep pace with the world without going the whole family of the world Christian Churches news agency deputy chief editor in tions. “A Prophet is without honor only in his astray from our road.” was recognized the apostolic origin and nature charge of international information hometown, among his relatives, and in his own His Holiness was a man of faith, idea and of the Armenian Church. The isolating disagree - Vigen Hakobyan. home,” says Jesus in the Gospel . action, he never sought to obtain an office or a ments were resolved, the authority of our Earlier, Armenian experts, dis - In the opinion of the Italian writer, historian special position. Eventually he was nominated Church and it’s people increased significantly. cussing the parallels between the and scholar Giovanni Guaita, His Holiness for the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Many undertakings of Vehapar directed towards internal politics of Armenia and Karekin I is a person playing a prophetic role in and then as Karekin II as Catholicos of All those goals faced the resistance of local clergy Russia, put forward the hypothesis the contemporary history and in the history of Armenians. But there was much to be done, and with limited burial-ritual outlook, though such that the presidential nomination of the Armenian Church. The words of praise about unfinished works were left, too. Vehapar was will later enjoy the already built bridges. Putin in Russia will not only change Vehapar were not so abundant in his homeland, assured that the people of Armenia needed him The abilities of the great intellectual were God- the influence of Russia on foreign while his merit was greatly appreciated abroad. and were waiting for him. But Vehapar’s coming given, the speech pronounced by the great ora - policy trends in Armenia, but will also The greatness of the Catholicos of all Armenians to Armenia was the Lord’s project, which was tor in different languages was inspiring even for increase the chances of ex-president was noticed by the “poetess of all Armenians,” testified in the Mother Cathedral in the sermon the leading figures of churches and countries. Robert Kocharian. The minister of Silva Kaputikian, who mourned thus when he devoted to the 10th anniversary of his passing, The Ecumenical Patriarch of the Greek foreign affairs of the Kocharian presi - left us. “It’s a great pity that the 131st Catholicos when His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Orthodox Church would consider fortunate the dency era Vartan Oskanian recently left us so early, and so tragically was interrupted Barsamian, as if under the Heaven’s influence, nation who has a son like him. It was a luck to hinted that the ex-president can take his speech, that sounded so beautifully upon his said: “In historically hard times His Holiness be his interlocutor, who was the author of these part in the parliamentary elections lips demonstrating the most valuable abilities of answered to the God’s call, came to shepherd his words: “Think for a while, that your uttered slated for string 2012. To this testify the Armenian mind and language. Fortunately, flock, he came to serve his people as a Patriarch words will be like a thing, that will return to you also the more frequent interviews of his deeds remained beneficial for the nation — of All Armenians. The yoke was heavy, but with the joy of happiness caused to another.” Kocharian, in which he criticizes the numerous and various works which are written remembering Moses’s commandment to Jshua, The mind was so mighty, that his mother current economic policies, arguing testimonies of his extraordinary talent and his telling him, “be courageous, because the Spirit of tongue was not enough to verbalize them and that during his time as president an Armenian soul. They have much to do in this God is with you,” he came to be a Brave new words were born on spot. It’s noteworthy to unprecedented growth and prosperi - money-worshiping and demoralizing times.” Shepherd. Inspired by the Holy Spirit he contin - mention the existence of the dictionary compris - ty for the country were ensured. Son of Hagop and Ovsanna Sarkissian, the ued to guide his flock and lead to the Source of ing nearly 1,700 words which enriched the In this connection interesting is Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin I, of Blessed the Light.” Armenian language. To the incredible intellectu - the current tour of President Serge Memory, was born in the Syrian town of Kessab, It was not easy for Vehapar to act among the al potential of Vehapar was added the surprising Sargisian over the Western countries populated by Armenians. He studied theology in people who were Christian only outwardly, industriousness, power of faith, love toward — the United States, France and Oxford, where he defended in English his where still the Soviet atheism dominated, where nation and humanity, his sacred mode of life and Poland. Experts already hint that famous graduation thesis, “The Council of almost the whole society took into account the inimitable kindness. Sargisian is apparently looking to the Chalcedon and the Armenian Church.” As the unwritten norms of the “goghakan (stealth) ide - It’s obvious the involvement of Armenians in West for support in the future elec - dean of Antelias Seminary, as the Prelate of ology.” He had to feel, that only a few of the peo - spreading Christianity, i.e. the key to the happi - tions. And the fact that in the United Iranian-Indian or Eastern Prelacy of the North ple meeting him were frank and that everybody ness of humanity: the first Christian state, lasting States he was awarded a prestigious America, everywhere under his leadership was sought only personal interests. And with pain he presence in Jerusalem, the Armenian Kingdom of medal, of the Ellis Island, for his con - recorded success in the national-ecclesiastical would confess, that “it is much easier to build Cilicia, centuries of participation in the reign of tribution to the development of US- life. Thanks to his efforts, the Catholicosate where nothing exists, rather than to restore an Byzantium... . God has chosen our nation just for Armenian relations, was regarded by became a member of the World Council of atrophied heritage, such as Armenia.” the mission of spreading and conservation of this Armenian newspapers as a sign of Churches, where he took leading positions. But despite these unfavorable conditions Abrahamic religion and Vehapar was exhorting such support. His time coincided with some of the most dif - Vehapar managed to carry the cross which, in to continue that mission. “The church is called ficult times for the Great House of Cilicia, name - his own words, had become heavier and did apostolic not only for the works done by Apostles (Naira Hayrumyan is a correspon - ly the Lebanese civil war, but Vehapar , with is much work in the short period of his being a Thaddeus and Bartholomew: the spirit of dent for ArmeniaNow.) wisdom, managed to safeguard the Armenian Catholicos: he undertook the formation of see TRIBUTE, page 20 20 S ATURDAY , O CTOBER 8, 2011 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Tekeyan Centre Fund Armenia Celebrates 20 Years

TCA, from page 1 ceremony. In his speech, Ouzounian warmly Tekeyan Trust (LTT) made a decision to estab - congratulated all those present on the great lish a cultural centre in the Motherland and to occasion and expressed his deepest gratitude to contribute to the preservation of the national all the benefactors and supporters both from identity. To overcome the obstacles and to suc - Armenia and the diaspora who had contributed ceed, LTT initiated an unprecedented fundrais - to the establishment of the fund. The chair ing campaign involving Tekeyan Cultural described the history of the fund and its great Association of United States and Canada, achievements along with the difficulties. Now Tekeyan devotees, Garo Krikorian, Haigashen the fund successfully accomplishes purposes Ouzounian, Vartan Ouzounian, Angele set forth in its statute. For two years it has been Tovmassian, Edmond Azadian and many others patronizing five Vahan Tekeyan Schools in significantly contributed to this patriotic initia - Armenia and Artsakh making strong Tekeyan tive both morally and financially. In 1997 the family ties. Due to its educational, cultural, official opening of Tekeyan Centre took place. sports and various other projects, the Fund In 2001 Tekeyan Centre LLC was renamed the turns the dull routine of students into inspira - Tekeyan Centre Fund. tion and excitement and provokes them to On the occasion of its 20th anniversary achieve better results at school. Ouzounian also Tekeyan Centre hosted Armenians from various spoke about the further projects of the Fund corners of the world. It was heartening to see the amongst which are “The Diaspora Archives assemblage of Tekeyan devotees gathered at Library” in cooperation with the Ministry of Tekeyan Centre in the Motherland to share the Diaspora of and “Tekeyan Park,” with the help common happiness and to pay tribute to the indi - of Yerevan Municipality. viduals whose great efforts, today, in the heart of Then Edmond Azadian, vice president of Yerevan, made it possible for Tekeyan members to Central Board of USA/Canada, was invited to enjoy the hospitality of the cultural centre. the podium to present his congratulatory The chorus from the Vahan Tekeyan School in Garpi The guests were greeted at Tekeyan Centre remarks. Azadian characterized Tekeyan Centre with classical music of Arno Babajanian per - as the symbol of unity and preservation of formed by the Estrada-Symphony Orchestra of national heritage. Azadian retraced the early group and Arevner youth ensemble as well as Armenians and Bishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, the Public Radio of Armenia conducted by com - actions of TCA USA/Canada for the benefits of talented Tekeyan schoolchildren from Karbi, the head of Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin poser Yervand Yerznkatsyan. The event was Tekeyan Centre and praised Vartan Yerevan, Stepanavan and Berdzor made a great Publishing Center, received the Tekeyan dele - opened by Bishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, the Ouzounian’s services to the Fund. impression on the audience. Sargis Najaryan gation. At the meeting they underlined the head of Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin Among the people who spoke at the official recited some poetry by Vahan Tekeyan, Avetik importance of Tekeyan Centre and Tekeyan Publishing Centre who offered the invocation ceremony of the 20th anniversary were also gov - Isahakian, Hamo Sahian and Panos members in preserving and promoting the and congratulatory message. ernment officials, Gegham Gharibjanyan and Terlemezyin. Armenian culture, education and science. They Vartan Ouzounian, the chair of Tekeyan Vazgen Manukyan, as well as Papken Megerian, The celebration of the 20th anniversary of also highly appreciated the efforts of Tekeyan Centre Fund and the Honorary Secretary of member of Tekeyan USA and Canada, the Tekeyan Centre continued on the following day, devotees aimed at strengthening the Armenia- London Tekeyan Trust, continued the official Director of Tekeyan Centre Fund Armen September 11. A group of Diaspora Armenians Diaspora bridge. On the same evening an offi - Tsulikyan and Sylva Krikorian, the chairperson including the Trustees of Tekeyan Centre Fund cial banquet was held at Tekeyan Centre; it com - of London Tekeyan Trust, member of Board of left for Yeghegnadzor to take part in the conse - pleted the series of events taking place on the Trustees of TCF and the daughter of Sevan and cration of the Holy Cross Church. Karekin II, occasion of the 20th anniversary of Tekeyan THE ALL ARMENIAN Garo Krikorian. Sylva Krikorian detailed the idea Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Centre. of Tekeyan Centre, which was too hard to realize. CARTHOLICOS OF And it became possible due to the efforts of one BLESSED MEMORY person — Vartan Ouzounian, who took the responsibility for the construction of Tekeyan TRIBUTE, from page 19 Centre. He sacrificed his health, his time and The Armenian Apostles must live inside ourselves and family to complete the project successfully. For we must demonstrate it today,” he taught. many years acting as the fund’s chairman, The man name Nishan Sarkissian at Ouzounian has been keeping the activity of the birth, entered Armenia at such a difficult fund under his everyday control and serving for time, that the scars of it are still there. By its prosperity. On behalf of LTT and TCA, Sylva Mirro r-Spe ctator coincidence, this period marks the turn - Krikorian thanked the fund’s chairman and ing point: the country discerns business other supporters for their kind deeds. and liveliness, emerges hope, and were In appreciation for their long services and YES, I would like a 1 – year subscription to The Armenian Mirror-Spectator. moments when some thought that the commitments to the Armenian Community and ground has appeared for sowing God’s for strengthening ties between the Motherland USA /Second Class Mail $75.00 CANADA /Air Mail $125.00 justice and law. But alas, the health of and the diaspora, Gegham Gharibjanyan, the USA /First Class Mail $120.00 Vehapar became worse. head of staff of Republic of Armenia National Incomprehensible are the Lord’s deeds: Assembly, Vazgen Manukyan, the head of the J THE SUBSCRIPTION IS FOR ME why He took away His Holiness from us Public Committee of Republic of Armenia, NAME so soon. Maybe Vehapar had already car - Vartan Ouzounian, the Chairman of Tekeyan ADDRESS ried out God’s project, leaving his influ - Centre Fund and Azadian received letters of CITY STATE ZIP ence, his thoughts of great potential, his commendation and medals of Tekeyan Centre lines, though clearly written, but time is Fund. required for decoding them. And still the The official part of the event was followed by J THE SUBSCRIPTION IS A GIFT FOR: followers must come to build the a cultural program. The entertainment portion NAME Armenian House on the unshakeable of the program was provided by Leyla foundation laid by Vehapar . Saribekian and Arsen Grigorian. The Karin folk ADDRESS His Holiness’s farewell to this world CITY STATE ZIP was also characteristic of those of prophets: the torments were hard, but he Please make check payable to: The Armenian Mirror-Spectator and mail to: bore them with the steadfastness of 755 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472-1509 Christ: “The deceased Vehapar was a per - sonality of an extraordinary will. While All payments must be drawn on US banks others suffering with his disease are in bad mood and are often subject to psy - chic collapse, during his stay in New York Catholics Karekin was never depressed and never lost his mental peace, even when he was in terrible pains. Before his SUB SCRIBE second surgery every day he was coming to the Prelacy where he stayed for hours and with the pain inside he was having appointments with Armenian or foreign important figures, was writing kondaks (orders) and letters or was busy with lit - erary activity. The same was doing in his apartment trying to overcome his pains, relying on his pen,” says the archbishop who was with Vehapar in those last days. Entertainment Fridays August 27 was the birthday of His and Saturdays Holiness. And next year will mark the TODAY! 80th anniversary of the birth of this Great Armenian.