MARCH 2, 2013 MirTHErARoMENr IAN -Spe ctator Volume LXXXIII, NO. 33, Issue 4278 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 Armenians Escape Sargisian Certified Injury in Blast DAMASCUS (Armenpress) — A bomb fell near Saint As Winner of Rita Church located near the Homenmen Hunchakyan club in the Damascus Bab Tuma Presidential Vote Christian district on February 24. A number of Armenians were gathered for a local woman’s Protests Continue Led by funeral, but the incident reportedly left no one harmed and the church unscathed. Raffi Hovannisian The bomb blast was the result of recent clashes held in Abbasin Square and adjacent districts dur - YEREVAN (Combined Sources) — ing the night. The situation had allegedly calmed by Armenia’s Central Election Commission the morning of February 26. has officially certified President Serge According to United Nations data, more than Sargisian as the winner of the February 18 70,000 people were killed during 23 months of presidential election. ongoing clashes, with at least four-dozen Armenian The commission announced the official casualties. election results on February 25. Protestors in Yerevan It said Sargisian was reelected with 58.6 percent of the vote, while former Foreign Man Kidnapped in Minister Raffi Hovannisian came in second “Moving forward, I hope, that Armenia negotiated settlement of Nagorno- with nearly 37 percent. will continue to increase transparency, Karabagh conflict, and I ask you to contin - Aleppo Released US Secretary of State John Kerry con - encourage pluralism and active participa - ue to give your full support to the co-chairs YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Nerses Aghaian, who gratulated Sargisian on the occasion of re- tion of citizens in governance and reforms, of Minsk Group. We cannot be satisfied was kidnapped in one of Aleppo’s suburbs last election. “I congratulate you on the occa - as well as resolve other issues raised by with maintenance of the status quo. We week, has been released after paying the ransom sion of re-election. February 18 presidential OSCE,” Kerry said. should find the moment to ensure visible demanded. Aghaian, 60, had been kidnapped in an elections are an addition to the base of He added that he hoped the US and support in peace process. I look forward to Aleppo suburb on February 20. 2012 parliamentary elections and I am glad Armenia would cooperate in order to pro - working with you, as well as with Armenian Jirair Reisian, spokesman of the Berio Diocese, that press and media ensured balanced cov - mote democratic and economic reforms. nation in order to strengthen bilateral ties said the situation appears calm. erage of campaign,” Kerry said. “I remain committed to support your and historical friendship,” Kerry said. Kerry noted that he agrees with prelimi - country, in order to find the peaceful and see VOTE, page 2 nary conclusions of OSCE/ODIHR obser - ANC Australia vation mission, that in general elections were well-organized, with protection of fun - Condemns Genocide damental freedoms. He also noted that Benefit Concert for Syrian there is still some work to be done. ‘U-Turn’ Armenians Planned in Boston SYDNEY, Australia — The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC) condemned Foreign LEXINGTON, Mass. — In response to the plight and predicament of the Syrian Minister Bob Carr for his recent reversed position Artsakh Celebrates 25th Armenian communities, the Greater Boston Armenian Community has organized a on the Armenian Genocide. In his remarks at the benefit concert to provide much needed humanitarian assistance. Lowy Institute Carr called the Armenian Genocide Anniversary of National Titled “The Benefit Concert for the Syrian Armenian’s Relief Fund,” and featur - a ‘‘historical dispute’’ and stated that the Liberation Movement ing many renowned artists and local cultural organizations, the event will be held Australian government ‘‘will not take a stand on it.” on Saturday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the National Heritage Museum of, 33 Marrett Australian Armenians have expressed their dis - STEPANAKERT (PanARMENIAN.Net Road. appointment at Carr’s “u-turn position” on the and Armenpress) — President of the Tenor Yeghishe Manucharyan and his wife, mezzo-soprano Victoria Avetisyan, will Armenian Genocide. In 1997, Carr became a cham - Nagorno Karabagh (Artsakh) Republic perform, joining soprano Knarik Nerkararyan, violinist Levon Chilingirian and pion and leader of the Armenian cause, culminat - Bako Sahakyan issued an address on the pianists Lilit Karapetian-Shougarian and Zaven Parsamian. Hamazkayin’s Erebouni ing in a successful motion in the Parliament of New 25th anniversary of the National Liberation Dance Ensemble, Sayat Nova Dance Company, Abaka School of Music’s dance South Wales. That motion called on the federal gov - Movement on February 20. group, Zangakner Performing Arts Ensemble, as well as the Arev Armenian ernment of Australia to follow his lead to recognize “Twenty five years ago this day proved to Ensemble will also perform. the Armenian Genocide. be pivotal for Artsakh and the whole All proceeds of the concert will be donated to the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund. ‘‘In this country we never forget what happened Armenian people. The entire nation stood Tickets for this event are $75 and $35. Seating is limited and early reservation is to the Armenians between 1915-1923. Let us with a peaceful and legitimate demand in strongly recommended by writing to [email protected]. honor the victims of the Armenian Genocide,” Carr line with the fundamental norms and prin - The Syrian Armenian Relief Fund is a national initiative with the mission to pro - had said. ciples of international law to restore histor - vide immediate assistance to the Syrian Armenians. According to the United The group has sent a letter to Carr asking him to ical justice, defend our violated dignity, Nations, more than 4 million people inside Syria are in desperate need of aid. Some return to his “moral convictions” on the Genocide. rights and liberties,” Sahakyan said. 2.5 million have been displaced by the civil war but remain in Syria while 70,000 ‘‘Now as foreign minister, with the ability to see “Our nation’s struggle against foreign have lost their lives. About 850,000 are believed to have fled the country, including through the objective of that motion, you have yoke, nearly seven decades of persistent vio - an estimated 15,000 Armenians. Armenian communities and businesses have been seemingly decided that this issue is too difficult for lence and oppression was at the very basis severely affected: churches and more than 150 private residences have experienced you to pursue. You have not only decided that the of the 1988 Movement. Despite all of that, either direct or indirect damage during the fighting. government doesn’t want to ‘take a stand’ on the the national liberation outburst did not More information is available at www.SyrianArmenianReliefFund.org. issue, but you have also joined the disgraced line of see ARTSAKH, page 16 Armenian Genocide denialists by referring to the events as a ‘historic dispute,’” the letter stated. A Cathedral on the INSI DE Verge of Collapse: The Campaign to Save Mren An Interview with Exile and Dr. Christina Maranci Memory By Lucine Kasbarian Page 10

MEDFORD, Mass. — Dr. Christina Maranci, Arthur H. Dadian and Ara T. Oztemel Associate Professor of Armenian INDEX Art and Architecture at Tufts University, has Arts and Living ...... 10 issued a call to save the seventh-century Armenia ...... 2 Mren Cathedral of Western Armenia, locat - Community News...... 4 Editorial ...... 13 The cathedral of Mren ed in the Kars region of present-day Turkey. International ...... 3 see MREN, page 16 2 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 2, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Hovannisian Becomes Latest Runner-

New Indian Ambassador Up to Dispute Election Outcome To Armenia Appointed silent on this statement. Though, the where the political parties at the helm RPA itself admits that there were irreg - of the state have always opted for YEREVAN (Armenpress) — India appointed Suresh By Naira Hayrumyan ularities in the ballot, but “they did not reshaping laws to fit their needs, and no Babu as the ambassador to Armenia on February affect the course and the outcome of code of honor has been formed within 26. YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — Almost the election.” more than two decades of formal President Serge Sargisian congratulated the all presidential elections in the history When an athlete is caught using per - democracy in Armenia. newly ambassador on his appointment and stated of independent Armenia were followed formance-enhancing drugs and other The maverick presidential candidate, that he is confident that the Armenian-Indian rela- by protests, with the second-placed can - stimulants he or she gets banned from Andreas Ghukasyan, who was on a tions will continue to develop. didate disputing the official outcome the race and is usually stripped of all month-long hunger strike throughout Both Babu and Sargisian, spoke to the impor- and claiming massive fraud in favor of the election campaign, tance of amicable relations between the two coun- the government candidate. The 2013 demanded from the tries and the twenty years of cooperation they have election is no exception in this sense. very beginning that the already experienced. Heritage Party leader Raffi RPA, which nominated Hovannisian, who garnered nearly 37 President Sargisian as a Olympic Wrestler to Go percent of the vote, insists that a con - candidate in the race, siderable number of votes have been be disqualified, arguing On Hunger Strike stolen from him and that in fact he is that this party’s partici - the rightful winner and not the incum - pation by itself implied YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Olympic wrestling cham- bent president, Serge Sargisian, whose unfair elections. Before pion Armen Nazaryan says he will go on hunger official result is put above 58 percent. calling for the disquali - strike if wrestling is removed from the Olympics. Thousands of people showing up for fication of Sargisian as Levon Julfalakyan, coach of the national post-election rallies in Yerevan agree an RPA candidate, wrestling team, noted in an interview, Nazaryan with Hovannisian, as many people did Ghukasyan first sug - told he would go on hunger strike in case of the in 1996 when the single opposition gested boycotting the wrestling removal from the program. presidential candidate, Vazgen elections, urging all “Nazaryan said he would go on hunger strike, Manukian, was officially “defeated” by candidates to withdraw though I am sure wrestling will not be removed the then-incumbent, Levon Ter- from the race to leave from the Olympics program. In case it really is, all Petrosian; in 2003 when then opposi - Sargisian alone, shad - possible measures will be taken in order to restore tion leader Stepan Demirchian chal - owboxing, but to no it,” he noted. lenged president Robert Kocharian and avail — the elections According to ESPN.com, the International Olympic finally in 2008 when Ter-Petrosian, were held, and their Committee (IOC) voted to remove freestyle and Greco- already as an opposition leader, disput - fairness is again being Roman wrestling from the Summer Games beginning ed Sargisian’s win of his first presiden - called into question. in 2020. With golf and rugby being added to the pro- tial term. While in all cases street Despite the fact that gram for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the IOC demonstrations would turn nasty at thousands of people said it needed to make room. one point, only the 2008 standoff have been gathering in turned deadly as 10 people were killed the square with a gen - Days of Japanese Culture in the March 1-2 clashes in central Raffi Hovannisian in Yerevan uine wish for the flawed Yerevan when security personnel had system of power usurpa - To Be Held in Yerevan been brought in to suppress the demon - tion to be broken up, strations. titles. The most recent example is the Armenia still lacks mechanisms of YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Days of Japanese The reasons for the Armenian tradi - case of US cycling star Lance appealing the election results: even the Culture will be held March 1-3. Exhibits of various tion of electoral fraud have most suc - Armstrong. The RPA, in fact, has been proof of a considerable number of vio - Japanese decorative arts will be presented. cinctly been formulated by the US using “doping” in the form of state lations is likely to be rejected by the In addition, a Japanese teatime ceremony will be Department of State, whose spokes - levers — schools, social service agencies Constitutional Court as “not enough to organized as well. woman, Victoria Nuland, citing con - and facilities, municipal authorities, influence the outcome of elections” on The series is organized by the Japanese Embassy cerns of international observers, earlier through which it has put considerable the basis of a simple numerical count in Armenia, Armenian-Japanese Hikari Cultural this week talked about “the lack of pressure on voters. Besides, the RPA and with no integrity of the process Center and the National Art Center of Armenia. impartiality on the part of [Armenian] also wields significant influence on the being taken into consideration. Karine Piliposyan, the head of Hikari, reported public administration officials and the Central Election Commission, which is In conditions like these, election pro - that master classes would be conducted by artist misuse of administrative resources that supposed to remain an independent testers appear to have only a limited Midori Yamada. resulted in a blurred distinction and impartial body. number of options to choose from — between the activities of the state and The Armenian legislation contains no either to put up with the election Archbishop Aris those of the ruling party.” In fact, by provisions that would allow disqualify - results and start preparing for the next highlighting this circumstance, Nuland ing a political party from the race if vot - elections or make a revolution. Shirvanian to Attend accused the governing Republican ing violations are committed in its favor. Both options, however, are futile, as Party of Armenia (RPA) of using the Such provisions exist, however, in the in the case with the former there is no Meetings in Echmiadzin levers of the state to secure its contin - legislations of other countries, besides, guarantee that the protest mood will in democratic countries there is a so- ECHMIADZIN (Armenpress) — The patriarchal vicar ued hold of power. not fade away in time for the next gen - called code of political honor, according of Jerusalem, Archbishop Aris Shirvanian, attended In another country such a statement eral election (as it happened to the Ter- to which a political party itself declares meetings of the Supreme Spiritual Council, which would have been perceived as an accu - Petrosian opposition bloc that its resignation if at least one similar were held in the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin sation of usurping power and would regrouped in the wake of the sup - offense becomes publicly known. February 19-21. have caused at least a diplomatic row, pressed street demonstrations for pur - But it is not the case in Armenia, Shirvanian was elected as Patriarchal Vicar in but the ruling party of Armenia remains poses of a long-term political struggle) October after the death of Armenian Patriarch of and the latter option will inevitably Jerusalem Archbishop Torkom Manoogian. come up against strong-arm methods of Shirvanian (baptismal name Armenag) was born the state with all ensuing conse - on July 23, 1934, in Haifa, Palestine (currently President Serge Sargisian Certified quences. Israel). He is the son of Hovhannes and Lousaper Under current circumstances it is not Shirvanian. He received his primary education at As Winner of Presidential Vote excluded that a third option will be the St. Yeghia Primary School in Haifa and the St. offered — a broad-based coalition with the powers of a constitutional assembly Karasoonk Mangantz School in Bourj Hammoud, VOTE, from page 1 “I will take that message of peace to that would prepare constitutional Lebanon. Sargisian received other congratula - all the regions of Armenia — to Armavir, amendments primarily regarding liabili - In 1952, he entered the Theological Seminary at tory messages from foreign leaders, Metsamor, Echmiadzin, Masis, Artashat, ty for electoral violations that will even - the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and gradu- including Polish President Bronisław Ararat, Surenavan, Areni, tually break up the RPA’s monopoly – a ated in 1957, becoming a member of the Komorowski and German President Yegheknadzor and Vayk. On February goal now being pursued by many oppo - Brotherhood of St. James. Joachim Gauck. 27, escorted by the police in mutual sition and “alternative” political forces He was ordained to the diaconate in 1954 by then respect to Agarak, Meghri, Kajaran, in Armenia that feel mostly excluded Locum-Tenens of Jerusalem Archbishop Yeghishe Hovannisian Demonstrates Kapan, Goris, Sisian.” from public governance and decision- Derderian. He was ordained as a celibate priest in Hovannisian, who has disputed the He said that a large, authorized making. 1957 by then Patriarch-elect of the Patriachate of results, is expected to hold a news con - demonstration was scheduled for Such an option could allow Jerusalem, Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan and given ference after the announcement. February 28 (after press time). Stops on Hovannisian to take his rightful place in the priestly name of Aris. On February 24, about 4,000 sup - that day include Charentsavan, Nor the country’s establishment, lobby the At the invitation of Manoogian, he returned to porters of Hovannisian demonstrated in Hajin, Abovyan and then back to proposal that he himself made last year Jerusalem where he served as the dean of the Yerevan to protest the initial vote count. Freedom Square. about the transition to a parliamentary Jarangavoratz Theological Seminary from 1998 to Some 8,000 Hovannisian supporters He boasted that the Armenian Armed form of government. At the same time, 1999. In 2006 he was elevated to the rank of arch- protested on February 22 in Yerevan. Forces would be turned into the most it would allow Sargisian to “clean” his bishop by the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin Smaller protests were held in three capable in the world and spoke of the own party, which has constantly been II. other cities on February 23. sacrifices and tribulations that the accused of becoming a refuge to oli - On February 26, Hovannisian said Armenian people have experienced. garchs, and to modernize it for the ben - the revolution of love and welcome will (RFE/RL, Hetq and Armenpress efit of the nation. continue. contributed to this report.) S ATURDAY , M ARCH 2, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 INTERNATIONAL

But the Orbelian family that ruled the There were also numerous under - International News Armenian Kingdom of Saunik — which ground tombs without any writing. In Jewish included Yeghegis, that they later made one ruin, they found a millstone that its capital, and Vayots Dzor — estab - had been reincorporated into the house lished diplomatic relations with the structure, which shows that people lived Lithuania Starts Mongols. there for quite a long time. They also Friendship Group with Armenia In return, they granted Saunik a priv - found many stones that could have been ileged status. As the rest of Armenia part of a synagogue, but as in the tels Artsakh struggled, the kingdom — protected by which dot Israel (and Iraqi Kurdistan), its status and the snow-capped moun - much more remains undiscovered in VILNIUS, Lithuania (Armenpress) — A group of deputies By Anna Borshchevskaya tains — flourished and became a migra - Armenia. from the Lithuanian Parliament on February 26 adopted tion hub, attracting, among others, “The Jewish presence in Armenia pro - a declaration to create a friendship group with Artsakh. Jewish immigrants. vides a link between the old, well-estab - The local Armenian Revolutionary Federation chapter JERUSALEM (Jerusalem Post) — Mkrtchyan discovered the cemetery lished Jewish community in Iran, and issued the group’s statement, saying, “Taking into Rebecca Miller, a Peace Corps volunteer when he and his brother Mayis other Caucasian and Pontic Jewish com - account the 25th anniversary of Artsakh movement, in Armenia, was skeptical when Bishop Mkrtchyan opened the Siranush chil - munities, and those even further when Armenian nation implemented its right of self-deter - Abraham Mkrtchyan approached her dren’s camp in Yeghegis to provide shel - north,” wrote Stone. mination, and at that time Lithuania greeted that willing about starting a Jewish culture center ter, food, recreation and education for “This will, after the necessary and presented its support to the peaceful resolution of alongside a medieval Jewish cemetery in children orphaned by the war with research is completed, require us to the issue; taking into account that in the struggle for the the village of Yeghegis. Azerbaijan. reassess the relationships between independence Artsakh and Lithuanian people were guid - “I had ... noted that there was not The bishop heard there was a miner - these areas, and it also has implications ed by norms of international law, democratic values and much in the way of diversity in the area al-water spring in the area. for economic and commercial history.” common ideas, to which they remain to be faithful till and couldn’t imagine what the point of He wanted to find it for the children “In the 13th century,” said now; sharing European territory policy, according to a Jewish cultural center was,” she said. and, as he searched, he came across Mkrtchyan, “At a time when you can’t which every inhabitant of it has the right of access to But after visiting the cemetery, she three tombstones, where he saw writing imagine that a country... in Europe basic rights and fundamental freedoms,” among other changed her mind and agreed to work he didn’t understand. either helped create or didn’t destroy a reasons, has led to the Lithuanian group’s decision to cre - with the bishop to help preserve it. “I “I thought, maybe Iranian?” he told Jewish settlement... It is fantastic how ate a friendship group with Lithuania. talked to anybody who would listen me when we met in Yerevan. Then one they could gather cultural, architectural about what it was,” she said. guest staying with him told him the symbolism of Jewish Armenians... and Prior to the cemetery’s 1996 discov - writing was Hebrew, and the bishop they were connected, and built one of Armenian Karate Team ery, there was virtually no evidence that approached representatives of the small the strongest kingdoms during time of Wins 18 Medals Jews had lived in Armenia in pre-mod - Jewish community in Yerevan for help. Mongols.” ern times. In a country that does not He also sent photos of the tomb - The bishop’s dream is to build muse - TBILISI (Armenpress) — The Aykikendo Karate boast much of an ethnic or religious stones to Professor Michael Stone of um, or a culture center about Jews in Federation of Armenia participated in the Georgian Open minority presence, Yeghegis is a fasci - Hebrew University in Jerusalem, who Armenia, that would focus on educa - Championship of Contact Martial Arts on February 24. nating nexus of culture and history. confirmed the bishop’s suspicion that tion. According to the federation, the Armenian team took first I visited Yeghegis in December 2012. what he had found was indeed a “Because these two peoples had very place overall at the competition. The village, along the banks of a river by medieval Jewish cemetery. A group of ancient connections... and until now it is Armenian team members won six gold, six silver and six the same name, lies about 96 km. south Armenian and Israeli archaeologists and one of the few peoples with whom we bronze medals. Among the Armenian champions were: of Yerevan, against the backdrop of historians excavated the site in 2001 had no problems,” he said with a laugh. Tigran Davtyan, Smbat Siravyan, Mikayel Karavarichyan, Ararat Valley, and just 112 km. or so and 2002 and found 64 more tomb - The bishop wants people to know Artak Balayan, Oksen Vardanyan and Vahan Asatryan. north of Iran. When the Nagorno- stones. Many bear Hebrew of Aramaic what connections existed between Federation Executive Director Areg Barseghyan said Karabakh conflict broke out as the inscriptions, and some are decorated Armenians and Jews, stories of how after the win, “As we have previously stated this tourna - Soviet Union was falling apart Yeghegis with motifs of the Orbelian kingdom. they helped each other during the ment became a serious test for our team before the had a large Azeri population. The archaeological team also found Armenian genocide and the Holocaust, launch of a row of international competitions. We have The story of the Jewish community in three mills, which the bishop says show for instance. now discovered [both] our vulnerable and strong points.” Armenia dates to the early 13th centu - that the community had a business “These peoples in this region, I think ry, when Mongol invaders devastated because one mill could feed several fam - have to support each other... They the region. ilies. ended up having a similar destiny.” President of Georgia Visits Azerbaijan TBILISI (Armenpress) — President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili departed for an official visit to Azerbaijan on Armenians from Syria Enroll in Lebanon Schools February 27. Saakashvili said that Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava was to SIN EL FIL, Lebanon (The Daily Star) An estimated 120,000 Armenians live While Lebanon’s educational system join the delegation; however, Ugulava is not technically — The Lazar Najarian-Calouste in Syria with the majority centered in offers science courses in either English allowed to leave the country due to the criminal case that Gulbenkian School in Aleppo is still in Aleppo. or French, most of the courses in Syria has been initiated against him. operation despite being frequently sus - Arina, a student in grade 11, said that are taught in Arabic, leaving English as Ugulava has been formally charged with two counts of pended due to the violence in Syria. her journey to Lebanon started while a third language. misspending and embezzlement of public funds and one The school, which has graduated she was visiting her uncle last summer: AGBU schools have been holding count of money laundering. thousands of students since 1954, “I would visit my uncle in Lebanon intensive English language classes on might see many of its students graduate every summer with my family, but last Saturdays since the beginning of the Blue Book Sent to Turkish from Lebanese schools instead as bat - year we came here and didn’t go back.” academic year to help Syrian students tles engulf the city. “I like it here, Lebanon is great but catch up. Deputies again The institution’s high school, built in Damascus is my city,” she added. Some classes have filled up this year, the city’s Azizieh neighborhood in “I want to go back to Syria, but after forcing Vassilian’s administration to ISTANBUL (Hürriyet Daily News) — A group of intel - honor of Armenian businessman and finishing school here,” said Sarine, a for - open new sections for the same grade. lectuals have re-sent copies of Lord James Bryce and philanthropist Calouste Gulbenkian, has mer student of Lazar Najarian-Calouste “We had bullying as a topic of discus - Arnold Toynbee’s The Blue Book , which relates the many students fleeing to Armenian Gulbenkian School in Aleppo. sion this year to help integrate Ottoman-era Armenian unrest in Turkey in 1915, to communities around the world as the At three of AGBU’s schools in the Lebanese and Syrian students togeth - the Turkish Parliament’s 550 lawmakers following a violence in Syria continues. Metn towns of Sin el Fil and Dbayeh, er,” Vassilian said. failed attempt to do so four years ago. The school in Aleppo was among there are at least 100 Syrian-Armenian “The administration anticipated such The group, which is sending the book to the many that were built to accommodate students. More arrive each week. problems and we warned against any deputies via the state-controlled postal service PTT, is the needs of a growing population of Many other students have enrolled in intolerance toward Syrians from the hoping to draw attention to freedom of speech. “A ban ethnic Armenians, whose ancestors had other Armenian schools across the very beginning,” he said. on reading has reached schools,” said Ragip Zaraoklu, survived the Armenian Genocide less country, but no official numbers have Students of AGBU’s elementary a publisher, at an Istanbul press meeting on February than half a century earlier. been announced yet. school also look forward to going back 19. As the schools face an uncertain Although hundreds of Syrian to Syria in the near future.”My school Sükrü Elekdag, then-Parliamentary Speaker Köksal future in Syria, hundreds of Armenian Armenians have fled the unrest and was attacked and I can’t go back there Toptan prevented deliveries of the books four years students are enrolling in Armenian sought refuge in Armenia, many families now,” said Ania, a fifth grader. “After ago when they were sent by cargo, Zarakolu said. schools in Lebanon while maintaining have preferred to move to Lebanon and the fighting reached where we lived in “In a bid to point at a rising ban on books and [over - hope that they will attend college back other countries with vibrant expat com - Aleppo Street in Damascus, my family come what happened four years ago], we find it mean - home despite the continuing violence. munities with a Western Armenian cur - decided to flee to Lebanon,” she added. ingful to start efforts from this point,” he said. “Returning to Syria is on the mind of riculum and the similarity of the educa - Another Syrian-Armenian student If the deputies cannot receive the books from the most of our students from Syria,” said tion system to that in Syria. said she was looking forward to seeing PTT, the group plans to distribute them directly at the Ara Vassilian, the general director of The Syrian community speaks her country secure and stable. “The gate of the Parliament building. schools affiliated with the Armenian Western Armenian and Arabic, as in street we lived on was safe before, but The book was re-printed by the Gomidas Institute General Benevolent Union (AGBU.) Lebanon, but here, many students say growing fear and increased fighting four years ago upon the efforts of historian Ara Education costs for students coming they have found it difficult to study made us leave our home and come to Sarafian, who was also present at the February 19 from Syria to AGBU schools are covered most of their courses in English. Beirut,” said Karny. “When everything meeting. in large part by the nonprofit organiza - “At my school in Syria, most of the is back to normal, I want to go back.” The Blue Book , also known as The treatment of tion, which relies heavily on donations classes were in Arabic, here they are in The constant thought of return to Armenians in the Ottoman Empire is a compilation of made by philanthropists and the English,” said Arina. Syria might distract Syrian students in statements by eyewitnesses from other countries Armenian diaspora. Arina, who studied at the Looys their studies this year, but the majority including Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, AGBU has donated $1.7 million in (Light) School in Damascus, said that remain optimistic and focused on their and Switzerland during 1915-1916. relief aid since the conflict began in even though she faced difficulty in the plans to return to attend college. order to help Syrian-Armenian families beginning of the year, she has been “I want to be a lawyer when I grow exposed to the civil war. gradually improving. up,” Ania said. 4 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 2, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Community Ne ws

Central Library to Syrian Conflict Host Gala Danilova Claims Life of GLENDALE — Gala Danilova from the HALO Trust will lecture on the mine clearance progress in Artsakh, on Tuesday, March 12, 7 Priest’s Friend p.m. at the Glendale Central Library Auditorium, 222 East Harvard St. The presen - tation will be in both English and Armenian. By Tom Vartabedian Admission is free, but seating is limited. Library visitors receive three hours of free parking across the street at The Market Place parking NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — The war in Syria structure with validation at the Loan Desk. has taken a personal toll on Rev. Karekin Gala Danilova, is a graduate of Mesrop Bedourian. His best friend from Kessab was list - Mashdots University in Stepanakert where she ed among the more recent casualties. The vic - studied History and International Relations. tim was identified from DNA reports three She joined HALO in September 2002 as a Mine months after being listed missing in combat. Risk Education (MRE) coordinator in “Official figures put the death toll between Stepanakert. After several years in the MRE 70,000-80,000 over these two years,” reports program she was given responsibility for logis - the young pastor of St. Gregory Church. “It’s tics and then statistics in HALO’s Artsakh probably much higher than that. When you lose office. She also supported HALO’s MRE team someone who was your dear companion, it in Abkhazia and HALO’s USA office fundrais - becomes very personal. I continue to mourn his ing efforts in the United States during her three death and pray for peace.” trips in 2007-2008. In May 2009 she was pro - Recent tolls have counted more than 60 moted to her current assignment as the Armenian fatalities, another 10 missing and Director of Finance. hundreds of Armenians without homes. The HALO Trust is a non-political, non-reli - Schools and churches in Aleppo are closed due gious organization, which specializes in the to the violence. removal of the hazardous debris of war. HALO Hovag Kortmosian was serving as an officer began mine clearance operations in in the government’s army and became missing Afghanistan in 1988 and currently works in 11 after rebel forces invaded his camp. Together countries around the world. HALO’s programs they hiked the mountains of Kessab with in the Caucasus started on1995 in Nagorno Kortmosian’s brother who had become a priest Karabagh (Artsakh). in Antelias. The 1992-94 war between Armenia and Wherever you saw one, you saw the three of Azerbaijan over Artsakh left behind hundreds AEN president and founder, Ursula Kazarian them during their Kessab days. They played on of minefields and cluster bomb strikes. It has the same streets, attended the same schools had profound impacts upon the day-to-day lives and kicked soccer balls as young athletes. They of the rural population, significantly inhibiting were that close. the incomes of thousands of poor families and Armenian Environmental “You might credit Hovag with saving our causing 268 accidents, with almost 350 people lives,” recalled Bedourian. “We got lost in the killed or injured. This is amongst the highest mountains one day and were disoriented for per capita civilian casualty rates in the world Network Launches Bay seven hours in the wilderness. All we saw were with a quarter of these victims being children. sky and trees. Hovag found the trail after some HALO Artsakh has returned more than 66,718 Area Chapter very deep concentration and led us to the bot - acres of contaminated land to productive use. tom. We could have died.” Bedourian received the tragic news by tele - More than 67,000 landmines, cluster munitions SAN FRANCISCO — On January 27, the Armenian Environmental Network phone from his father. The two had rekindled and other items of unexploded ordnance have (AEN) marked the launch of its new San Francisco Bay Area Chapter with an their friendship during a return home last year been safely located and destroyed. Accidents event hosted by the University of San Francisco (USF). to baptize his daughter, Megheti. will continue to happen until the remaining The event, which was attended by 70 people, was organized in partnership with “Who knew that would be the last time we minefields and cluster munition strikes are the University’s Department of Environmental Science and the Associated would see one another?” he lamented. “The last cleared. Students of USF Sustainability Committee. thing we said to one another was to have this The program is sponsored by the Library, The event began with opening remarks from Jerry Manoukian, president of the war end and that our people rest in peace and Arts & Culture Department. For more informa - Armenian Medical International Committee, who served as master of ceremonies security. My yeretskin (wife) and I, we sat down tion, contact Elizabeth Grigorian, at egrigori - throughout the evening. AEN San Francisco Chapter organizer and Bay Area and cried over the news. That Sunday, I offered [email protected]. native, Lilit Markosian, also gave a brief introductory speech in which she related Hovag a special prayer, along with the numer - her experience and involvement with AEN. Markosian explained, “The purpose of ous children, adults and soldiers who have died this event is to inspire members of the Bay Area Armenian community to take ini - needlessly.” tiative and join AEN in its fight for Armenia’s environment.” She continued, “This Krekor Karaguezian New Bedourian presented some sobering is everybody’s fight. I hope that after you hear about everything AEN has to offer, accounts of the turmoil during a Merrimack you will see AEN as an opportunity to get involved and make a difference.” Chair of AGBU Western Valley gathering for Syrian-Armenian Relief The first speaker of the evening was Dr. Thomas MacDonald, professor of envi - conducted February 23 at his church by the US District Committee ronmental science at USF, who illustrated examples of international and local envi - Lowell ARF. An assortment of people braved an ronmental issues, which have been addressed by means of grassroots movements. impending snowstorm to donate close to NEW YORK — The Armenian General MacDonald also expressed USF’s support for AEN’s new initiative in the San $1,000 for aid. Benevolent Union (AGBU) Central Office Francisco Bay Area. Next, Areg Gharabegian, Environmental Committee chair of The collection was among others conducted announced recently that Krekor Karaguezian Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America, presented various environmental in the community by the Prelacy and Armenian has been appointed concerns in Armenia, including deforestation, the poor state of Lake Sevan, and Relief Society, raising substantial amounts over - chair of the US Western destructive mining. all. Thus far, reports show more than $1 million District region for a The last speaker of the evening was Ursula Kazarian, AEN president and in aid being transferred to Syrian Armenians term of two years, begin - founder, who described the organization’s history and development since its from around the world. ning on January 1. see ENVIRONMENT, page 5 Karaguezian is a life - “Conditions are rapidly deteriorating in that long member of AGBU battered land,” he said. “Schools and churches who has demonstrated are being destroyed. People are at unrest. We leadership in the global owe it to ourselves to come to their aid and sup - Armenian community. port a necessary cause. My heart goes out every Krekor Karaguezian He was active in the day to the families who have been tormented, AGBU-AYA scouting including my very own. With all the animosity movement in Beirut, there, we need a miracle to survive.” and played an instrumental role in organizing Bedourian spoke of kidnappings. He elabo - the first scouting movement in California prior rated on the disturbing events that reach him to taking on the position of the AGBU Asbeds every day from the war-torn zone. He talked of vice chairman. the hunger and the depravation his people face. The following individuals have been appoint - “The hand of evil is trying to destroy the ed to serve under his leadership: Tom peace and stability of Syria, one of the most Alexanian, vice chair; Avedis Markarian, trea - peaceful countries in the world,” he pointed surer; Aline Yeterian, secretary; and Julia Panel of speakers discuss environmental issues at the event. out. “We cannot remain indifferent and uncon - Aghishian, Aram Aginian, Harry Balian, cerned about people who are experiencing Benjamin Charchian, Silva Nazaretian and death and affliction.” Krikor Simonian, members. see CONFLICT, page 7 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 2, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 COMMUNITY NEWS AGBU Sister Schools Complete Exchange Program on West Coast Marie Manoogian Institute Students Return Home to Argentina, Awaiting Angelenos’ Visit

LOS ANGELES — Youth from the AGBU Marie Manoogian Institute in Buenos Aires and the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School (MDS) in Los Angeles may live thousands of miles apart, but they became the closest of friends during this winter’s Student Exchange Program. Now in its 14th year, the annual AGBU program recently brought 18 students from Argentina to California, where, for three weeks, they learned, created and explored alongside their peers. From the moment the Marie Manoogian stu - Exchange students from the AGBU Marie Manoogian Institute in Buenos Aires join their peers from the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School in Canoga dents stepped off the plane on Friday, January Park on a field trip to California’s Getty Museum. 11, until their farewell party on Friday, February 1, they had a complete cultural pant’s eyes to a new and exciting world abroad. where they studied English conversation, writ - and educators each took the podium to share immersion experience: they lived with host fam - Accompanied by their English Department ing and literature, as well as American and highlights from this year’s visit and the pro - ilies, enrolled in MDS courses and ventured out coordinator Miriam Boghossian Tabakian — Armenian history. The students traded pens for gram’s positive impact. As MDS Principal on local excursions. The diverse group was who created the program with AGBU Central paintbrushes during art classes with their MDS Hagop Hagopian stated, “The intrinsic value of filled with Armenian as well as non-Armenian Board member Carol Aslanian in 1999 — the peers, and discovered some of the greatest the student exchange program between the youth; for decades, the school has attracted exchange students enjoyed a full itinerary. works from the Renaissance to the 20th centu - AGBU schools in Buenos Aires and Canoga families from all across Buenos Aires seeking Every school day, MDS teachers welcomed the ry when they joined their new MDS friends on Park lies in the lifelong memories and lasting quality education and the exchange program’s 10th and 11th graders into their classrooms, a field trip to the Getty Museum. In between, friendships that have been created among par - integrated curriculum opened every partici - special class periods helped the youth master ticipating students since 1999, as much as the the footwork of traditional Armenian dances, learning experiences and cultural enrichment skills they displayed during the lunch on the derived from it. Special thanks to host parents, last day of their stay. teachers, administrators, and AGBU leadership When weekends arrived, the exchange stu - for their support and invaluable contributions dents had even more to look forward to — for the continuing success of this wonderful spending time with the 12 host families who program.” generously opened their homes, and visiting Hagopian also awarded each student with a tourist attractions. Outings included visiting certificate of completion officially documenting Universal Studios, where they got a behind-the- their participation in the program. scenes look at movie and television sets, as well After three weeks, it was difficult for the MDS as a trip to Disneyland. and Marie Manoogian students to say goodbye A gathering organized by the MDS Parent to one another. However, they won’t have to Teacher Organization gave the students and wait too long before they meet again. This July, their host families the opportunity to reflect on the MDS students will travel to Buenos Aires everything they had learned and experienced and catch up with old friends. prior to their departure. During the event, For more information about AGBU and its Exchange students show off their footwork after weeks of dance lessons. which drew 60 guests, the students, parents worldwide programs, visit www.agbu.org.

Armenian Environmental Massachusetts Network Launches Bay Area Chapter State House Commemoration ENVIRONMENT, from page 4 nception in 2007, including opening its Yerevan office in 2011. She also highlighted of the Armenian Genocide AEN’s primary project in Armenia: the Integrated Waste Management Project, which involves a community-based approach to establish the country’s first sanitary landfill. Finally, Kazarian explained AEN’s mission, which she described as two-fold. The first step, she said, “is to inform the Diaspora and the international environmental community about urgent environmental issues affecting Armenia, and the second is to develop that heightened awareness and interest in Armenia’s environment into meaningful part - nerships with development professionals and practitioners on the ground in Armenia to create real and lasting change. To achieve this dual mission, it naturally follows that we should establish chapters in various Armenian communities in order to truly ‘think globally and act locally.’” She contin - ued, “AEN is thrilled to find such an active and environmentally informed community in the Bay Area, and we couldn’t be happier with Lilit as our energetic and talented chap - ter organizer.” Following the presentations and question- and-answer period, a reception was held with live music provided by Greg Manoukian and Friday, April 19, 2013 Kyle DeWitt from the local band Libertine Circle. Additionally, a wide array of food and refreshments were donated by two local busi - Free buses will leave St. James and St. Stephen’s Armenian Churches nesses: La Mediterainee Restaurant and at 8:30 a.m. (Courtesy of the Knights of Vartan) Royal Market and Bakery. For pictures or a video of the event and to sign up for the AEN San Francisco Bay Area Details to follow Chapter mailing list, visit http://www.armenia- environment.org/sf-chapter-inaugural-event/. 6 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 2, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Youth Overcomes Tragic Accident to Become Basketball Coach at Alma Mater

and friends drilled into me.” stage. It has become a personal challenge. I see By Tom Vartabedian At the time, he was headed to Dean College progress every day.” in Franklin, looking toward football after distin - He has come to accept his fate, however grad - guishing himself in high school. He was also a ually. The two-time football All-Stater realizes CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. — A missing limb did track stalwart, helping his Providence how easy it is to grow depressed but doesn’t not deter Cory Garabedian from aiming to excel Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) team to two want to experience the lows. in his life. relay championships. Gritty competition He wants to start his own business after col - The 24-year-old not only landed a coaching appeared to be the young athlete’s destiny. lege and join the coaching ranks. Last April, he job at his alma mater but is working on a busi - According to Garabedian’s physicians, he may was the main speaker at Cranston City Hall for ness degree at the Community College of never have survived such an ordeal had it not the annual Armenian National Committee of Rhode Island. been for his strong physical condition and America flag-raising commemoration. “Be true to yourself and you’ll never be dis - uncompromising faith. “It has been a blessing in disguise for me,” appointed,” he said. “The truth will always set He received injuries to his liver, elbow, leg he confirms. “I always thought people were you free.” and lungs. He was on a respirator and feeding going to look at me funny with a metal leg. You A horrific auto accident Christmas Eve in tube for weeks. have to turn your disabilities into abilities.” 2011 resulted in having a leg amputated. In He has completed 15 hours of college credits At this year’s Providence AYF Varantian Ball, fact, the injuries were so severe that many mem - at CCRI closer to home after being hired as an Elmasian praised his younger colleague for get - bers of the clergy regularly visited him at the assistant varsity coach at his high school, where ting his life back together and fulfilling his hospital to pray for him. he also played basketball. dreams. People like Steve Elmasian, his coach, never The junior varsity team is entirely his respon - Cory Garabedian coaches his basketball team “Cory has gone from an induced coma to missed a visit and gave him constant encour - sibility. Garabedian coaches with zest, then at Central Falls High School in Rhode Island. coaching at his high school,” he said. “I remem - agement. So did the hundreds who sent out joins the head coach on the bench for the var - ber coaching him as a 13-year-old. There is cards and the thousands who read of his deter - sity game. He’s made such an impact with the nothing more rewarding than to see an athlete mination in the Armenian press. JVs that two freshman were quickly promoted jump with the leg. follow in your footsteps. Watching him go from All of a sudden, he went from a typical young to the varsity level, which is rare in high school “I promised myself I’d be a master at pros - where he was to where he is now should be an man to a role model for others facing a disabil - sports. thetics,” he stressed. “Running is the next inspiration to all of us. He certainly is to me.” ity. “I’m teaching them the knowledge and wis - “I thought it was all a bad dream at first,” dom I learned as a young athlete,” said Garabedian said. “When you’re in a hospital for Garabedian. “It all begins with the fundamen - 50 days with a missing leg, the world around tals. I try to make it a fun experience for the you tends to cave. You begin to feel useless. I kids.” Donations was bound to make the best of it because that’s It is hard to even tell that Garabedian has a Charles Hovsepian and Ruth and Wilford Swisher, of Newington, Conn, donated $100 to the what sports taught me. That’s what my parents prosthetic leg. However, he still cannot jog or in memory of Siranush Hovsepian, Esgouhi and Sirvart Simonian, Armenian Mirror-Spectator and Maritza Ohanesian.

OBITUARY In appreciation of the paper, Jirair D. Aghajian of East Elmhurst, NY donates $ 100 to the . Rensselaer County Honors Veteran of Armenian Mirror-Spectator Vietnam, Korea, Joseph Manoogian Jr.

TROY, N.Y. (The Record) — The late Joseph trol of Portuguese Pirates, and, when aboard ENNIS M. EVENEY & ONS Manoogian Jr., a United States Navy Veteran the USS Sea Leopard during 1969 travelling D D S whose service included maritime service during beneath the ice of the North Pole, through the Cemetery Monuments both the Korean War and Vietnam War Veteran, Arctic Circle, while operating in the northern was recognized by Rensselaer County’s Honor- hemisphere. Specializing in A-Deceased Veteran Committee and County For his service, Manoogian was authorized to Armenian Designs and Lettering officials on January 14, during services at the receive five Good Conduct Awards, multiple County Office Building. Bronze Stars, the National Defense Service 701 Moody St. Waltham, MA 02543 The son of Armenian Genocide survivors who Medal, received more than a half dozen com - immigrated to the US in 1920, Manoogian mendations and participated in official visits by (781) 891-9876 www.NEMonuments.com joined the armed forces on March 6, 1950, at President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Secretary of the age of 17, one credit shy of receiving his Defense James McElroy and Secretary of the high school diploma. During training, Navy Thomas Gates. Manoogian got his GED and proceeded to vol - After marrying Patricia Jean Brown on July 4, Telephone (617) 924-7400 unteer for submarine duty. 1954, Manoogian helped to raise a family that Throughout a Navy career spanning approxi - included daughters Debra and Karin in Hoosick Aram Bedrosian mately two decades, Manoogian was assigned Falls while working at the US Postal Service. to sometimes multiple tours aboard a half “Joseph Manoogian, Jr., dedicated his life to dozen submarines, including the USS Quilback, the service of his nation and was highly deco - Funeral Home, Inc. the USS Seawolf, the USS Bang, the USS rated for his valiant actions,” said Rensselaer Skipjack, the USS Halfbreak and the USS Sea County Executive Kathleen M. Jimino. Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 Leopard. Aboard the world’s second nuclear- “Joseph Manoogian was a patriot who pro - MARION BEDROSIAN powered submarine, the USS Seawolf, in 1958, vided outstanding service to the US Navy, earn - 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN Manoogian participated in a record-setting ing assignments to some of the most important WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN assignment when the ship continued fully-sub - and prominent military assignments during the merged operations for 60 days and travelling a Cold War,” said Chairman of the Legislature distance of 14,500 nautical miles. Martin Reid. Additional tours of note include crossing the The ceremony honoring Manoogian was equator aboard the same ship during 1961 attended by Rep. Paul Tonko, representatives of while in pursuit of the cruise ship Santa Maria, Rep. Chris Gibson and Sen. Kathleen which had been seized and was under the con - Marchione, among many others. GF UiNrEaRgAoL sHiaOMn E Berjoohie H. Zakarian James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC Mark J. Giragosian WORCESTER — Berjoohie H. (Berjie) Armenia. Funeral Counselors Zakarian of Worcester died on Friday, February She was a graduate of Commerce High 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 15. Born in Worcester, she was the daughter of School, attended the Hairdressing Academy of www.giragosianfuneralhome.com the late Hapet and Yougaper (Topjian) Zakarian Worcester and was a hairstylist for almost 40 and sister of the late Asbed “Ozzie” Zakarian. years. She was an active member of the Zakarian is survived by her sister-in-law, Armenian Church of Our Saviour, having Margaret Zakarian of Worcester; her niece served 34 years as a dedicated Sunday School Susan Atamian and husband Edward, grand teacher, 14 years as a youth advisor and mem - Edward D. Jamakordzian, Jr. d/b/a nephews, Ross and Kirk Atamian of ber of the Church Choir and Avaks. She was Shrewsbury; niece Melanie Samsel and hus - also a member of AGBU, Daughters of Vartan, band James of Grafton; nephew James Armenian Assembly and the Armenian Library Jamgochian and wife Marilynn, grand nephew and Museum of America. Edward D. Jamie, Jr. Rick Jamgochian of Milford, Conn., and grand Zakarian’s funeral was held on Monday, nieces, Christina Feden and husband Jeff, Liz February 18, at the Armenian Church of Our ServiFnguthne eentrireaAlrmCenhianaCpomemlunity Beck and husband Ray and Lauren Fletcher Saviour in Worcester. Interment was at Hope Any Hour • Any Distance • Any Location and husband Eddy; great grandnieces, Cemetery. Call (718) 224-2390 Toll Free (888) 224-6088 Aubrey, Kenley and Elizabeth and great In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to grandnephew Preston; and also several the Armenian Church of Our Saviour, 87 Bus. Reg. 189-06 Liberty Ave., Hollis, NY 11412 nieces and nephews in the United States and Salisbury St., Worcester, MA 01609. Consultation Office: 217-04 Northern Blvd., (Suite 23), Bayside,NY 11361 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 2, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS John and Hasmik Mgrdichian Foundation Syrian Conflict Donate $100,000 to EyeCare Project Claims Life of NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — The Board of Georgia and then by truck to Yerevan. The Directors of the Armenian EyeCare Project Project’s hub of regional service delivery, the Priest’s (AECP) is proud to announce that the John and MEH travels throughout the regions of Hasmik Mgrdichian Foundation has donated Armenia delivering quality eye care to children $100,000 to the Project’s Initiative, “Bringing and adults living in the outlying villages who Best Friend Sight to Armenian Eyes.” We are most grateful otherwise would not have access to eye care ser - the Foundation joins us in our mission to elim - vices. The MEH physicians and support staff CONFLICT, from page 4 inate preventable blindness in Armenia and for have traveled to all the provinces in Armenia at Bedourian has been in contact with the their continuing and loyal support. least twice providing outreach and education, Prelate of Aleppo and said this is not a mat - The Board of Directors is appreciative of the diagnostic examinations, prescription eyeglass - ter of revolution or power struggle anymore. foundation’s gift. Their support is testimony of es, medical treatment and sight-restoring “Unfortunately, it’s the ordinary people their confidence in the work of the Armenian surgery as charitable services at no cost to the who are victims now,” he said. “We hear dif - Armenian people — bringing ferent media channels, much of it providing the gift of sight to thou - false news unfortunately. I rely on witness sands. accounts from my family and close friends to The John and Hasmik get a more accurate report.” Mgrdichian Foundation’s par - The Armenian presence in Syria began dur - ticipation in the Armenian ing the 11th century from the Crusades EyeCare Project’s programs when people fled Cilicia. By the time of the will change lives and directly Genocide in 1915, around 200,000 contribute to the elimination The AECP launched a program to eliminate Armenians had settled in that country. of preventable blindness in childhood blindness from Retinopathy of “Armenians are a vibrant minority group in Armenia. Prematurity (ROP) and other childhood diseases. Syria, always respected for being good citi - For more information visit It was named a “Center of Excellence” by zens working toward the prosperity of that www.eyecareproject.com USAID and the U.S. State Department. country,” said Bedourian. “Especially in Aleppo, Armenians have made an important impact on the city’s economy.” The evening was also devoted to a visual presentation on remote Armenian sites by photojournalist Joe Dagdigian. Net proceeds from this affair were added to the collection for Syria.

Children and adults receive examinations and prescription eyeglasses at no cost as part of the AECP Eyeglass Program.

EyeCare Project and its eye care programs, which have treated more than 600,000 and restored the sight of 50,000 through cataract and other surgeries. Founded in 1992, and incorporated in 2002, the Armenian EyeCare Project is a California non-profit corporation. Over the past 21 years — with programs that combat the causes of blind - ness — the project has been able to treat eye dis - ease, restore sight and change lives. In 2003, the Project’s 18-Wheel Mobile Eye The Project’s mobile hospital weighs 14 tons, is 48-feet long, 9-feet wide, 14-feet high and has 410 Hospital (MEH) traveled by boat from Vermont, square feet with a state-of-the-art surgical suite and two examination rooms. where it was constructed, to the country of

Rev. Karekin Bedourian, pastor, St. Gregory Church of North Andover, relays news of the death of his best friend killed in action during the Syrian conflict.

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Check us out at www.mirrorspectator.com 8 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 2, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Armenian Sisters’ Academy Students Pay Tribute to Battle of Vartanantz

RADNOR, Penn. — While the great fifth-cen - in the Armenian Christian future. tury Armenian general, Vartan Mamigonian, is Clergy in attendance were equally moved by no longer here, and there is no Battle of the historic dramatization and delicate but pas - Avarayr being waged, each of us must wear the sionate young voices. Honored guests included leader’s badge of honor and advance his cause Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian, the former for victory into the 21st century. Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian This was Rev. L. Nishan Bakalian’s challenge Apostolic Church of England, who offered the to the students of the Armenian Sisters’ blessing; the Very Rev. Oshagan Gulgulian of Academy of Radnor on Vartanantz Day, St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Thursday, February 7. Church of Wynnewood; the Very Rev. Mikael The students accepted the challenge, rallying Bassale of St. Mark’s Armenian Catholic for the cause of keeping the Armenian lan - Church of Wynnewood; Archpriest Nerses guage, religion and traditions alive and thriving Manoogian of St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic 1,500 years after the Persian-Armenian con - Church of Philadelphia and the Rev. Nishan frontation, during which a small but deter - Bakalian of Armenian Martyrs’ Congregational Church of Havertown. The performances began with the youngest academy stu - dents filling the stage with inspirational bilin - gual song. A chorus of older children, led by Music Director Maroush Paneyan Nigon, then set the scene for the re-enact - ment of the 451 AD Armenian defense against the force of Haig Megerian played Persian King Hazgerd, surrounded by schoolmates Xavier Yeremian, Nareg Zoroastrianism, a Boghosian and Armen Shirozian. pagan religion based on the adoration of fire. Aghababian, Lena Bardakjian, Rebecca Hovannesian, Mike Kaladjian and William A proud Vartan, Selverian, Aren Dardarian, Lili Cole, Ani Cosgrove. Xavier Yeremian played a soldier, as played by sixth-grader Dardarian, Teni Jehanian, Sona Bardakjian and Sevag Yepoyan played the shepherd Norayr, Sixth grade student Vahé Minasian played Hovsep Gatoghigos, who David Babaian, joined Ani Avesian. Student Lena Bardakjian gave a and Nareg Boghosian, Jack Ajdaharian and mourns the loss of Vartan, played by classmate David Babaian. his soldiers to honor moving solo vocal performance of Blboolun Muheer Mardirosyan played magical mages. their spiritual leader, Avarayree (the Lark’s Song of Avarayr). A Principal Sister Emma commended the stu - mined Armenian community was able to hold Catholicos Hovsep, vibrant Haig Megerian played the Persian King dents for their lively and meaningful perfor - true to its beliefs in the face of enormous pres - played by sixth-grader Vahe Minasian, as he Hazgerd. Vartan’s spiritual leader, Ghevont mance. The children took the vocal part of their sure. offered them the body and blood of Christ Yeretz, and fellow nobleman, Vasag Souni, recital to the Philadelphia Inter-Communal A dramatic Vartanantz re-enactment and stir - before their mortal sacrifice. Students depicting Karekin and Dikran, were played valiantly by Committee’s Vartanantz commemoration at St. ring vocal performance of fourth-through-sixth- the vivid scenes of Armenian bravery with Armen Dervishian, Armen Shirozian, John Lion Mark’s Armenian Catholic Church later that graders in the auditorium drew more than 100 songs and words were Lia Mazmanian, Sofia and Raffi Pogharian, respectively. Other proud evening. guests and instilled a palpable pride and hope Mangasarian, Anoush Kojouri, Angelica noblemen included Shant Sarkahian, Sevak — Melissa Selverian S ATURDAY , M ARCH 2, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS Music, Culture and Food of Keghi Celebrated in Detroit

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — From the moment Keghetzis to join the association and aid in its Gerjekian, Simon Javizian, Michael Kamalian including the harrowing experience of David that the traditional Keghetzi Pagharch was endeavors. Rev. Garabed Kochakian, pastor of (age 7) and his father Stepan Kamalian (Racine, Vartanian who survived the Titanic disaster, danced in until the wee hours of morning, some St. John Armenian Church, was then invited to Wis.), Harry Kezelian, Kirk Kuchukian, Bedros were on display in the lobby. 350 Keghetzis and their friends packed the offer the blessing. Kudanian, Margaret Lafian, Vaughn Masropian, Although a proud Sepastatzi, Gary Reizian of dance floor to the tunes of 23 Keghetzi and Uptown Catering rose to the challenge of learn - other fellow Armenian musicians. On February ing how to make Pagharch, based on Zaroohy 2, at St. John Armenian Church Cultural Hall, Norsigian’s recipe. Event co-chairs Karen Keghetzis reunited for “Kef Time Keghi” with a Nigosian and Barbara Norsigian coordinated Pagharch Dinner and the first time perfor - the entire event. mance of the Keghetzi All-Star Band to cele - A keepsake printed program book was given brate the first event organized by the Nor Keghi to each guest. It included a brief history of the Association. county of Keghi, demographic information and When it was announced that the guest of a map with a chart of the name of its main town honor had arrived, members of the committee and its 74 Armenian villages to enable individ - began dancing in the Pagharch to the tune of uals to locate their roots. These materials were Hars Ou Pesah , whose words were transformed researched and compiled by Richard Norsigian to Pagharchuh Egav, Egav , performed by the while Marty Shoushanian provided the layout Keghetzi All Star Band. The excitement was so and printing. A separate printed keepsake of electrifying and the love of heritage was so the History of Pagharch written by Mitch abounding among the compatriots that many, if Kehetian, along with the Norsigian family not most, joined in the festive dancing of the recipe, was also provided. Pagharch. According to historical documentation, Richard Norsigian, president of the Nor Keghetzi Armenians reserved their feasting on Keghi Association Steering Committee, began wheat-based Pagharch for February’s freezing the evening festivities by welcoming everyone. temperatures in the mountainous Keghi region. He then invited Deacon Rubik Mailian to sing The tradition dates back to the ancient Hittite the American and Armenian national anthems empire. Keghetzis took this tradition with them and Stephan Karougian to sing Tzainmuh wherever they migrated. Hunchetz Erzeroumi Lernerehn , Erzeroum Hrayr Toukhanian filmed the evening’s activ - being the province in which the county of ities, which also included several oral histories Keghi was located. Both soloists’ beautiful ren - of fellow Keghetzis, who shared their memories ditions were received with rousing applause. of stories told to them by their ancestors as well Norsigian then explained the purpose of the as their own personal experiences. To view Association and how it came to be — a united The Keghetzi All-Star Band featured 23 Keghetzis and other fellow Armenian musicians who per - scenes of “Dancing in the Pagharch” from the group crossing all Armenian political and reli - formed a continuous medley of Armenian dance music. The “Kef Time Keghi” event was the culmina - “Kef Time Keghi” event as well as the printed gious affiliations. After introducing the tion of a year’s planning by the Nor Keghi Association. (Photo by C.J. Baldwin IV) program and Pagharch recipe keepsakes, and Steering Committee, he invited Mitch Kehetian for more information about the association, who eloquently honored the memory of the check out the website: www.keghi.org Keghetzi forefathers and immigrant settlers in The strains of traditional Armenian music Mike Mossoian, George Nigosian, George The Nor Keghi Association’s mission is to America who furthered the Keghetzi, in partic - provided by the Keghetzi All Star Band were as Nigosian Sr., Greg Nigosian, Marc Nigosian, sponsor needed projects for Nor Keghi in the ular, and Armenian heritage, in general, in if these musicians (nearly all Keghetzis) had Sandi Nigoghosian, Ara Topouzian and John Republic of Armenia. Members of the Steering America. He emphasized how the Nor Keghi always performed together. What a tribute to Tosoian. Greg and George Nigosian organized Committee include Mitch Kehetian, Edward H. Association will honor their memory and con - their talent and heritage. Musicians who partic - and coordinated the ensemble of musicians. Korkoian, Alice Nigoghosian, Sandi tinue their vision by aiding Nor Keghi in the ipated by donating their time included Mark Playing all evening in the background of the Nigoghosian, Greg Nigosian, Karen Nigosian, Republic of Armenia. Kehetian invited fellow Gavoor (from Chicago), Gerry Gerjekian, Tom stage were images of historic Keghi, along with Barbara Norsigian, Richard Norsigian, Martin silent films of the Armenian community from Shoushanian, Gregory Vartanian and Esther the 1940s through the early 1960s, filmed pri - “Stitch” Vosgerchian. marily in Detroit by the late Israel Nigosian. The committee acknowledged in the keep - Grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and sake booklet the donations from Keghetzis and cousins were not only with us in spirit — but friends toward the event and to aid in the asso - many of them could be seen in this DVD — a ciation’s mission. Donations are welcome and sight to behold. One could see tears in the eyes can be made out and addressed to Nor Keghi of many guests as they watched and reminisced. Association, 29958 High Valley Road, In addition, pictures and materials of Keghi, Farmington Hills, MI 48331.

PARIS — The AGBU Central Board of Directors announced recently that at its meeting on February 1 and 2, Sam Simonian was elected vice president and Yervant Demirjian as treasurer of the organization. The board also re-elected Berge Setrakian as president; Sinan Sinanian as vice president to serve with Simonian; Berge Papazian as secretary and Sarkis Jebejian as vice secretary. Pictured, from left, Vasken Yacoubian, Vice Secretary Sarkis Jebejian, Aris Atamian, Carol Aslanian, Noubar Afeyan, Treasurer Yervant Demirjian, President Berge Setrakian, Joseph Oughourlian, Arda Haratunian, Vice President Sam Simonian, Nazareth A. Festekjian and Vahe Gabrache. Missing from photo: M. Michael Ansour, Joseph Basralian, Ruben Kechichian, Levon Nazarian, Berge Papazian, Sinan Sinanian, Dickran Tevrizian and Yervant Zorian. 10 S ATURDAY , MA RCH 2, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Arts & Living

Author Aris ALMA Acquires Janigian to Speak Paintings by At NAASR on Armenian Artists ‘Exile, Memory From the Dodge And Assimilation’ Collection of BELMONT, Mass. — Writer Aris Soviet Art Janigian, author of the acclaimed novel, This Angelic Land , will give a lecture WATERTOWN — The last three decades of titled “Exile, Memory and Assimilation: the Soviet Union witnessed a tremendously rich The Armenian Experience as the and productive art movement that stands as a Essential American Experience,” on stirring example of the individual’s ability to Thursday, March 14, at 8 p.m. at the achieve self-expression despite the oppressive National Association for Armenian constraints of a totalitarian state. Studies and Research (NAASR), 395 It was due largely to the efforts of one man, Concord Ave. The lecture is co-spon - Prof. Norton T. Dodge, that world attention was sored by the AGBU-YP, Boston, and attracted to the movement, support was pro - NAASR. vided to the artists and a huge collection of the This lecture is given in recognition of resulting art work was established in the United Emmanuel P. Varandyan (1902-1988), Artist Charles Garo Takoushian, 89, with his eclectic painting of Cher in a Madonna- States. novelist (The Well of Ararat, The Moon Child pose The Armenian Library and Museum of Sails) , professor of English literature at America (ALMA) has acquired eight paintings Ohio State University, NAASR Board by Armenian artists from the collection, thanks Member and benefactor and tireless to the donation arranged in December by advocate for Armenian Studies. Nancy Ruyle Dodge, Norton Dodge’s widow. Janigian is considered one of the A New Role for The works donated to ALMA were painted most important Armenian-American slightly later, during the momentous period novelists working today. Each of his spanning the period from the last years of the three critically-acclaimed novels, Soviet Union to the early years of the Armenian Bloodvine, Riverbig and This Angelic Republic, from 1988 to 2005. The artists repre - Land, places ethnic Armenian charac - Cher as Madonna sented are Armen Adikhanian, Felix ters against the backdrop of the Eghiazarian, Vartan Gabrielian, Sarkis Hamalbashian, Ashot Kazarian and Samuel (The More Modest One) Khachikian. Dodge began to visit the Soviet Union in SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Charles Garo Takoushian may be 89, but he has an active, 1955, soon after Nikita Khrushchev’s rise to agile and artistic mind, which he exercises regularly. One of his most noted works is power, to conduct scholarly research in his aca - titled “Madonna and Child,” in which the Blessed Mother has been modeled after demic field, Soviet economics. Contact with one Cher, who is cradling the Infant Jesus. or two of the non-conformist artists there Takoushian happens to be steeped in his Christian faith, especially after surviving piqued his interest and led him to explore the a near-fatal mishap nearly 25 years ago. movement more comprehensively and to pur - “As for the image of Cher as a Madonna, I thought — well — she is a Madonna,” chase paintings. This was not easy in the Soviet he explains. “When I first saw Cher’s picture on the cover of a magazine, I felt there Union of the time, when Socialist Realism was was a similarity to Madonna. When you get down to the reality of it all, who knew the only accepted form of art, and non-con - what the Madonna really looked like?” formist artists had to work clandestinely, mak - As an artist, Takoushian says he sees beauty in virtually everything around him, ing it difficult for them to earn a living. even in dark situations. All that is negative gets turned into a positive at the stroke Dodge’s crusade to contact these artists with - of a brush. out the knowledge of the authorities and with - “In Cher’s case, her beauty continues to prevail, despite the years that have befall - Aris Janigian en her,” he points out. “She’s accomplished so very much with her life and hasn’t forgotten her Armenian heritage. I took some liberties with the painting.” Takoushian completed his Cher painting last April. It shows the actress with her American cultural landscape. The first wind-swept hair inside a halo with the Christ child in both hands over a two-toned two novels are set in the Central Valley blue backdrop. The Christ child’s arms are outstretched. He has named it “Lady of California in the early 1960s, and the Madonna and Child,” despite the Cher look. third, This Angelic Land, published last Takoushian has been painting since the age of 10 and has amassed quite a port - May, is set during the 1992 Los Angeles folio over time. Canvas art ranks up there with his stain glass work and sculpting riots. In tapping themes of exile memo - skills. ry, and assimilation, Janigian uses the The oldest of four children, his father and uncle were both survivors of the Armenian experience as a lens through Armenian Genocide. A grandfather was killed by a Turkish army firing squad. A which to explore the central American grandmother died en route to Der Zor. experience. In that context, critic D. J. After settling in New York, Takoushian attended the Manhattan High School of Waldie of the Los Angeles Review of Aviation Trades, where he learned to repair aircraft. Books has called This Angelic Land , After graduation, he served as a gunner aboard a B-24 Liberator during World Oil on canvas by Vartan Gabrielian (1999), one of the newly acquired works “Today’s necessary book.” War II. Upon his discharge, he studied art and design at the Pratt Institute while Holding a PhD in psychology, from also working as a photoengraver. 1993 to 2005, Janigian was senior pro - In 1982, he and wife, Louise, moved to Arizona. They have been happily married out endangering the artists themselves, as well fessor of humanities at Southern for 66 years and have three children: son Jeffrey, an oud player; another son, Robert, as the ingenious means he devised to purchase California Institute of Architecture. He who studied clarinet under Khachig Kazarian, and daughter Susan, a pianist. Two and ship the paintings — many of them very has published in genres as diverse as grandsons are helping make guitars. large in size — make a fascinating story. It has poetry, social psychology, and design To help pass the retirement years fruitfully, he continued studying art at Glendale been described in publications such as John criticism. Aside from his novels, he is Community College. He has lectured to groups on the history of musical instru - McPhee’s New Yorker articles, subsequently co-author along with April Greiman of ments and served on a Police Reserve Pistol Team, where he became a top target expanded into the book titled The Ransom of Something from Nothing , a book on shooter. Russian Art (1994). the philosophy of graphic design. Takoushian looks over his life with a great deal of pride, taking nothing for grant - Though generally categorized as “non-con - Janigian was a contributing writer to ed and everything as a blessing from above. formist,” the art work produced during this West, the Los Angeles Times Sunday “Just surviving almost 90 years has been an accomplishment,” he maintains. period was rich and eclectic, encompassing dif - magazine, a finalist for the William In 1985, he had been told by a radiologist that he had an 85-percent blockage of ferent historical, philosophical, religious, and Saroyan Fiction Prize and the recipient his right carotid artery and survived. national roots and exhibiting aspects of of the Anahid Literary Award from As to the Cher painting, it has been offered to the hospital that performed the life- Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art Columbia University. He is a contribut - saving surgery. And it served as a focal point during an exhibit at St. Apkar’s and other avant-garde movements. ing writer for thenervousbreak - Armenian Church festivities last November. The collection eventually grew to over 20,000 down.com, and lives in Los Angeles. Will Cher ever get to see it? works representing more than 2,000 artists and More information about Janigian’s “I offered it to her but never got an answer from her agents,” he said. is widely considered to be the largest collection lecture may be had by e-mailing of its kind in the world. Included are works by [email protected]. see ALMA, page 11 S ATURDAY , MA RCH 2, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 ARTS & LIVING ALMA to Host Family Day, Matthew Karanian in March

WATERTOWN — On the occasion of the publi - Jerusalem, which is the subject of a future book cation of the third edition of his travel guide for by Karanian, will also be shown. Many of the Armenia and Karabagh, author and photographer book’s photographs were created along with co- Matthew Karanian will give a presentation at ALMA photographer Robert Kurkjian. on Sunday, March 10 at 2 p.m., speaking about the Karanian is a native of New Britain, Conn. He challenges of creating the book, with anecdotes practiced law for about a dozen years in from his decade of research and illustrated with Hartford, and he now has his own law firm in photographs from the new guidebook. Pasadena, Calif. Karanian first traveled to Karanian depicts through his photographs Armenia in 1995, to work at the American Armenia’s and Karabagh’s monasteries and University of Armenia (AUA). He later served as fortresses, taking the reader off the beaten path associate dean of the law program at AUA, and to ancient sites that are rarely seen by tourists, as Director of the university’s Legal Research and to environmental treasures such as Center. He and his law students founded Shikahogh, Teghut and Sevan. Images from the Armenia’s first English-language law journal, the historic and ancient Diasporan community of Armenian Law Review . The event is free. Karanian will be available to sign copies of the guide - book. One week later, on Sunday, March 17, ALMA will host its annual Family Day. Children and their families can partici - Children and their families at the 2012 Family Day at ALMA pate in a broad range of activities including Armenian dance lessons taught by curators Susan and Gary Dora Kalajian Tevanian, founder of the Ethnic Lind-Sinanian, arts and crafts, dress-up Arts Center, will present “The Talking Fish,” a and a puppet show. This year’s Family Puppet Show told in English with some Day takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. in Armenian phrases. “The Talking Fish” folktale ALMA’s Contemporary Arts Gallery. was recorded by Hovhannes Toumanian in Author-Photographer Matthew Karanian in Armenia The event attracted more than 100 Historic Armenia and depicts the kindness of an people last year. old man whose is repaid for his generosity. Tevanian created the Ethnic Arts Center in 1978 to bring everyday life in cultures around the world alive for children through the arts. She was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award from the City of Somerville in 2009 for her activism. The puppet show is supported in part by a grant from the Watertown Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. The event is free for children under 12, adults Puppets from the Talking Fish Puppet Show with museum admission.

ALMA Acquires Paintings From Dodge Collection

ALMA, from page 10 artists. The association continued until one artists from throughout the former Soviet morning in 1989, when Basmadjian left the Union, including more than 1,000 by more than Moscow hotel where he had been staying in the 100 artists from Armenia. company of two young men, never to be seen In 1986, the bulk of the collection was donat - again. It has been suggested that his disappear - ed to Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, ance was at the hands of the Russian mafia or where it is housed at the Zimmerli Art Museum the state security forces (or a combination of as the Norton and Nancy Dodge Collection of the two,) but the case has never been solved. Non-Conformist Art from the Soviet Union. The “We feel extremely fortunate to have these richly-illustrated book, From Gulag to Glasnost, wonderful paintings at ALMA, in memory of edited by Norton Dodge and Alla Rosenfeld Norton Dodge and celebrating everything he (1995), provides a comprehensive description of accomplished for Soviet artists,” commented the collection. Paintings have been donated ALMA Vice President Barbara Merguerian. “We also to the Davis Center at Harvard University are proud of our diverse collections, and these and to the Illinois Holocaust Museum and striking works add a valuable new dimension to Education Center. our holdings.” To amass this large collection, Dodge depend - ALMA is making plans to mount an exhibit of ed on several associates, prominent among the new acquisitions in September. them the Paris art dealer Garig Basmadjian, The Armenian Library and Museum of who specialized in the paintings of Armenian America is located at 65 Main St.

Accepting the new acquisitions at ALMA, from left, Assistant Curator Howayda Abu Affan, Director Susan Pattie, Vice President Barbara Merguerian, Dodge r5epresentative Charles Fick and Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian. 12 S ATURDAY , MA RCH 2, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING

Soprano Anush Hovhannissyan Signs with Royal Opera in London

LONDON — In January the Royal Opera House, Convent artistic development of young professional singers, conduc - Garden, London, made an announcement about “Jette tors, directors and répétiteurs. The Young Artists are an Parker Young Artists 2013,” announcing that the Royal international group of outstanding professionals at the start Opera House will join the Jette Parker Young Artists of their careers who have undertaken formal training and Programme in September 2013, selecting from more than have already worked with professional companies. They are 365 applicants from 50 countries, five artists, Armenian not students, but contracted, salaried employees of the soprano Anush Hovhannisyan, Australian soprano Kiandra Royal Opera House, who work here full-time over two years. Howarth, Russian mezzo-soprano Nadezhda Karyazina, There is no age limit for those on the Programme, but Irish mezzo-soprano Rachel Kelly and Portuguese tenor when choosing the Young Artists the audition panel take Luis Gomes. into consideration the stage individuals have reached in Hovhannisyan is currently studying at the Royal their careers and where they will be in terms of career devel - Conservatoire of Scotland under Patricia Hay. In the UK, opment and age after working for two years on the she has been supported by ABRSM International Programme. Scholarships, AGBU, RCS Trust and the Guzelian family. The Young Artists work on productions for the Royal Prizes include the Clonter Opera Prize, the Margaret Dick Opera, singing small roles, covering larger roles or joining Award, Ye Cronies Opera Award (RCS) and third prize at the music or directing staff. They also receive coaching in Les Azuriales International Singing Competition as well as all opera disciplines. They work with Royal Opera music a Tatevik Sazandaryan special prize and the silver medal in staff, a wide range of freelance music and language coaches the Delphic Games International Competition in Armenia). and visiting singers, directors and conductors. Every facili - She has taken master classes with Jane Eaglen, Lisa Milne, ty of the Company is made available to them so that their Malcolm Martineau, Michele Crider and Montserrat Caballe. talents are nurtured through total immersion in the life of Opera includes “Forester’s Wife,” “The Cunning Little the Royal Opera House. For further information, visit Vixen” and “Clara’s Betrothal in a Monastery” for www.roh.org.uk/about/jette-parker-young-artists-pro - RCS/Scottish Opera, to be followed by Helena A gramme.” Midsummer Night’s Dream for RCS/Scottish Opera and According to Opera Critic magazine, “Hovhannisyan Frau Fluth Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor for RCS. catches well the prissiness of Clara, also how aghast she is Concerts include The Voices of Montserrat Caballe Gala on donning the nun’s veil, while her voice conveys the Concert in Zaragoza. She has appeared on In Tune on BBC warmth and sincerity of Clara’s feelings.” Anush Hovhannisyan Radio 3 singing live with Donald Runnicles. For more information on her, visit The Jette Parker Young Artists Programme supports the www.anushhovhannisyan.co.uk.

Leningrad railway station and pictures of Lenin al identity in a system of government that To read this book is to see the early years of A Report everywhere. She soon sees the sights of the stresses international brotherhood. She states, the Soviet Republic of Armenia through the city. The Nevsky Prospect and the Winter “The scales must be perfectly balanced between eyes of a well educated, intelligent, albeit enthu - Palace and after a brief visit to Moscow, ulti - devotion to nationality and allegiance to the siastic observer. Her overwhelmingly positive mately separates herself from her tourist group Union and the international faith of commu - impressions are of historical interest, given that From Soviet to travel on to Armenia on her own. nism.” the breakup of the Soviet Union, while it has On the train, she encounters a lively mix of Yeghenian is clearly impressed by the Soviet meant true political independence for Armenia, travelers, an Englishman, two French women, efforts to promote industry and to further edu - has also brought about hardship. And there are Armenia Turks, Georgians and Armenians. All are cation. Much of the education is technical and some, no doubt, who miss the Soviet structures engaged in a heated discussion about the mer - includes apprenticeships that assist students in and support. its of capitalism versus Marxism. When obtaining jobs, once they complete their stud - But, in 1931, Yeghenian was unequivocal in The Red Flag at Ararat by A.Y Yeghenian. Yeghenian asks why there has to be so much ies. And the students who are most encouraged her praise and belief. “...there has never been 2013. Gomidas Institute. 132 pp. $22. suffering and deprivation in the course of the to seek higher education are the children of the such real equality of the people within a com - ISBN 978-1-909392=02-3 imposition of communism, the group answers, proletariat, not those of the privileged class. All monwealth anywhere in the world’s history, as “Because we must succeed quickly or the students learn three languages, Armenian, is already realized to a large measure within the By Daphne Abeel enemy will overtake us. We are isolated, we are Russian and one European language. Soviet Union. It is this feeling of security that surrounded by the capitalistic world and we She visits copper mines, even the secret ser - has turned a veritable death house where the Special to the Mirror-Spectator must be ready before they are ready to attack vice and villages where she learns that Armenian people were doomed to perish, into a us.” Armenian-Americans are making important house of resurrected people with hope written The author of this account, Aghavnie Yeghia She makes a brief stop in Baku, where at the donations, for example a brand new Buick to large on their faces.” Yeghenian, was born in Ottoman Turkey in time, there was a large Armenian population, the Armenian Red Cross and other financial The Red Flag at Ararat is available from the 1895, raised in Constantinople and made her amongst the Tartars, Russians, Turks and gifts. Gomidas Institute. way, at the age of 20, to the United States in Persians, all trying to absorb the doctrines of 1915, just at the time of the Armenian communism — “the universal brotherhood of Genocide. She later studied for degrees in social the workers of the world” and “racial equality.” work and law, specializing in immigration prob - There is also a brief stop in Tiflis (Tbilisi) World Premiere Book Launch for lems, but in 1931, she made a trip to Armenia, where she sees an enormous electrification to see what was transpiring in the land of her plant, built by the Soviets and also some of the Armenia’s First Travel Guide ancestors under Soviet rule. old city. Crossing the border from Georgia into The Red Flag at Ararat is a record of her LOS ANGELES — Matthew Karanian and Armenia while researching and writing this experiences and was first published in 1932. It Armenia is a transcendent experience for this traveler and current American readers may be Robert Kurkjian presented their book, and previous editions of the book. Each of is reissued now with a new introduction by his - Armenia and Karabakh: The Stone Garden them first traveled to Armenia in 1995 to torian, Pietro A. Shakarian, who states that this surprised by her wholehearted embrace of the Soviet system in her ancestral homeland. She Travel Guide , and were on hand for a talk work as professors at the American was the first book to be published about Soviet and book signing on Thursday, February 21, University of Armenia. Karanian is an attor - Armenia in English. exclaims, “The dream of the poets for a free Armenia has at last come into being under at the Consulate General of Armenia in Los ney, and he served as associate dean of the As Yeghenian states in her foreword to the Angeles. law program. Kurkjian is an environmental original edition, “This is not an exposition of Soviet rule. This ancient land is now one of the federated republics of the USSR, and as one The Consulate General of Armenia in Los scientist, and he was director of the univer - Marxian theory and its workings. ...This is an Angeles is located at 346 N. Central Ave. in sity’s Environmental Conservation and account of one traveler’s experiences. It is a per - link in the powerful chain feels herself as strong as the chain itself.” Glendale. Research Center. The book is illustrated sonal account and consciously chosen to be The event was the world premiere launch with color maps produced by AUA’s Birds of such, for I am persuaded that no author, no The Soviet system, ultimately, proved itself a cruel and repressive one, but for many, if not for the new edition of the book, which is Armenia Project. matter how objective his approach, can be Armenia’s best-selling travel guide. This Their writing and photography about entirely impersonal at the present time in most Armenians living there, and also for the diaspora, the new Republic of Armenia is seen third edition was published this week and Armenia has also been featured in maga - appraising the Soviet experiment.” contains 320 pages illustrated with 150 zines and newspapers of wide distribution Early on, however, she raises fundamental as a vehicle for opportunity and development. Yerevan, in the 1930s, is a city in infancy, but color photographs and 30 detailed maps. A in the US, Europe, and Canada, including in questions about the new regime. Is it possible never-before published map of historic CNN Traveller magazine, Geographical, for a society to be moral without religion? Can Yeghenian sees the master architect, Tasmanian, at work and sees the plans for the Armenia, which was created shortly after Photo District News and Photo Life . a worthwhile culture develop without individu - the Genocide, is also featured in the book. Karanian is also a co-author of Catching al freedom? new city to be built around the National Theater and the new public buildings already The Stone Garden Travel Guide is the Fire: Containing Forced Migration in a She takes the train from Helsinki to only guidebook for the region that empha - Volatile World , published by Lexington Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), journeying on constructed out of the native rose colored and gray stone, tufa. sizes conservation and ecology. The book is Books. from Leningrad to Moscow and finally to also the only photo-based guide to Armenia. The new Armenia travel book is available Yerevan. Her first sighting is of a Red soldier Everywhere, she is impressed by the emphasis on the role and the importance of the worker. Karanian and Kurkjian have each spent from Amazon.com and from independent and a Red flag. Her first impressions are of the nearly two decades living and working in bookstores. ragged, disheveled crowd waiting in the One issue that concerns her deeply is how the Armenian people can preserve their nation - S ATURDAY , MA RCH 2, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 ARTS & LIVING Julia and Zerounian ‘Night of the Templar’ Released Ensemble to Perform at PROVIDENCE — A dream has become a reality for actor, writer and direc - Regattabar on March 21 tor, Paul Sampson (Menas Yekhtikian.) On January 22, this former Providence Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA) CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Singer Julia and the member released his latest film, and directorial debut, “Night of the Templar.” Zerounian Ensemble perform familiar and exot - The film is about a Medieval ic songs from around the world at the knight who, after 700 years, Regattabar, on March 21, at 7:30 p.m. By Steven P. Megrdichian resurrects to fulfill his vow and With her gorgeous and evocative voice she bestow vengeance upon the transcends language and culture to express the reanimated spirits of those who music inherent in any language and culture. betrayed him long ago. In the course of one night, identities are With a worldwide repertoire of songs, Julia and revealed, destinies met and poetic justice is served. The movie portrays her ensemble deliver passion, loyalty, deceit, betrayal and revenge. an exciting musical The stage is set for retribution as a group is lured to a secluded experience with equal European castle under the guise of a promised “fantasy getaway week - parts conviction, end.” And as they read from an obscure storybook, a tale of avarice is authority and heart. reenacted for their entertainment. However, they are unaware that According to the they are the cursed and have been gathered for their own executions. Boston Globe , “The Modern-day vengeance steeped in a medieval act of treachery, “Night soulful vocalist is a of the Templar” combines the horror, mystery, adventure and dark one-woman United humor genres. Nations of Cabaret, The movie stars Paul Sampson, David Carradine (“Kung Fu,” “Kill singing French, Bill”) in his last film, Udo Kier (“Blade,” “Armageddon,”) Norman Italian, Armenian, Reedus (“Walking Dead,” “Boodnocks Saints,”) Billy Drago Russian, Persian, Julia Zerounian (“Untouchables,” “The Hills Have Eyes”) and several others. Yiddish and Latin The film is available for in-store purchase at Wal-Mart locations. For tunes in addition to other viewing options and movie details, visit American Songbook classics, with her husband www.nightofthetemplar.com. pianist Sarkis Zerounian leading a sextet includ - ing violin, saxophone, bass and percussion.” Julia Zerounian began her singing and acting career at an early age in Armenia, later per - forming with various professional ensembles and theatrical groups throughout the former Soviet Union. The combination of her soulful singing and C A LENDAR mastery of musical styles has not only gained a C A LENDAR large and loyal following, but garnered rave reviews from prominent musicians and music critics. For reservations and information, contact www.regattabarjazz.com.

WATERTOWN — The ArsenalARTS and Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston present SNDC’s production of “Journey Art of John Berberian at Through Time” at the Charles Mosesian ALMA on March 3 Theater in the Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal St. A rescheduled sec - WATERTOWN — On Sunday, March 3 at 2 ond performance will take place Sunday, p.m., Providence artist John Berberian will March 3, 4 p.m. For tickets, call Garen: exhibit his drawings at the Armenian Library 617-930-2921, Arsenal Box Office: 617- and Museum of America (ALMA). 923-8487 or visit www.sayatnova.com Best known for the intense realism of his pen - cil-drawn portraits of notable public figures, to buy online. Tickets are $30 and the Berberian was a prize winner for his portrait of event has assigned seating. Lincoln at the Wickford Art Association and was awarded the first prize by the Rhode Island Art education association at the Krauss Gallery in Providence. In school, Berberian was encouraged by his art teacher, and upon graduation, won awards for his technique. He was commissioned to draw and present the portraits of Julie Andrews and her husband, Blake Edwards, when she Sponsor a Teacher in Armenia and Karabagh 2013 accepted an award from the Rhode Island International Film Festival. He similarly drew and presented a portrait of Ernest Borgnine while he received his lifetime achievement Since its inception in 2001, TCA’s ‘Sponsor award. Critically, Berberian has been acclaimed for a Teacher’ program has raised over $563,000 the life-like depictions of his subjects. and reached out to 4,440 teachers and school workers in Armenia and Karabagh.

£

K Yes, I want to sponsor teachers in Armenia and Karabagh to continue helping them to educate the children, our future leaders. I would like to have the teacher’s name and address. K $160 K $ 320 K $ 480 K other $ ————————— Name Address City State Zip code Tel:

Make check payable to: Tekeyan Cultural Association – Memo: Sponsor a Teacher 2010 Mail your check with this form to: TCA Sponsor a Teacher 5326 Valverde, Houston, TX 77056 John Berberian with his portrait of President Your donation is Tax Deductible. Abraham Lincoln 14 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 2, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

T HE A RMENIAN COMMENTARY Mirror- Post-Election Developments in Armenia

Hold early parliamentary elections and 3. Punish those responsi - By Edmond Y. Azadian ble for the fraudulent elections. Spectator None of the above requests have been met, although the conver - sation has been courteous and non-confrontational. People truly The February 18 presidential election produced a new and appreciate Hovannisian’s civil demeanor in all these dealings. unexpected political landscape in Armenia. Based on parliamen - He has returned to the Freedom Square rally and has vowed to tary elections of last May, most of the pollsters were forecasting continue the struggle through constitutional means until he Established 1932 an uneventful presidential election, ranking the incumbent achieves victory. His slogan is “salute to Armenia” and many peo - President Serge Sargisian as the uncontested front-runner. ple have already began to characterize his movement as the An ADL Publication In all, seven candidates were competing but the pollsters had “Revolution of Salute.” This, of course, is reminiscent of the been predicting only single-digit percentage of the votes to every “Rose Revolution” in Georgia and the “Orange Revolution” in other contender including Raffi Hovannisian, founder of the Ukraine. Both movements were replete with youth trained EDITOR Heritage Party, which had barely met the 5-percent requirement through the Soros Foundation. They were alien injections in Alin K. Gregorian at the parliamentary elections last May. Literally, they received 6 those respective societies and not homegrown movements. percent of the votes. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind in Armenia that the ASSISTANT EDITOR But at the conclusion of the presidential election, the pollsters Heritage Party is supported by the West and particularly by the Gabriella Gage were surprised to find out that Hovannisian, in fact, had garnered US and there are no qualms about that perception. In his original 37 percent of the votes. Perhaps that result even surprised the platform Hovannisian had questioned the existence of the Russian ASSOCIATE EDITOR Aram Arkun candidate himself. military base in Armenia and asked for the revision of the treaty. This unforeseen outcome will have a far-reaching impact on the That statement clearly indicated where he was coming from. ART DIRECTOR political developments in Armenia for a long time to come. To During his speeches he has also outlined his foreign policy: He has Marc Mgrditchian begin with, Raffi’s strong showing demotes Levon Ter-Petrosian’s said that the issue of Protocols is dated. By 2015 either Armenia HAK (Armenian National Congress) coalition as the major oppo - establishes its diplomatic relations with Turkey without any pre - sitional force. The coalition, lately, was striving to reform itself as conditions or Yerevan presents its claims to Turkey. He has also SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: a full-fledged political party, after many defections. Therefore, a said that one should not assume that the recognition of Nagorno Edmond Azadian tectonic shift occurred in the opposition camp. Karabagh is out of the question, since Kosovo and East Timor It is yet too early for Hovannisian to be intoxicated with his have been recognized. This, of course, is easier said than done. CONTRIBUTORS: election results, because most of the votes cast in his favor are He makes it sound as if these political goals are easily attain - Florence Avakian, Elizabeth Aprahamian, actually votes against the present administration. People are des - able and it is this particular administration which is unwilling or Daphne Abeel, Dr. Haroutiune Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Prof. perate and they don’t anticipate any improvement in their plight. incapable of achieving them. Vahakn N. Dadrian, Diana Der The rich are getting richer and they are demonstrating their First of all Armenia may ask to restore diplomatic relations with Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, Kevork obscene level of opulence in an arrogant manner, while the major - Turkey without preconditions, but what about the other party, Keushkerian, Sonia Kailian-Placido , ity is sustaining a life below the poverty level, or abandoning the Ankara? Doesn’t Ankara have its own preconditions? Harut Sassounian, Mary Terzian, Hagop homeland and heading away, towards an uncertain future. Second, the recognition of Karabagh by the Armenian govern - Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian According to the tabulation of one independent pollster, ment is equivalent to a declaration of war. Historic justice is on Aharon Adibekian, the Heritage Party, which, in cooperation with the Armenian side but the other side is the one with the global CORRESPONDENTS: Free Democrats, had garnered 5 percent of the votes of the elec - political might. Armenia - Hagop Avedikian torate last May, this time around has received votes from the fol - Throughout the election campaign the ARF was waiting in the Boston - Nancy Kalajian Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian lowers of all the parties, including the ruling Republican Party. wings. It did not produce its own presidential candidate nor did Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach Thus 6 percent of Republicans voted for him, 36 percent of Gagik it extend its support to any of the running candidates. Its election Zaroukian’s Prosperous Armenia Party, 40 percent of Ter- proclamation did not even mention Raffi Hovannisian. Instead, it Contributing Photographers: Petrosian’s HAK, 38 percent of the ARF, 29 percent of the Land Jacob Demirdjian, Harry Koundakjian, Jirair stated that the party supports the “will of the people,” the equiv - Hovsepian of Laws Party and 77 percent of the Heritage Party. alent of suggesting they like mom and apple pie. But with Raffi Hovannisian projects a very positive image. He is charis - Hovannisian’s success comes a dramatic development: Armen matic, honest and reliable. He can look imposing and authorita - Rustamian, an ARF leader, spoke at the Heritage Party’s rally and tive, yet he is mild-mannered and respectful. he began his speech by saying: “the Freedom Square was waiting The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published Raffi Hovannisian and Vartan Oskanian (through his Civilitas for the ARF and here we come.” It seems once they thought they weekly, except two weeks in July, by: Foundation) have much in common, including the fact that they were behind a sure bet, they threw their weight behind the insur - Baikar Association, Inc. both served as foreign ministers and that they both were born gent. They let Raffi pick the chestnuts from the fire and now they 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 outside of Armenia. Their most noted similarity is that both intro - are ready to share in the victory. Telephone: 617-924-4420 duced a political culture alien to a country recently emancipated Also joining the rally was Nikol Pashinian, who is always present FAX: 617-924-2887 from Soviet authoritarian rule. Most of the votes cast in whenever incendiary speeches are needed and insults are needed to www.mir rorspectator.com Hovannisian’s favor indicate that this political culture has made be hurled at the president and the current administration. E-Mail: editor@mirrorspectator .com inroads in the thinking of the Armenian electorate. Also, it seems The elections were not 100 percent honest by any means. For advertising: [email protected] bias against diasporan representatives is eroding. Perhaps in his Improvements are slow to come but they are already perceptible. mind, Hovannisian has been trying to emulate Georgian Hovannisian’s emergence as a credible opposition leader will cer - President Mikheil Saakashvili, a US-educated lawyer supported tainly expedite the improvement process. His presence and daily by the US and the West. Although Saakashvili was able to curb demonstrations are also a testament to the fact that the opposi - SUBSCRIPTION RATES : corruption and developed the economy at a fast pace, his current tion can exist in Armenia. predicament is not that enviable; thus, hopefully, the similarity of However, those who voted for Sargisian had Armenia’s stabili - the two statesmen does not go any further. ty in mind. He is not a leader that will throw Armenia into an U.S.A. $80 a year Hovannisian has come a long way from the days he made a adventurous course. He is a man of peace and with his reelection legitimate claim at the wrong place and the wrong time, which there is some assurance that war is not yet an option. Canada $125 a year cost him his position as the first foreign minister of Armenia. Some pundits even have high hopes and beliefs that Mr. Other Countries $190 a year Indeed, during a visit to Turkey he raised the issue of the Sargisian is the leader capable of curbing the appetite of oli - Armenian Genocide, without coordinating with the president, garchs. who was in the process of negotiating a grain deal with Ankara During this post-election turmoil, there is a profusion of advice to forestall the specter of famine in Armenia. to Raffi Hovannisian. Die-hard opposition elements would like to © 2011 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator The results of the voting have been rated as the best yet in see the struggle carried to the bitter end. Others have been advis - Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA Armenia since its independence 21 years ago. Kathryn Ashton ing him to capitalize on his success and negotiate a position of and additional mailing offices. from the European Union (EU) has given credit to the authorities power to bring about change and reform. Two former prime min - ISSN 0004-234X in Armenia for their efforts to raise the level of electoral process isters and presidential candidates, namely, Vazken Manoukian towards European standards. The US State Department and Hrant Bagratian, have been advancing the idea of a coalition POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, P.O. Box 302, spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, has endorsed the evaluation of government with the ruling party. Some people even believe that Watertown, MA 02471-0302 the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Hovannisian is being manipulated and supported by outside Other than the editorial, views and opinions monitors, marking a few dark areas that need to be addressed. forces and consequently he has to take into account their politi - expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily The ARF and HAK representatives, however, evaluated the elec - cal agenda. eflect the policies of the publisher. tions as “stolen” through bribes, irregularities, ballot-stuffing and Armenia needs stability. The Turkish news media is already so on. anticipating a crisis in Armenia and Azerbaijan is intensifying Although President Sargisian has claimed victory with 58 per - cross-border skirmishes, especially in the Tavoush region. cent of the vote, Raffi Hovannisian is claiming to be the true pres - Change is needed, reforms are necessary and the people are ident-elect with 80 percent of the votes, without indicating just desperate. But reforms cannot be achieved without concrete how he has arrived at that figure. His first reaction was rather plans. Much of the change also depends on outside factors. No Copying for other than personal use or Quixotic as he went to Freedom Square and gave an ultimatum matter who heads the government, Armenia cannot lift the block - internal reference is prohibited without to President Sargisian to show up at the rally the next day at 5 ade nor can it resolve the Karabagh conflict overnight. What can express permission of the copyright p.m. and to surrender to “the will of the people.” As expected, no be changed are the internal factors only: the end of corruption, owner. Address requests for reprints or one showed up at the given time, therefore, Hovannisian himself the intensification of the economic recovery and a rule of law. back issues to: headed to the presidential palace for a one-and-a-half-hour meet - At this time, much hinges on Raffi Hovannisian’s actions. He Baikar Association, Inc. ing with Sargisian, where he made three requests: 1. Recognize can prove to be a spoiler or a true reformer. If he chooses wisely, 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 the “people’s victory” (meaning that of Raffi Hovannisian). 2. he will be a part of Armenian history. S ATURDAY , M ARCH 2, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 COMMENTARY

cause great sorrow both in Turkey and Azerbaijan,” give up the so-called genocide and territorial claims thanks Sadikov told Trend, an Azeri publication. Professor to these steps, they are mistaken,” stated Gudrat Sadikov’s objection was part of a larger campaign orches - Hasanguliyev, Chairman of the United Azerbaijan Popular trated by Azeri leaders, accusing Turkey of undermining Front Party. their efforts to pressure Armenia into making territorial • “President Gul’s congratulations of Serzh Sargisian My Turn concessions regarding Artsakh (Karabagh). was a hasty decision,” stated Nizami Jafarov, Parliament Here are some of the objections leveled at President Gul member and head of the working group on inter-parlia - By Harut Sassounian by leading Azeri officials: mentary relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey. • “Turkey must clarify the issue of Turkish President • “This step will not gain Turkey positive assessment by Abdullah Gul’s sending congratulations to his Armenian the global community. Turkey can be sure of it. Azerbaijan Slams Turkish counterpart Serge Sargisian,” stated Novruz Mammadov, Congratulating Serzh Sargisian was a hasty step. This is President For Congratulating chief foreign policy of Azerbaijan President. not in the national interest of either Azerbaijan or Turkey,” • “This hurt us…. It is necessary to pay attention to the stated Parliament member Fazail Aghamali. President Sargisian fact that no matter how many signs of politeness may be • “Serge Sargisian is Turkey’s enemy. He accuses Turkey expressed to Armenia, it uses it for other purposes,” stated of so-called Armenian genocide and makes territorial While Armenia is grappling with the fallout from the Oqtay Asadov, Speaker of Azerbaijan’s Parliament. claims. It is not clear why Abdullah Gul decided to be one February 18 presidential voting and trying to accommo - • “We didn’t expect this…. It is regrettable that the of the first to congratulate Sargisian on his re-election. This date a newly energized opposition, its two hostile neigh - President of Turkey, a strategic partner of Azerbaijan, hasti - is unacceptable,” stated Vafa Guluzade, foreign policy advi - bors, Azerbaijan and Turkey, are entangled in a feud with ly congratulated Sargisian, who was elected as a result of sor to the former president of Azerbaijan. each other over the Armenian election. fraud,” stated Mubariz Gurbanli, member of Parliament Rather than lashing back at the undue Azeri interference A year ago, in a column titled, “Who Rules Turkey: and Deputy Executive Secretary of the ruling New in Turkey’s decisions, the Turkish Foreign Ministry sheep - Erdogan or Aliyev?” I expressed my astonishment that Azerbaijan Party. ishly explained that President Gul’s congratulatory letter to Turkey was allowing Azerbaijan to repeatedly interfere in • “Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s sending of congrat - President Sargisian was “a diplomatic courtesy and a ges - its sovereign policies, as in the case of the Armenia-Turkey ulations before the official announcement of the results is ture of goodwill.” Gul had also congratulated Sargisian’s Protocols. Now there are two fresh examples of the wrong step. This is the continuation of Turkey’s zero- first presidential election in 2008. Azerbaijan’s unwarranted interference in Turkish decision- problem policy with neighboring states. But, actually this How long will the all-powerful Turkish government, making. policy failed. With this policy, Turkey’s relations with most which projects its political, economic, and military clout far No sooner had Turkish Airlines announced that it would of the states in the region have become tense. Moreover, and wide, tolerate Azerbaijan’s repeated interference in distribute a copy of Agos, a bilingual Armenian-Turkish the Turkish President’s congratulations to Sargisian con - Turkey’s policies? When will Ankara dare to tell Baku to weekly newspaper to its international passengers, Fikret tradict the interests of Azerbaijan. At a time when the inter - mind its own business and make it clear that Turkey will Sadikov, an Azeri professor and political analyst, objected national community is expressing views that an illegitimate not subordinate its national interests to Azerbaijan’s self- to its dissemination, calling it an “absolutely absurd and government exists in Armenia, the Turkish government centered wishes? irresponsible gesture.” sealed the legitimacy of the Armenian leadership. This is Armenia is fortunate that, while it is dealing with the Sadikov also complained that Turkish President wrong and regrettable,” stated Arif Hajili, Central repercussions of the presidential election, its two hostile Abdullah Gul had sent a congratulatory letter to President Executive Board Member of Azerbaijan’s Musavat Party. neighbors, Azerbaijan and Turkey, are busy feuding with Serge Sargisian for his re-election. “Such steps would • “If someone thinks that Armenia and Armenians will each other!

well known that there was such a historical Nazarene…No one can read the Gospels with - fake prophet, a charlatan and to not accept In the End: person who was crucified. We know this from out feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His Jesus at all, even as a humanitarian. Is that the Jewish historian Josephus of the first cen - personality pulsates in every word. No myth is possible? Even non-believers cannot ignore tury. The question is whether or not Jesus was filled with such life.” Jesus’ high morality. only a humanitarian, a revolutionary, a Another quote from non-Christian Gandhi is For this reason there are two ways to look Who is Jesus? prophet and in the end a good man, or if Jesus much the same sentiment: “A man who was to Jesus. First is to recognize and believe in was in fact both man and divine at the same completely innocent, offered himself as a sac - Him as He is in the Gospels, as Jesus the Son time? How could that be possible? Without rifice for the good of others, including his ene - of God, the second personality of Holy Trinity, faith and with only our human understanding, mies, and became the ransom of the world. It God in flesh, God-man, the perfect God and By Fr. Bedros Shetilian it is really difficult to accept the divinity of was a perfect act.” It is amazing that Gandhi the perfect man at the same time. Jesus. also said, “Jesus became the ransom of the The second way is to not recognize Him at I am posing this question intentionally, Actually, this became a question right after world,” because he put Jesus knowingly or all, to not accept His message of love on which because I have already mentioned in my previ - Jesus’ death and resurrection in the first cen - unknowingly as the first among the other reli - western civilization has been based, the mes - ous article in the Mirror-Spectator ’s tury. The fourth Gospel of John is different gious leaders. sage which eventually led to democracy and December 1 issue, if God the Creator, “God of than the other three Gospels. It was not writ - I also had such a testimony from a Buddhist freedom. Also to not recognize the great mas - scientists and philosophers” is relatively easily ten to record Jesus’ life, but rather to answer monk in Russia, who said to me that God terpieces of art dedicated to Jesus. Is that pos - accepted by the majority of people, then why those who were questioning His divinity at revealed Himself more in Christianity than in sible? Could such a charlatan, if Jesus was so, is there a difficulty for many people to under - that time. So why does the Gospel of John any other religion. be the cause for the creation of the great mas - stand the meaning of a personal God. start with this famous and powerful chapter, If that’s true, if Jesus was a highly moral terpieces of arts dedicated to Him, like our According to the latest CBS poll in “In the beginning was the Word (that is Jesus), being, the most moral being of all time, then Sharagans (Hymns), thousand of icons, paint - December 2012, nearly eight in 10 Americans and the Word was with God. He was with God He couldn’t lie, He couldn’t lie about the main ings, sculptures, sacred musical and literary believe in God. My personal experience tells in the beginning?” subject of his ministry, about who He was. works? me that as well. The majority of people have Nowadays this issue, the divinity of Jesus, is Actually He was careful not to say that openly I won’t give my conclusion. I am a Christian no problem at least accepting that there is one of the most controversial questions for from the beginning, even to His closest ones. clergyman, and it is obvious what I think and something above, a power, a supreme being. many. I have had much experience in talking He did that gradually, He was a good educator, in what I believe. I am just sharing my However, when the issue comes to the revela - with non-believers, especially back when I was and the first time when He asked to His disci - thoughts with you and especially with the tion and most importantly to the content of a lay person, a musician in Russia, because my ples, “Who do you say I am?” Peter was the ones who still have doubts about Jesus, to the revelation — The Bible — many people generation and the previous generation of one who gave the right answer: “You are the think about these questions and on their own start to ask questions. Soviet people whom I worked with were edu - Christ, the Son of the living God.” Then He come to a conclusion. I know that the accep - What kind of God is one that could be vin - cated in the Soviet era and many of them were made that clear when He answered the ques - tance of the divinity of Jesus through logic is dictive, such as with Noah’s Ark and the non-believers. tion of the high priest Caiaphas, “Tell us if you only the beginning, after which a growth in flood? What kind of God allows suffering? I And guess what? Almost every single one of are the Christ, the Son of God.” He replied, the faith can follow, and that experience can tried to answer to this question in my previous those atheists said that even though they “Yes, it is as you say.” lead one to live Jesus, to feel His presence, article in Mirror-Spectator , “The Existence of don’t believe in Jesus as God in flesh, they Now, could such a person, who is accepted which is the highest point of happiness. That Evil and God’s Will,” published in January have a big respect for Jesus’ humanitarian by many non-believers as the most moral per - is my understanding of happiness, to be with 2013. I hope my explanation helped answer message, the message of love. Many of them son of all time, lie about who He was? This is Jesus, to feel His presence, and to do things these questions. recognized Jesus as the most important just something to think about. Jesus’ testimo - that is in harmony with the grace that is com - Another question that comes up is: What humanitarian of all time — the most moral per - ny is recorded in the Gospels from people who ing from Him, to do good things and to strug - kind of God considers things that are accepted son of history. got to know Him personally. Where is the gle against our weaknesses. by many people in today’s society, such as Let us come back to the US. Let us see what logic, if we say that Jesus was a high moral per - Benjamin Franklin once said, “As to Jesus of abortion and homosexuality, sins? non-Christian Einstein says about Jesus: “As a son and at the same time we don’t believe in Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particular - Still another popular question is: In the child I received instructions both in the Bible His words? ly desire, I think the system of morals and His end, how can it be that God was incarnated and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am There is only one way to erase this doubt religion, as He left them to us, is the best the and became a man in Jesus Christ? For enthralled by the luminous figure of and that is to say that Jesus was a big liar, a world ever saw or is likely to see. many, Jesus’ story sounds foolish; God became a man, lived as a man and then was executed. phone number. Ernest Renan (1823-1892) was the Notice to Contributors — Deadline for submission of all articles and advertising is 12 noon on Monday of the week renowned French writer and philosopher who of publication. The welcomes articles, commentaries and community news — Photos will be published without charge at the discretion of the editors and art director. wrote the first book questioning the divinity of Armenian Mirror-Spectator Jesus (Life of Jesus, 1863). On his deathbed he from our readers. In order to assure the accurate and timely publication of articles submit - Photos will be returned only if a self-addressed and stamped envelope is included. ted, please note the following policies: — The will publish only one article about an upcoming organizational event. For said to his family members who were sur - M-S — All articles submitted should be typed, double (or triple) spaced and printed in a type size major special events, exceptions may be made only by special arrangement with the rounding him that they didn’t believe enough large enough to be clearly legible (10 point or larger). Submissions that do not conform to these editors. in what he had written in his book about specifications will be assigned lowest priority. — Telephone numbers, ticket prices and other details (at the discretion of the editors) will not Jesus. — Articles sent by fax are acceptable, and e-mail submissions are encouraged. be included in press releases, but should be reserved for calendar listings and advertise - Let us move forward and tackle the ques - — All submissions should include the name of a contact person and a daytime tele - ments. tions that pertain to Jesus. It is proven and 16 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 2, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

Artsakh Celebrates 25th Anniversary of National Liberation Movement

ARTSAKH, from page 1 stability in the whole region. Eternal glory Different events dedicated to 25th noted that “Artsakh’s path was challenged cultivate national hatred and animosity and honor to all the martyrs,” Artsakh anniversary of Artsakh movement were held by various ordeals and your nation refused towards the neighboring nation. However, leader said. around the world, including in Lebanon. to allow these obstacles to break your will authorities of Azerbaijan responded to our “Valuating the 25-year-long path we can An exhibition was organized in Beirut, the and determination. The tragedy of Sumgait civilized demands and peaceful demonstra - say with honor and dignity that realizing opening ceremony of which was conducted and the violence that occurred in other tions by organizing massacres, exiles and the ideas of the objective of 1988 Movement by leader of Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon Azerbaijani cities 25 years ago proved the persecution. They once again tried to solve the Armenian nation restored its statehood, Archbishop Gegham Khacheryan, Armenian virtue of Nagorno Karabagh’s choice to pre - the Armenian issue through already applied and today due to the unshakable Armenia- Ambassador to Lebanon Ashot Kocharyan, serve its people’s unique identity by estab - policy — genocide,” he said. Artsakh-Diaspora trinity it has carved its NKR representative in Middle East Karo lishing a sovereign democracy.” “Nevertheless, this time their infernal own fate independently, keeps inviolable the Kebabjyan and Lebanese Minister of Schiff, who has been a champion of intensions doomed to failure. The whole native country’s frontiers and develops the Industry Verj Sabounjian. Photos, repre - increased US assistance to Artsakh, con - Armenian nation came together for the sake land of ancestors. All of us, the whole nation senting Artsakh everyday life, as well as por - curred, noting that “You have my support as of defending Artsakh, the native country will do everything possible for continuous traits of martyrs by Seyran Khatlamachyan you work to strengthen your democracy, and people, its honor and reliable future. At strengthening of our independent statehood were presented at the exhibition. and I will continue to stand with the people the cost of the best Armenian sons’ blood, that has been reached at such a high price. In the US, Congressional Caucus on of Artsakh in their struggle towards inter - due to their heroic deeds and selflessness It is an exclusive value without which it is Armenian Issues Co-Chair Rep. Frank national recognition. I join you today in we succeeded in protecting our indepen - impossible to think about the immortality Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D- looking forward to the day when Artsakh dence and freedom as well as gave a worthy and development of the Fatherland and the CA) congratulated the 25th anniversary. will achieve the recognition it deserves rebuff to the enemy establishing peace and native people. In a letter sent to Sahakyan, Pallone among the community of nations.” A Cathedral on the Verge of Collapse: The Campaign to Save Mren

MREN, from page 1 although I have tried to get permission. LK: The website VirtualAni.org describes of relationships between empire, frontier, and Maranci’s areas of expertise include LK: Observers say that Mren Cathedral Mren as being one of four structures similar in local Armenian nobility. There is much more to Byzantine art and architecture, and the art and seems to rival in size the Great Cathedral of Ani, design and which were likely built around the say but this is a start, one hopes. architecture of the Transcaucasus — principally and contains bas-reliefs and remnants of frescos same time, the other three being the St. Gayane LK: Even as Mren is on the brink of collapse, Armenia. not unlike those at the Cathedral of the Holy Church — built between 630 and 641 AD at would you say that it is one of the more intact According to Maranci, “the cathedral of Mren Cross in Aghtamar. Is forbidden access the rea - Etchmiadzin; the church of St. John at Bagavan monuments still standing in the Kars/Ani is now in danger of collapse. Constructed circa son why Mren is not as well known as these — built between 632 - 639 AD and north of the region? 638 AD, Mren is a masterpiece of world art and other two monuments? Lake Van region but now destroyed; and the CM: Well, it is hard to say. So many are in a product of the ‘Golden Age’ of Armenian CM: Mren and Ani are comparable in size, Odzun Basilica — probably built in the first half danger, so many have collapsed, and so many architecture. Bearing an inscription naming the and Mren probably served as a local model for of the 7th century AD in the Odzun region of have been lost to historical record. But it is Roman emperor Heraclius, and a unique sculpt - Ani Cathedral in its domed basilica layout and Armenia. How does Mren compare in historical remarkable in many ways that a 7th century ed relief image of Heraclius returning form, although Ani exhibits typical features of importance to these other structures? monument, so isolated and in such a seismic Christendom’s greatest relic — the True Cross — the 10-11th century Armenian architectural tra - CM: Gayane is obviously important for its area, has survived as well as it has — so far. to Jerusalem, Mren preserves precious material dition. Mren has sculpted bas-reliefs on its por - connections to the conversion to Christianity LK: How can readers of this interview help evidence for one of the most dramatic and yet tals and over some windows, and preserves frag - tradition and because of its connections to the bring attention to Mren Cathedral so that schol - poorly documented moments in history. It is ments of wall painting in the eastern end. Patriarch Ezr, who is thought to have built it. If ars and restorers might conduct important also the largest domed basilica surviving from However, it bears nothing like the program of the church of Bagavan were standing today, it inspection and preservation work and so figural reliefs at Aght’amar — something that would have been, by far, the largest domed that Mren may become a protected site? makes this church anomalous even in the basilica in the region. Odzun is difficult to dis - CM: I am in the midst of contacting UNESCO Armenian tradition. Aght’amar’s wall painting cuss, because it has been renovated so many and, of course, nominating the monument to is also better preserved. But the inaccessibility times. While it dates to the early medieval peri - the World Monuments Fund. I will also be orga - of Mren surely shaped its scholarly reception od, it is generally thought to have a 9th centu - nizing a global petition in the very near future. and public awareness about it. Toros ry phase and perhaps even later ones. Mren is In the meantime, readers who would like to get Toramanyan, known as the father of Armenian the only one of these monuments that is linked involved in the campaign to save Mren architectural historiography, tells us that he to the broader global world via its epigraphy Cathedral may signal their interest by contact - himself was only able to visit it for one day. and sculpture. It speaks directly to the network ing me at: [email protected]

AUA to Change Landscape of Economics Study in Armenia

YEREVAN — The American University of The new Dilijan center will Armenia reaffirmed its commitment to develop - also provide internship and ing the study and practice of quantitative eco - job opportunities for stu - nomics in Armenia at a public launch of its dents, as well as engage stu - new Master of Science in Economics program dents and graduates in exten - Prof. Christina Maranci on Thursday, February 7. The Open House sive research and policy event introduced the program to prospective analyses projects under the students, finance professionals and the broader guidance of prominent inter - the region, and a key example of the architec - community. national and senior CBA tural achievements of the seventh century.” “AUA is proud to do what we can to improve researchers and policy mak - Maranci stressed that Mren may not be stand - the state of quantitative economics, economet - ers. ing much longer. “Photographs from the 1990s rics, and economic modeling in Armenia,” said “In this way, we will build to the first decade of the 21st century show the AUA President Dr. Bruce Boghosian, stressing the next generation of com - progressive collapse of the south façade. Now the significance of the new program, specifical - petitive public policy makers the entire south aisle lies in rubble on the ly designed with Armenia’s needs in mind. “It and institutions to under - ground, severely compromising the domed is with these goals in mind that this program stand the mechanisms dri - superstructure of the monument and opening has been developed. We see it as a natural pri - ving the global economy the interior and its wall paintings to the ele - ority to build this kind of human capacity in while developing local poten - Dr. David Blake ments,” she said. “The prospect of stabilizing Armenia and a central component of Armenia’s tial,” Yeritsyan added. what is left is at present doubtful, however, economic future.” The event also served as an because of Mren’s position within a military The new program, devised by AUA with the opportunity to welcome Dr. David Blake, the modern technologies,” she said. zone in Eastern Turkey (Kars province) next to cooperation and encouragement of the Central interim dean of AUA’s College of Business and Zohrabian also presented the targeted learn - the closed Armenian-Turkish border. Visiting Bank of Armenia (CBA), will prepare students Economics. Blake has joined AUA from the ing outcomes of the program and practical the site is forbidden.” for careers and advanced studies in a wide University of California, Irvine, where he previ - applications of a master’s in rconomics, under - Maranci is campaigning to raise awareness range of fields in economics. Career options ously served as dean of the Paul Merage School scoring the theoretical knowledge, quantitative about Mren’s precarious condition. “Mren has include sectors such as public and private bank - of Business. skills and analytical abilities students will gain. stood for over a millennium, bearing world his - ing, insurance, consulting, quantitative analysis, “The use of economic modeling and ‘big After a brief reception, prospective students tory on its walls,” she said. “Its collapse would and others. data’ is an integral part of the chain of discov - gathered for a detailed presentation about the represent a tragic loss to human knowledge.” “The Central Bank of Armenia is proud to ery, innovation, and implementation which the university as whole, as well as the structure of The following is an interview with Maranci. support AUA’s MS in Economics program, College of Business Administration and the Master of Science in Economics program. Lucine Kasbarian: For years, scholars and which has come at an ideal time for Armenia, to Economics is all about,” explained Blake. AUA’s Financial Aid Coordinator Gayane travelers have been unable to obtain official per - build human and institutional capacity for con - Director of Admissions Arina Zohrabian high - Davoyan described scholarship opportunities, mission to visit this site. When was the last time ducting cutting-edge economic research and lighted AUA’s mission. “AUA’s programs com - while Admissions Coordinator Karina Satamyan that architectural experts had access to Mren? policy analyses,” said CBA Deputy Chairman bine Armenia’s excellence in higher education outlined the application process. Christina Maranci: The last time anyone was Nerses Yeritsyan. “The Research and Training with the American ideals of academic freedom, The 15-month program is a division of the able to do substantial scientific work there was in Centre of the CBA in Dilijan will serve as an critical thinking, strong faculty and student gov - AUA College of Business and Economics and is the 1960s when Nicole and Jean-Michel Thierry excellent venue for students by hosting some of ernance, social responsibility and public service, scheduled to begin in the summer. The deadline visited multiple times. I have never been there the MS in Economics program courses.” interdisciplinary study, and the embracing of for applications is April 22.