JANUARY 30, 2021 MMirror-SpeirTHEror-SpeARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXXI, NO. 2, Issue 4670 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 IN BRIEF Deputy PM: Karabakh War Death Toll Won’t Hrant Dink Remembered Surpass 4,000 YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net ) — The bodies of In Germany 3,439 servicemen have been recovered from the Nagorno-Karabakh battle field as of January 20, By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan said on Special to the Mirror-Spectator Wednesday, January 20. The final death toll from the six-week war won’t surpass 4000, he added. BERLIN — Fourteen years have passed since Addressing lawmakers in parliament, Avinyan Hrant Dink was assassinated in front of the failed to provide the number of missing soldiers, offices of Agos newspaper in Istanbul. Since saying that it is still being verified. then, conditions for journalists, intellectuals and According to him, the number of people with pro-democracy activists inside Turkey have amputated limbs does not exceed 150, and all of worsened and the new war in Nagorno- them will be getting “prosthetics with the best stan- Karabakh has engulfed Turks and Armenians dards.” again in violent conflict. At such a time of Azerbaijan has handed over the remains of 30 political repression and renewed military troops to the Armenian side, the authorities report- see REMEMBRANCE, page 5 ed Sunday, January 24. A total of 1,281 bodies were recovered between November 13 and January 23. ECHR Will Be Informed Last Minute U.S.-Turkey Accord Grants Ankara About Murder of Rights to Christian Cultural Heritage Armenian POW STRASBOURG (PanARMENIAN.Net) — The rep- WASHINGTON — In its final hours, the minority populations, reported the Council, and In Defense of Christians (IDC) resentative of Armenia before the European Court Trump Administration signed a disastrous Armenian National Committee of America. and a host of cultural rights and museum of Human Rights (ECHR), Yeghishe Kirakosyan, bilateral U.S.-Turkey Memorandum of The agreement comes in response to a groups including the Association of Art said on January 25 there is information about the Understanding granting Turkey legal rights request by the Government of Turkey, submit- Museum Directors (AAMD), the Committee for killing of Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan. over the vast religious-cultural heritage of ted over a year ago — a move strongly opposed Cultural Policy (CCP), the Global Heritage In an interview with the Public Television of the region’s indigenous peoples and other by the ANCA, Hellenic American Leadership Alliance (GHA), and the International Armenia, Kirakosyan stressed that the Armenian Association of Professional Numismatists side, in its complaints to the ECHR, told the court (IAPN), among others. the lives of the Armenians captured in Azerbaijan “The Trump Administration — in its final are in danger. Therefore, the country asks the court hours — gifted Turkey the legal rights to to apply interim measures against Azerbaijan, claim the vast religious and cultural including to demand information on the state of see ACCORD, page 15 health and conditions of detention of the captives. “One of the dead Armenians, whose body was recovered recently, was on the list [of Armenian prisoners of war], for whom the ECHR had applied US Secretary of State an interim measure in early January. According to Nominee Anthony the forensic examination, he was killed recently,” Kirakosyan said. Blinken Calls Turkey According to him, this is a “very regrettable phe- ‘So- alled Strategic nomenon,” an unprecedented and gross violation of C the Human Rights Convention by Azerbaijan. Partner’ t Senate He added Armenia has submitted many state- a ments to the ECHR, demanding the use of urgent Hearing measures against Azerbaijan in order to ensure the absence of encroachments against them and guar- By Haykaram Nahapetyan antee their rights. Special to the Mirror-Spectator “Unfortunately, Azerbaijan disrespects the ECHR, the conventions on human rights, which is unprecedented for the Council of Europe member Scene from “Ararat” in which the adult Arshile at his studio works on a painting WASHINGTON – Anthony Blinken, await- states. The violation by Azerbaijan of the terms for based on his photo with his mother ing confirmation as the next U.S. Secretary submitting information and its scarcity testify to of State, shares the concerns that many the disrespectful attitude,” Kirakosyan stressed. Egoyan, Kouyoumdjian Pay Tribute to Gorky American senators have regarding Ankara. He added that the case concerning Azerbaijan “Turkey is an ally that in many ways is act- could be transferred to the Committee of Ministers At Virtual Metropolitan Museum Event ing not as an ally should. This is a very, very of the Council of Europe. big challenge for us, and we are very clear By Alin K. Gregorian NEW YORK — Filmmaker Atom Egoyan about it,” the nominee stated in response to Special to the Mirror-Spectator and composer Mary Kouyoumdjian have an inquiry by Senator Bob Menendez (D- partnered with the Metropolitan Museum N.J.), incoming Senate Foreign Relations of Art and created an original work titled “They Will Take My Island,” about the Committee chair, at the nomination hearing INSIDE late painter Arshile Gorky. on January 19. The premier performance took place virtually see BLINKEN, page 11 on January 26 on the Metropolitan’s website, as well as its YouTube and Facebook channels. Detroit Radio It features footage shot for but not seen from Egoyan’s 2002 film “Ararat” and the documen- tary “A Portrait of Arshile,” accompanied by Stations music and spoken words, by Kouyoumdjian. Page 12 Kouyoumdjian's haunting score, specifically written for this event, is performed by the JACK and Silvana quartets. It is the first performance of the 2021 MetLiveArts virtual season. The performance is INDEX Armenia ...... 2-3 Atom Egoyan free and will remain online indefinitely. Egoyan’s interest in Gorky runs deep. His film, Arts and Living ...... 12 Community News...... 6 “Ararat,” told the story of the Armenian Editorial ...... 17 Genocide, in part through the eyes of the young Armenian refugee who later Anthony Blinken testifies at his nomination International ...... 4,5 reinvents himself as Arshile Gorky in the US. hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations see GORKY, page 10 Committee on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 (photo Voice of America) 2 S ATURDAY J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA

News From Armenia A Diplomatic Opportunity Which Calls for Commensurate Action: Communique of the ADL District Committee Opposition Ready for The Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (ADL) and Turkey. ‘Uprising’ District Committee of the Eastern United States Therefore it is incumbent upon the Armenian gov- and Canada welcomes President Joe Biden’s ernment to mobilize its entire diplomatic corps to YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The Homeland Salvation humanitarian-based foreign policy approach to enunciate and place in proper perspective the issues Front should stage an anti-government “uprising” if restoring the traditional role of the United most vital to its survival and future. it fails to topple Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan with States globally. Any change at this stage in key diplomatic personnel conventional street protests, a leader of the alliance Armenia and American Armenians are particularly may lead to the loss of this valuable opportunity to right of 17 Armenian opposition parties said on Tuesday, grateful to the new administration for signaling a change past wrongs. January 26. towards Turkey’s destructive behavior in the south The Armenian government and US Armenian advocacy “We are now following the constitutional path in Caucasus, including its instigation of a war using organizations can pool their resources to realize their trying to kick out Nikol Pashinyan,” Vazgen Azerbaijan and jihadi terrorists. most cherished goals. Manukyan told hundreds of opposition supporters in We are hopeful that the Biden White House will make Talks in the parliament of assigning Lilit Makunts to the town of Ararat. “If the constitutional path proves good on its pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide, the position of ambassador to the US are ill-timed. The fruitless we should organize an uprising.” completing the initiative taken by the US House of most seasoned diplomats are required for such positions, “At stake is the future of our country and people. Representatives and Senate. particularly during such a crucial and complex period. We will either get destroyed or move forward,” added The change in American administrations offers We hope the Armenian government understands and Manukyan. Armenia a new opportunity to address the fundamen- appreciates the exigencies of this delicate moment, and Speaking to journalists after the meeting, tal issue of the legal status of Nagorno Karabakh and takes a proper and wise course of action in order to be Manukyan explained that the uprising favored by him in particular the constant threat of war by Azerbaijan geared for success. would involve nonviolent seizures of government buildings. It was not clear if the comments reflected only his personal views or also those of the parties making up the alliance. Manukyan was nominated by them late Opposition Slams Pashinyan’s Reported last year to serve as a prime minister in an interim government which they believe should be formed after Pashinyan’s resignation. Choice For Armenian Envoy to US The opposition alliance blames Pashinyan for Armenia’s defeat in the war with Azerbaijan stopped by a Russian-brokered ceasefire on November 10. It YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Opposition ment on My Step’s ticket in December (BHK). staged a series of demonstrations later in November leaders denounced on Monday, 2018. Zohrabyan dismissed Makunts as “a and December in a bid to force him to resign. The January 25, Prime Minister Nikol The current Armenian ambassador woman who only speaks good protests did not attract large crowds. Pashinyan’s reported plans to appoint in Washington, Varuzhan Nersesyan, English.” “Let’s hold a contest for the The alliance coordinator, Ishkhan Saghatelian, a senior but politically inexperienced is a career diplomat who was hand- best English speaker and appoint the told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on Monday that lawmaker as Armenia’s new ambas- picked for the post by Pashinyan. winner as ambassador to the U.S.,” the opposition forces are now exploring a “new tac- sador to the United States. Nersesyan handed his credentials to she suggested tartly. tic” for their push for regime change. Lilit Makunts, who leads the ruling then President Donald Trump in “She is not a diplomat. I don’t know My Step bloc’s group in the Armenian January 2019. what she will be doing there [in parliament, did not deny media It is not clear why Pashinyan may Washington,]” said Gevorg Gorgisyan Lawmaker Stages Protest reports about her impending appoint- have decided to replace Nersesyan. of the Bright Armenia Party. ment when she spoke to RFE/RL’s The prime minister’s office did not “This is a continuation of the bad Ahead of PACE Session Armenian Service on Sunday. comment on Monday on the reports old traditions,” Gorgisyan com- YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Bright “There is such an issue on the agen- about Makunts’s appointment. plained, referring to politically moti- Armenia leader Edmon Marukyan staged a protest da but it is still under discussion,” she Pashinyan’s apparent choice of the vated ambassadorial appointments before a PACE meeting on Monday, January 25, said. new ambassador was strongly criti- made by Armenia’s former leaders. demanding the release of Armenian prisoners of war Makunts, 37, taught English at cized by senior lawmakers from the In her interview with RFE/RL’s in Azerbaijan. Russian-Armenian University in two opposition parties represented in Armenian Service, Makunts down- "The PACE meeting began with a protest and Yerevan and did not engage in politi- the parliament. played her lack of diplomatic experi- demand to exert international pressure on cal activities before being appointed “I think he is simply trying to get ence and argued that “political Azerbaijan, insisting on the release of Armenian as Armenia’s culture minister in the his people out of the country. I mean appointments” of ambassadors is com- prisoners of war and civilian captives as soon as pos- wake of the “Velvet Revolution” of his key loyalists who would definitely mon practice around the world. sible," Marukyan wrote on Facebook. April-May 2018 that brought be prosecuted [after regime change in “Experience is certainly very impor- The lawmaker also shared a video of himself stand- Pashinyan to power. She held that Armenia,]” claimed Naira Zohrabyan tant, but in some cases it does not ing in front of the hall where the meeting was set to post until being elected to the parlia- of the Prosperous Armenia Party play a central role,” she said. be held and holding a sign that read: "Freedom to the Armenian prisoners of war kept in Azerbaijan." President Armen The first batch of 44 Armenian POWs returned from Azerbaijan in mid-December, although Ombudsman Publishes more Evidence of Sarkissian Discharged Armenian officials said many more people were Online Armenophobia in Azerbaijan From Hospital being held in Baku. Dozens of others, both service- men and civilians, have been captured after the com- YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net ) — The Human Rights Defender of LONDON (RFE/RL) — President pletion of military hostilities. Azerbaijani President Armenia Arman Tatoyan has published additional evidence of deep-rooted Armen Sarkissian has been discharged Ilham Aliyev has said in one of his speeches that the hatred and enmity toward Armenians in Azerbaijan. from hospital but has not yet fully newly detained persons are not prisoners of war but Below are translations of some posts from real Azerbaijani social media recovered from COVID-19, his office “terrorists.” users: said on Tuesday, January 26. Human rights lawyer Siranush Sahakyan has said, 1) "Armenian women and Armenian children should be killed" - a mem- The office said in a statement that meanwhile, that at least 120 Armenian prisoners of ber of the Bar Association of Azerbaijan. Sarkissian is “continuing his treatment war are being held in Azerbaijan. 2) I do not feel sorry for the Armenian child. The best Armenian is a dead at home.” Armenian. “The Armenian President’s condition CoE to Assist Armenia, 3) The surviving Armenians must be killed, and tortured before killing. has relatively improved, there is a posi- 4) I want Armenians who have been stripped naked and raped. tive dynamic in his health state, but he Azerbaijan, Secretary 5) Rogue Armenians must be killed and eliminated from this planet and is still monitored by doctors,” the state- all those who are on their side must be killed in the same way. ment said, adding that he is continuing General Says 6) There should be no place for Armenians in this world. I hate them. All to perform his duties remotely and will ruthless Armenians must be killed. return to Armenia “immediately after STRASBOURGH (Panorama.am) — The Secretary 7) I just fell in love with the words of Ilham Aliyev that we are driving the doctors’ permission.” General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pej inovi them away like dogs. According to the presidential press Buri stated on January 25 that the Councilč is inć 8 ) Not a single Armenian should remain alive in Karabakh. office, Sarkissian tested positive for the talksć with Armenia and Azerbaijan to provide post- 9) A conversation between an Azerbaijani parent and their child: coronavirus days after travelling to conflict assistance to ensure that human rights were Q. - Who is our enemy? Britain late last month to spend New respected. Marija Pej inovi Buri 's remarks came A. - Armenia. Year’s Eve with his sons and grandchil- while addressing theč PACEć hybridć session on Q. - How do we feel about them? dren living in London. Monday. A. - Hate. The office announced on January 13 Welcoming the ceasefire reached in Nagorno Q. - Raise your hands and repeat, we will drive you away from Karabakh that the 67-year-old head of state was Karabakh in November, Marija Pej inovi Buri like dogs. hospitalized there after developing dou- said: “We have always talked about theč importanceć ofć A. - We will drive you away from Karabakh like dogs. ble pneumonia and showing other the peace. These negotiations, meetings are about 10) Mocking announcements with polls depicting a picture of a behead- symptoms of the disease. giving the post-conflict support to both countries in ed Armenian soldier on the Turkish-Azerbaijani special channel on It remains unclear whether line with our mandate, as everyone on the European Telegram, describing how users feel when they see a beheaded Armenian. Sarkissian, who has consistently land should be ensured their rights are protected. 11) Other manifestations of hostility. observed physical distancing rules dur- We try to ensure this.” "The main issue here is that people use the same wording as the ing his official engagements, was infect- Azerbaijani authorities and cultural figures," Tatoyan said Sunday, January ed with COVID-19 in Armenia or the 25. United Kingdom. Both countries have been hit hard by the coronavirus pan- demic. S ATURDAY J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 ARMENIA Violet Jamgochian Karagozian Endowed Scholarship Fund Established to Support Women in STEM YEREVAN — Armenia is emerging as a hub of creativity and innovation and gaining a rep- utable ranking in the technology sector. Growth in the IT sector is creating new jobs and bringing new demands for professionals skilled in the areas of computer science, engi- neering, and data science. The American University of Armenia (AUA) is committed to the development of Armenia and providing the highest quality education in these fields thanks to AUA’s affiliation with the University of California and accreditation through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. We are preparing a talented and diverse work- force which will bring the sector’s growth in Armenia to the next level. Standing out and shining in the field are Armenian women. AUA female graduates are assuming leader- ship roles and bringing fresh perspectives and new ideas to a market driven by innovation but historically dominated by men. In this effort, we are happy to announce the Armenian Robot Robin Nominated for Golden Kitty Award establishment of the Violet Jamgochian Karagozian Endowed Scholarship Fund in YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Robin, the Armenian robot-companion for children, has been chosen among the best products by the support of AUA's Yes, Armenian Women Can! Golden Kitty Award 2020, alongside Apple MacBook Pro, iphone 12, PlayStation 5, Armenia's Minister of High-Tech Industry Hakob campaign and the advancement of women in Arshakyan said on Thursday, January 21. STEM fields. The scholarship fund was estab- The purpose of Robin is to support children during medical treatment and alleviate their pain by creating positive experiences. lished through a generous gift from AUA Voting is still underway on Product Hunt's website. The Golden Kitty Awards is an annual celebration of products, makers, and community members. There are 23 categories up for grabs, with winners of each receiving a Golden Kitty trophy. Soldiers Visit Tsakanyan Family after Returning from Baku

YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Several of the 44 Armenian prisoners of war who returned home from Azerbaijan in mid- December have visited the family of Smbat Tsakanyan, who at the age of 17, was killed by two Azeri saboteurs back in 2014. The two were among the 12 Azeri POWs who were swapped through Russia’s mediation on December 14. According to the Public Television of Armenia, Smbat’s family facil- itated in the repatriation of the Armenian captives from Azerbaijan. The group of soldiers thanked them for their efforts because the sides to the conflict had agreed to an "all for all" principle in the Violet Jamgochian POW exchange process. The first batch of 44 Armenian POWs returned from Azerbaijan in mid-December, although Armenian officials said many more people Trustee Dr. Ann Karagozian and Dr. Theodore were being held in Baku. Dozens of others, both servicemen and Sarafian in memory of Dr. Karagozian's moth- civilians, have been captured after the completion of military hostili- er, Violet Jamgochian Karagozian. ties. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said in one of his speech- "AUA is committed to unlocking the poten- es that the newly detained persons are not prisoners of war but “ter- tial in each and every student and is showing The visiting soldiers at the grave of Smbat Tsakanyan rorists”. Human rights lawyer Siranush Sahakyan has said, mean- what is possible when women are given the while, that at least 120 Armenian prisoners of war are being held in proper access and opportunity to top-notch Azerbaijan. Sahakyan represents the rights of some of the Karabakh there is enough evidence proving the capture of said persons, which STEM education,” remarks AUA Vice POWs before the European Court of Human Rights. The lawyer said the Armenian side will submit to international agencies and courts. President of Development Gaiane Khachatrian. “In 2018 we launched the Yes, Armenia Women Can! campaign to provide scholarship support for women studying Computer Science, Engineering, and Data Moody’s Assigns Ba3 Rating to Armenia’s US Science at AUA. Today, half of all AUA stu- dents studying at the College of Science and Engineering are female. These young learners Dollar-Denominated Notes are shining in the classroom and in internship positions, while our graduates are standing SINGAPORE — Moody’s Investors Service moderately high debt burden that is vulnerable through higher competitiveness and foreign out as top performers in the field. These strik- has assigned a rating of Ba3 to the proposed to sharp currency depreciation, the small and direct investment, would also contribute to ing results are evidence of the transformative senior unsecured, US dollar-denominated notes low-income economy that is exposed to external upward pressure on the rating. An increase in power of the campaign and attest to the to be issued by the Government of Armenia. developments, and latent geopolitical tensions government revenue arising from fiscal impressive impact we are making together." The notes will rank with all of the Government with neighboring Azerbaijan. These challenges reforms beyond Moody’s expectations, that The Violet Jamgochian Karagozian of Armenia’s current and future senior unse- have been amplified by the coronavirus pan- would support the government’s debt carry- Endowed Scholarship Fund will empower cured external debt. The proceeds of the notes demic, resulting in economic contraction in ing capacity, would additionally put upward AUA’s female students in computer science, will be applied toward general governmental 2020. The high, albeit gradually declining, level pressure on the rating. engineering, and data science. “My mother, purposes. of dollarization in the economy also leaves Downward pressure on Armenia’s rating Violet Karagozian, was a woman who was The rating mirrors the Government of Armenia and its banking sector exposed to would emerge if there was a loss of reform ahead of her time,” Dr. Karagozian says. “She Armenia’s long-term issuer rating of Ba3 with a external shocks, although the central bank has momentum, which would likely transpire studied mathematics in college while working stable outlook. introduced measures that promote de-dollariza- through weaker confidence in institutions full time to help support her family during the Armenia’s Ba3 issuer rating is underpinned tion. and fiscal slippage removing prospects that Depression and Second World War. She by its robust growth potential with increasingly Upward pressure on Armenia’s rating the government debt burden will decline over earned a master’s degree and became a high diverse economic drivers and a lengthening would stem from further reforms that were to the medium term. An increase in external vul- school math teacher for many years, eventual- track record of solid macroeconomic manage- raise economic competitiveness and institu- nerability risk, such as a sustained increase ly becoming the department chair." ment, which raise the country’s economic tional credibility and effectiveness beyond in current account deficits that resulted in Violet Karagozian was an avid supporter of resiliency, and high debt affordability. Moody’s current expectations. This would in declining foreign exchange reserve adequacy, many Armenian organizations, including the Implementation of reforms has the potential to part materialize through greater levels of pri- would additionally contribute to downward Daughters of Vartan. Dr. Karagozian notes, raise the quality and credibility of Armenia’s vate investment and increased transparency pressure on the rating. A renewed escalation "She was brilliant and wise and had a strong institutions, although tangible effects will likely of and trust in institutions, including in the of the conflict with Azerbaijan over the and abiding Christian faith. She would be so take time. judiciary. A structural narrowing of the cur- Nagorno-Karabakh territory would also put pleased to know that a scholarship in her Balanced against these credit strengths are rent account deficit and improvement in negative pressure on the rating if it material- name will support the next generation of bril- challenges stemming from the government’s Armenia’s external position, including ly impacts economic or fiscal fundamentals. liant women in STEM fields!” 4 S ATURDAY J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL International News Erdogan Criticizes NATO Allies for Not Selling Turkey Drone Cameras Germany Sends 30 Tons ISTANBUL (Panorama.am) — cameras, as the reason for Turkey’s drones, such as the TB-2 drone devel- Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip need to produce more components oped by Baykar. Of Humanitarian Aid tp Erdogan criticized the country’s domestically. Andair, a U.K company, announced NATO allies for being “bad neighbors” “For example, the issue of the cam- it would no longer supply parts for Armenia, Artsakh for refusing to supply parts for era, supposedly, we are together in Turkey’s Baykar following a request Turkish drones, Duvar English report- NATO. We want cameras, but they are from the Armenian Embassy in the YEREVAN (Panorama.am) — A special flight from ed on January 23. not giving them. We are told, 'Why are U.K. Last October, Canadian company the Federal Ministry of Defense of Germany arrived “Despite all the smear campaigns of you fighting in Armenia?' Armenia is Bombardier Recreational Products in Yerevan on January 25 with 30 tons of humani- those among us, our air vehicles are attacking my allies, we have to give all (BRP) announced that it would stop tarian aid, the Foreign Ministry of Armenia report- admired all over the world. Turkish the support we can. Aren't we togeth- selling engines for Turkey’s drones. ed. The aid was collected and delivered through the armed UAVs are changing the war er in NATO?” Erdogan asked. This followed the Canadian govern- close cooperation of the RA Embassy to Germany, methods and changed the trend of the Turkey’s drones were an instrumen- ment’s decision to suspend arms the Armenian Diocese of Germany and the “Silva war in Libya,” Erdogan remarked at tal part of its interventions in Syria, exports to Turkey over the war in Kaputikyan” Union of German-Armenian Women. the launch of a new Turkish frigate, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh where Nagorno-Karabakh. “The aid includes medicine, medical supplies as according to Ahval news outlet. they were widely filmed defeating well as items of social sphere. The plane also carried Referring to Turkey’s NATO allies, Russian-made air defense systems. two minibuses with special equipment for the he added that it was their refusal to Erdogan made it a point to call atten- Stepanakert rehabilitation clinic,” the source said. supply parts, specifically the drone tion to the increased reputation of the European Parliament Street Named for Talaat Condemns Turkey’s Pasha Now Called Justice French-Armenian Surgeon Leads Role in Karabakh War After Complaints BRUSSELS (RFE/RL) — The European Parliament has strongly con- PAPHOS (Cyprus Mail) — Following a request by Operation on World’s First Double- demned Turkey’s “destabilizing role” in the Armenian and Greek Pontian communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, accused Paphos, the municipal council has renamed Talaat Arm-and-Shoulder Transplantation Ankara of sending “terrorist fighters” to Pasha street, which recognizes the man widely the conflict zone and called for an end regarded as the principal architect of the Armenian LYON (The Guardian) — French “If he can recover the possibility to to Turkish military aid to Azerbaijan on genocide. Armenian surgeon Aram Gazarian led actively bend his elbow, that would be a January 22. “Talaat Pasha street has been renamed as Justice the first double-arm-and-shoulder trans- life-changer,” he said. In two resolutions adopted this week, Street. Those who planned and executed genocide plantation operation in Lyon. On January 12, 1998, Gretarsson, an the European Union’s legislative body have no place in odonyms,” a municipality The Icelandic man who got the trans- electrician, was working on a high-volt- also welcomed the Russian-brokered spokesman told the Cyprus Mail on January 20. The plant is recovering well after the opera- age power line when an 11,000-volt ceasefire that stopped the Armenian- street signs are expected to be changed soon. tion, two decades after the accident that surge burned his hands and flung him Azerbaijani war on November 10. But it The municipal council of Paphos is reaffirming its cost him both limbs, doctors have said. to the icy ground. cautioned that the conflict remains respect for the place names of Paphos in the light of He sustained multi- unresolved. the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by dozens ple fractures and inter- One of the resolutions calls for a of countries around the world, as well as the inter- nal injuries, and went Karabakh settlement based on the Basic national academic community, and also the discus- into a three-month Principles, a framework peace accord sion about the genocide of the Greeks of Pontus, the coma during which that has long been jointly advanced by municipality said. surgeons amputated the three co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk “Through the study of historical facts, the leading both arms. Group: the United States, Russia and role of Talaat Pasha in the planning and execution of He underwent sever- France. It stresses the “urgent need” to these genocides is documented. The council, aware al more operations, ensure “the security of the Armenian of the weight of its responsibility towards the present including a liver trans- population and its cultural heritage in and future generations, unanimously decided to plant. Nagorno-Karabakh.” remove the name of Talaat Pasha from the street of The operation was Turkey provided full diplomatic and the city and by a majority decided to rename the “his biggest dream”, military support to Azerbaijan during street Justice Street,” the municipality said. Gretarsson’s wife the six-week war. Turkish combat Sylwia told Friday’s drones heavily used by the Azerbaijani news conference, army are believed to have been a key Armenian Trucks Attacked adding that she herself factor behind Baku’s military victory. In Georgia, Embassy never felt that the According to Western media reports, operation was truly Ankara also recruited thousands of Reports necessary as he “was- jihadist fighters from the Middle East to Dr. Aram Gazarian n’t missing anything.” fight on Azerbaijan’s side. TBILISI (PanARMENIAN.Net) — According to the It took years to find The European Parliament resolution Armenian Embassy in Georgia, Armenian cargo trucks suitable donors, dur- “strongly condemns the destabilizing in Georgia’s Qvemo Ponitchala settlement were They said it was still uncertain how ing which some 50 role of Turkey which further under- attacked on Monday, January 25. The criminals threw much mobility Felix Gretarsson, 48, will medical staff in total became involved in mines the fragile stability in the whole stones at the vehicles, breaking windshields and win- recover following the operation earlier the preparations for the operation. of the South Caucasus region.” It says dows after which they fled the scene, the embassy this month in the southeastern French Doctors said the outlook for the right the Turks should “refrain from any added. city of Lyon. arm to become functional was better interference in the Nagorno-Karabakh Only after the arrival of police were the trucks able But “giving a little to somebody who than for the left, which had also conflict, including offering military sup- to reach the Armenian border safely, they added. was missing so much, that’s already a required a complete rebuild of the port to Azerbaijan.” According to the Armenian mission, the Ministry of lot” Aram Gazarian, the lead surgeon in shoulder. No serious complications had The resolution also deplores “the Internal Affairs of Georgia has initiated a criminal case the operation, told a news conference been detected nine days after the oper- transfer of foreign terrorist fighters by to probe the case. on January 22. ation, they said. Turkey from Syria and elsewhere to Nagorno-Karabakh, as confirmed by international actors, including the OSCE Turkish Firm Opens Minsk Group Co-Chair countries.” Drone Factory in Ankara France has been especially vocal in its condemnation of that transfer. Its ANKARA (PanARMENIAN.Net) — A drone manu- Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian facturing plant started operations on Friday, January reiterated last month French calls for 22, in Turkey’s capital Ankara, Anadolu Agency “the departure of the Syrian mercenar- reports. ies” from the conflict zone. Lapis Havacilik, a Turkish aviation company, devel- Turkey has denied sending members ops unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), commonly known of Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups as drones. It was established in 2015. The firm’s 3,500- to Karabakh. Azerbaijan also denies the square-meter plant has already begun mass production presence of such mercenaries in the of drones. Azerbaijani army ranks. Its top models are VTOL, which can fly for up to five Armenia hailed the European hours, and LAP 60, which can fly for up to one hour Parliament resolutions on Friday. The within the range of 10 kilometers. These drones can be Armenian Foreign Ministry spokes- used for agriculture, rescue missions, communication woman, Anna Naghdalyan, praised, and freight. among other things, the EU’s legisla- Turkey’s defense and aviation exports were around ture’s calls for an agreement on $3 billion in 2020. Karabakh’s future status to be “founded on the [Minsk] group’s Basic Principles.” Naghdalyan said it thus The patient, Felix Gretarsson voiced support for the Karabakh Armenians’ right to self-determination. S ATURDAY J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 INTERNATIONAL Hrant Dink Remembered in Germany

REMEMBRANCE, from page 1 be more courageous and fight for the release of political, in international affairs. Defense minis- aggression, commemorating the anniversary of political prisoners. ters, he asserted, have more say than foreign his death assumes special significance. Germany and Artsakh ministers. Gysi criticized Armenia for not seiz- This was manifest in an event on November Following a musical interlude, with two pieces ing the chance to negotiate a political solution, 21 in Germany, organized by a group of orga- by Komitas performed by pianist Nare Karoyan, and said Azerbaijan exploited this in its drive nizations active in civil society. Presented in Çiler Firtina of the KulturForum moderated a dis- for a military victory. To return to a culture of digital form due to the Corona pandemic, the cussion on the Nagorno-Karabakh war and con- political solutions, Gysi went on, one must gathering was sponsored by the KulturForum tinuing crisis. She asked for reactions to the accept compromise. TürkeiDeutschland, the Armin T. Wegner German government’s position, as presented by Journalist Eike Christian Petering brought Society, the German-Armenian Society (DAG), Foreign Minister Heiko Maas at the end of up the German parliament’s resolution recog- the TÜDAY association, the Multicultural October: 2 million euros would be allocated to nizing the Armenian Genocide, which was Forum, and representatives of the Workers Garo Paylan help those who lost everything, he told members passed in 2016. That resolution also stressed Welfare Union. of Parliament, international pressure should force the special historical responsibility, given that Following clips from a film on Hrant Dink, Armenia and Azerbaijan to cease hostilities, in Imperial Germany was Ottoman Turkey’s left journalism and entered politics, convinced Ulrich Klan, presented greetings from the recognition of the impossibility of a military solu- wartime ally. Kantian picked up on this, noting that “it didn’t make sense to continue in a job.“ Armin T. Wegner Society, both in Germany and tion, and Turkey must act according to its respon- that in 100 years Turkey has still not recog- Çem Özdemir, a Green Party member of the the United States. The lesson to be learned sabilities as a Minsk Group member. nized the genocide. And, if silence prevails, if German Bundestag (Parliament), stressed the from both Dink and Wegner is to name names, Dr. Gregor Gysi, parliamentarian for The Left one does not speak out against Turkey’s role, liberal democratic idea Dink represented, and but without hatred. A letter Wegner wrote in (Linke), had intervened after Maas’s statement, Erdogan may think history can repeat itself. his multi-cultural vision for Turkish society, 1919 to Woodrow Wilson was quoted, in which and denounced Turkish support in Azerbaijan’s Diaspora Armenians have reacted with dis- whereby citizens could come from any ethnic he denounced the crimes committed against violation of the ceasefire as well as its weapon- may and disappointment, said Artin Simonyan, background and religious belief. Author Dogan the Armenians, while warning against blaming ry and fighters. He had characterized the situa- a peace activist and member of the Armenian Akhanlı, who has written about the genocide, a people or a religious group for them. In the tion as “catastrophic.“ It was “not easy,“ he community in Germany. He expressed his per- same spirit, Dink urged sitting together with was asked to comment on Dink’s approach to said, to be German foreign minister in this situ- sonal disappointment with the silence on the the other, even genocide deniers, in discussion dealing with it. Depicting him as a “living mon- ation, but it would be better to be explicit. Maas part of media and politicians, especially the and debate. ument to peace and democracy,“ Akhanlı said was seeking a diplomatic road and avoiding German government, and reported that his Personal Impact Dink was convinced Turkey could be changed conflict with the parties. great grandfather had lost his entire family in only if it dealt with recognition of the genocide, Filmmaker Osman Okkan from the Raffi Kantian, chairman of the DAG, was 1915. Asked how he deals with the issue, he KulturForum opened the first round of discus- and he had convinced Turkish intellectuals to more explicit. Humanitarian aid is important, said he speaks out and tries to educate his face their own history. Dink may have been a sion, by posing the question: What did Hrant he said, but what is most disturbing is the reluc- friends and associates. Many German friends Dink mean to you personally? What most influ- “romantic dreamer,“ he said, but dreams can tance on the part of the German government, to are utterly uninformed, and among some come true, and Turkey does have a potential for enced writer Karin Karakasli, who knew him at state the facts clearly. Kantian criticized formu- Turkish friends, “the deep-seated nationalism is change. Here he pointed to the 2013 Gezi Park Agos, was Dink’s ability to make her rethink lations in official statements from late stronger than the friendship.“ Others are empa- her sense of identity in terms of Armenian- movement as well as to the example provided November, in which Armenia was charged with thetic, still others, influenced by Turkish media. by Garo Paylan’s political engagement. Turkish relations. She recalled his interest in having violated international law for annexing The importance of remembering Hrant Dink Turkish issues, and his understanding of citi- Where does Turkey go from here? Osman territories, but Azerbaijan was not; Turkey had cannot be overstated. What he represents, as Okkan asked. Darkness has descended again on zenship and equal rights for Kurds Turks, “aided“ Azerbaijan, but there was no reference this commemorative event demonstrated, is the Armenians and others. Turkey, Paylan said, and silence as well. Much to active participation. And what about drones, realization that change in Turkey can come will depend on developments outside the coun- For Garo Paylan, HDP member of parliament, fighter jets and command units? Though mer- about to the extent that truth prevails; that the try; if Europe and the US remain silent on the identity issue was key. Born in 1972, he cenaries were mentioned, nothing was said reality of the genocide must be worked human rights violations in Turkey, “that will recalled the silence that reigned regarding about the UN convention forbidding this, etc. through, and officially recognized. The role of make it worse for us,“ he said. Akhanlı agreed Armenians. His grandfather, Avedis, went by Did this have to do with NATO and Turkey’s intellectuals, both inside Turkey and interna- fully, adding that intellectuals, including the name of Halis, his mother was Serpil, or membership? Gysi cited remarks by Maas that tionally, is of immense value, in speaking out, Turkish intellectuals, living abroad where they simply Anne. Hrank Dink “broke the silence“ Turkey had not discussed the Nagorno- and above all, educating. And Dink embodied enjoy political protection, should speak out and “gave me my name back,“ he said; he Karabakh issue with its NATO partners nor an incredible optimism. Even in the darkest opened contact with the church and social more loudly. Recalling Dink’s extraordinary consulted with them. For Gysi, the problem lies moments, it was said during this event, there is groups. When Dink was assassinated, Paylan optimism, he said intellectuals abroad should in the predominance of the military over the resistance, and hope.

Cultural Center in AGBU London Trust Announces New Scholarships for Marseille Target Classical Armenian Studies at Oxford University Of Gunfire LONDON — In keeping with its core commitment to advance Armenian educa- MARSEILLE, France (Armenews.com) — The tion, the Armenian General Benevolent Sahak Mesrop Cultural Center on the grounds Union (AGBU) London Trust recently of the Armenian Church on avenue du Prado made a substantial gift to support a schol- in Marseille was the target of gunfire on arship program for graduate students Sunday, January 24 at 6:40 p.m. Several police pursuing a master’s degree in Classical teams were sent to the premises in the after- Armenian Studies at Oxford University. It math. The gunshot shattered the window in is the leading university for Armenian the center of the second floor, while a piano studies in the UK and has pursued the rehearsal was being held. No one was injured. subject since the mid-nineteenth century. But the musician who was present on the By providing support for one graduate scene at the time of the shooting as well as the student per year for five years, the new president of the cultural center filed a com- scholarship program will play a key role plaint with the police. in helping to foster greater understanding This shooting comes after a series of attacks of Armenian culture and heritage. The in France and in the world against the Armenians. In addition to the defacing of a first scholarship will be awarded in Opening of the Gospel of Mark, written in Classical Armenian, by scribe and miniaturist Mesrop October 2021, with the program running Xizanc‘i. Bodleian Libraries MS. Arm. d. 13, fol. 115r (New Julfa, Isfahan 1609) number statues, including that of Komitas at through to 2026. the end of August in Paris or that against the Scholars studying for the MSt in genocide memorial in Décines on November 4, Classical Armenian Studies gain experience in reading and interpret- support to Armenian students reading a range of subjects at the French people of Armenian origin were the tar- ing a wide range of Armenian texts, thus enabling them to develop a University. The new scholarship program, which will be open to stu- get of manhunts in the streets of Décines- critical understanding of the literary culture and historical back- dents from all over the world, aligns with the AGBU’s mission to Charpieu, near Lyon last July, and at the end of ground of their chosen period. During their time at Oxford, students uphold Armenian heritage through educational, cultural and human- October in Viennes (Isère) and Dijon (Côte- will have access to the Bodleian Library’s unique collection of itarian spheres. d'Or), against the backdrop of the ethnic Armenian manuscripts, which includes a very rare copy of the first Joseph Oughourlian, AGBU London Trust Chairman and Vice- cleansing operation led by Turkey and book printed in Iran: an Armenian Psalter from New Julfa. President of the AGBU Central Board said: ‘AGBU is absolutely hon- Azerbaijan against the Republic of Nagorno- The course is directed by Professor Theo Maarten van Lint, who ored to partner with the prestigious global institution that is the Karabakh. holds the Calouste Gulbenkian Professorship of Armenian Studies. University of Oxford. The University's Faculty of Oriental Studies has The ultra-nationalist Turkish group Les He says: “Funding is an indispensable element in offering worthy can- been thriving for years and as the world's largest Armenian organi- Loups Gris, implicated in these acts against the didates access to the Master’s in Classical Armenian Studies. zation, it is a logical development for AGBU to support the faculty’s Armenian community in France, was dissolved Therefore I am extremely grateful to Joseph and Jenny Oughourlian MSt in Classical Armenian Studies. We deeply thank Professor van in early November following these events. and the AGBU for this generous and strategic donation.” Lint and his team for allowing this cooperation to happen.’ Similar abuses were also observed during The creation of the AGBU London Trust Scholarship represents For more information about the MSt in Classical Armenian the same period in Berlin and San Francisco. the next stage in an already fruitful partnership between the organi- Studies, visit https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/cours- The Prado Cultural Center is also the head- zation and Oxford, which for the past seven years provided financial es/mst-classical-armenian-studies quarters of CCAF South, the umbrella organi- zation for French-Armenian entities. It was the logistics hub for humanitarian aid from Marseille and the south of the country to Armenia during the last war. 6 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Community News

Pennsylvania Lawmaker Society for Armenian Played Key Role in (HAWK KHATCHERIAN PHOTO) Studies and Armenian Trump’s Plot to Oust Genocide Museum- Acting Attorney General Institute Foundation Sign Cooperation Agreement By Katie Benner and Catie Edmondson FRESNO — As part of its new policy to strengthen ties with academic institutions in Armenia, the Society for Armenian Studies WASHINGTON (New York Times) — When (SAS) signed an Agreement on Cooperation on Representative Scott Perry joined his col- January 13, with the Armenian Genocide leagues in a months-long campaign to under- Museum-Institute Foundation (AGMI). mine the results of the presidential election, The Agreement aims at cooperating on dif- promoting “Stop the Steal” events and sup- ferent academic projects that would be benefi- porting an attempt to overturn millions of cial to both parties and advance the field of legally cast votes, he often took a back seat to Armenian Genocide studies. The scope of the higher-profile loyalists in President Donald J. cooperation includes, but is not limited to, Trump’s orbit. exchange of mutual information on academic But Perry, an outspoken Pennsylvania activities carried out by both parties; exchange Republican, played a significant role in the cri- and loans of books relevant to both parties; sis that played out at the top of the Justice exchange of knowledge and expertise with Department this month, when Trump consid- respect to Armenian Genocide; sharing of ered firing the acting attorney general and The magnificent Armenian monastery of Dadivank—built in the 9th to 13th cen- advice, educational consultation, and research backed down only after top department offi- turies, with foundations in the Apostolic Age—has become an international sym- about the Armenian Genocide study and cials threatened to resign en masse. bol of the way Artsakh’s Armenian heritage is endangered in the aftermath of research; cooperation through local and inter- It was Perry, a member of the hardline the war. national conferences and symposia to advance Freedom Caucus, who first made Trump aware the field of genocide studies in general and that a relatively obscure Justice Department Armenian Genocide studies in particular; mutu- official, Jeffrey Clark, the acting chief of the al cooperation to educate the general public civil division, was sympathetic to Trump’s view about the Armenian Genocide; and close coop- that the election had been stolen, according to Eastern Armenian Diocese eration and coordination between the Journal former administration officials who spoke with of the Society for Armenian Studies (JSAS) pub- Clark and Trump. Creates New Group to Focus lished by the prestigious Brill publishing house Perry introduced the president to Clark, and the International Journal of Armenia whose openness to conspiracy theories about On Protecting Artsakh’s Genocide Studies (IJAGS), Ts’eghaspanagitakan election fraud presented Trump with a wel- Handes, both published by the AGMI. come change from the acting attorney general, Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, director of Jeffrey A. Rosen, who stood by the results of Armenian Heritage Armenian Studies Program at California State the election and had repeatedly resisted the University, Fresno, will serve as the liaison on president’s efforts to undo them. NEW YORK — The New York-based Eastern Diocese of the Armenian behalf of the SAS while Dr. Edita Gzoyan, Perry’s previously unreported role, and the Church of America has created a special committee to protect the endangered Deputy Scientific Director of the Armenian quiet discussions between Trump and Clark Armenian heritage sites of Artsakh. The group composed of academic Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation and that followed, underlined how much the former researchers and clergy was formed in the aftermath of the 2020 Artsakh war, the editor of IJAGS will serve on behalf of the president was willing to use the government to with the blessing of Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel Findikyan. AGMI. subvert the election, turning to more junior With the surrender of territories in Artsakh containing numerous Armenian Commenting on the Agreement, SAS and relatively unknown figures for help monasteries, churches, cultural sites, and (HAWK KHATCHERIAN PHOTO) President Bedross Der Matossian said, “We are as ranking Republicans and cabinet members monuments, the working group aims to looking forward to cooperate with the rebuffed him. advocate for the preservation of these Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Perry’s involvement is also likely to height- Armenian treasures, while informing the Foundation (AGMI) on academic issues pertain- en scrutiny of House Republicans who contin- public of their historical importance. ing to genocide studies in general and the ue to advance Trump’s false and thoroughly Led by Dr. Rachel Goshgarian, assis- Armenian Genocide in particular. This is part of debunked claims of election fraud, even tant professor of history at Lafayette our new policy to strengthen ties with different after President Biden’s inauguration this College and a former director of the academic institutions in Armenia. This coopera- week and as Congress prepares for an impeach- Eastern Diocese’s Krikor and Clara tion will be mutually beneficial to all of us. The ment trial that will examine whether such talk Zohrab Information Center, the Artsakh Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) has mem- incited the Capitol riot. Preservation Working Group met on bers whose research deals with the Armenian It is unclear when Perry, who represents the December 29 and January 14 to discuss Genocide. Through harnessing the existing Harrisburg area, met Clark, a Philadelphia measures that intellectuals, academics, potential of scholars from both bodies, the field native, or how well they knew each another and clergy could take to complement the of the Armenian Genocide Studies will advance before the introduction to Trump. Former preservation efforts already set in motion in the right direction.” Trump administration officials said that it was by the Mother See of Echmiadzin. Prof. Harutyun Marutyan, director of the only in late December that Clark told Rosen Participating in the meetings were AGMI, welcomed the Cooperation Agreement about the introduction brokered by Perry, who Archbishop Vicken Aykazian (Diocesan stating, “The challenges facing researchers in was among the scores of people feeding Trump Legate and Ecumenical Director); Fr. the field of Armenian Studies in the 21st cen- false hope that he had won the election. Garegin Hambardzumyan (Mother See of tury require new, modern approaches and the But it is highly unlikely that Trump would Echmiadzin), Fr. Simeon Odabashian consolidation of Armenian potential. The shap- have known Clark otherwise. Department offi- (Diocesan Vicar); Dr. Christina Maranci ing of the Armenian factor in the field of cials were startled to learn that the president (Arthur H. Dadian and Ara Oztemel humanities, taking world experience into had called Clark directly on multiple occasions Professor of Armenian Art and account, is one of the priorities of our time. The and that the two had met in person without Architecture at Tufts University), Dr. study and popularization of Armenian history, alerting Rosen, those officials said. Justice Nicole Vartanian (Executive Director of culture and the issues of the Armenian Department policy stipulates that the president the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University), and Deacon Genocide are among the imperatives for both initially communicates with the attorney gen- Armen Terjimanian. the AGMI and SAS. We are sure that the goals eral or the deputy attorney general on all mat- Bishop Hovakim Manukyan (Primate of the Armenian Diocese of the United and intentions mentioned in the Cooperation ters, and then a lower-level official if autho- Kingdom) and Fr. Pakrad Berjekian (Vicar General of the Western Diocese of Agreement, signed between the two institu- rized. the United States) also participated in individual meetings. tions, will be realized and will contribute to the As the date for Congress to affirm Biden’s expansion of ties between researchers on both Combatting Disinformation and Destruction victory neared, Perry and Clark discussed a sides and the development of Armenian Studies plan to have the Justice Department send a let- Group members discussed the most effective steps to educate the Armenian in general.” ter to Georgia state lawmakers informing them and non-Armenian public about the cultural and religious sites that remain in The SAS, founded in 1974, is the interna- of an investigation into voter fraud that could the Artsakh territories that were handed over to Azerbaijan at the end of the tional professional association representing invalidate the state’s Electoral College results. Artsakh war. They agreed to focus on goals of protection, information, advo- scholars and teachers in the field of Armenian Former officials who were briefed on the plan cacy, and celebration, working in collaboration with the Mother See of Studies. The aim of the SAS is to promote the said that the department’s dozens of voter Echmiadzin’s newly created office for this purpose, as well as the efforts com- study of Armenian culture and society, includ- fraud investigations nationwide had not turned ing from the Western Diocese and the Diocese of Great Britain. ing history, language, literature, and social, up enough instances of fraud to alter the out- The office at the Mother See, headed by Fr. Hambardzumyan, aims to estab- political, and economic questions. come of the election. lish ties with international organizations to lobby for and assist with the To contribute to the activities of SAS contact Perry and Clark also discussed the plan with preservation of Armenian monuments in Artsakh; disseminate information Prof. Bedross Der Matossian at bdermatoss- Trump, setting off a chain of events that near- see HERITAGE, page 11 [email protected]. ly led to the ouster of Rosen, who had refused Information about the SAS can be found on see PLOT, page 7 its website at societyforarmenianstudies.com. S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 7 COMMUNITY NEWS Pennsylvania Lawmaker Played Key Role in Trump’s Plot to Oust Acting Attorney General

PLOT, from page 6 on the request. advice to the White House as part of their es legal questions for him. to send the letter. One of Trump’s outside lawyers even drafted duties. “All my official communications were Trump’s duty as president was to ensure that After The New York Times disclosed the a brief for the department to file to the court. consistent with law,” he said. “laws be faithfully executed for the benefit of details of the scheme on Friday, the political Department officials and the White House Clark, a member of the conservative the country,” and efforts to interfere in the elec- fallout was swift. Senator Richard J. Durbin, counsel, Pat A. Cipollone, told Trump that the Federalist Society, had been appointed the act- tion could be considered a violation of his con- Democrat of Illinois and the incoming chairman plan would fail for several reasons, including ing head of the civil division in September. He stitutional duty, said Neil Eggleston, a partner of the Judiciary Committee, told the Justice the fact that the department did not have the also oversaw the department’s environmental at Kirkland & Ellis and a White House counsel Department in a letter on Saturday that he grounds to challenge the outcome, the person and natural resources division, where he had under President Barack Obama. would investigate efforts by Trump and Clark said. worked under President George W. Bush. There is little chance that a Justice to use the agency “to further Trump’s efforts to The fight between Trump and Justice Neither Perry nor his top aides responded to Department letter sent to Georgia lawmakers subvert the results of the 2020 presidential Department officials over the Supreme Court repeated requests for comment. would have prompted the state to invalidate its election.” filing was first reported by The Wall Street Some Senate Republicans, including Senator Electoral College votes. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Journal. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority But the plan was consistent with the posture majority leader, said that it was “uncon- The episode with Clark and Perry is yet leader, have grown increasingly worried that if Perry had taken since November, when he scionable that a Trump Justice Department another example at impeachment managers’ they do not intervene and distance themselves began to falsely claim that there had been ram- leader would conspire to subvert the people’s disposal as they put together their case that from Trump, the havoc wreaked by the former pant fraud in the election, and throughout it all, will.” He called on the department’s inspector Trump should be disqualified from holding president could hurt Republicans’ political for- Perry has remained defiant. Facing calls to general, Michael E. Horowitz, to investigate office again. tunes for years to come. The episode amounts resign over his role in the efforts to overturn “this attempted sedition.” Clark declined to comment on his relation- to an unwelcome reminder that damaging infor- the election, Perry issued a one-word response: Horowitz has already opened an investiga- ship with Perry, and he categorically denied mation around his presidency could continue to “No.” tion into whether Trump administration offi- devising any plan to oust Rosen. He said that emerge even though Trump is no longer in Perry, a retired brigadier general in the cials improperly pressured Byung J. Pak, there had been “a candid discussion of options office. Pennsylvania Army National Guard and an Iraq who abruptly resigned this month as the U.S. and pros and cons with the president” that had And Perry’s role in the discussions could fur- War veteran, has been scrutinized for his open- attorney in Atlanta after being pressed to take been inaccurately described by The Times, but ther escalate tensions in the House, where ness to the conspiratorial. He baselessly sug- actions related to the election, according to a he declined to provide details. He declined to Democratic lawmakers were already livid at gested that the 2017 mass shooting in Las person briefed on the inquiry. Durbin is inves- say anything more about his conversations with Republicans for fanning the flames before the Vegas by a lone gunman could have been influ- tigating that matter as well. Trump or Justice Department lawyers because Capitol riot, with some rank-and-file members enced by “terrorist infiltration through the Trump also tried to force Justice Department of “the strictures of legal privilege.” calling for the expulsion of lawmakers who led southern border” and refused to support a res- officials, including Rosen and the acting solici- Asked whether his conversations with the efforts to overturn the election. olution that condemned QAnon, a pro-Trump tor general, Jeffrey Wall, to file a lawsuit before president had violated the department policy The pressure that Trump placed on the conspiracy movement. ( Perry said he the Supreme Court that would challenge governing contact with the president, he said Justice Department, including any plan that he believed that the resolution infringed on indi- Biden’s victory, according to a person briefed that senior lawyers at the agency provided legal may have considered to remove Rosen, also rais- viduals’ right to free speech and that he did not personally subscribe to the movement.) An early supporter of the “Stop the Steal” campaign, Perry was one of 126 House Republicans who joined a legal brief in December supporting an extraordinary law- suit seeking to overturn Biden’s victory. And he joined over two dozen of his colleagues who urged Trump to direct William P. Barr, the attorney general, to “investigate irregularities in the 2020 election.” He objected on behalf of 79 other House Republicans to certifying Pennsylvania’s elec- toral results and was among 139 House Republicans who voted to reject Biden’s elec- toral victory, even though he later acknowl- edged Biden as the president-elect. The plan that Perry devised with Clark set off a crisis at the Justice Department. When Clark approached Rosen with the Georgia letter at the end of December, Rosen refused to send it, according to four former administration offi- cials. On Jan. 3, Clark notified Rosen that he would be taking his job at Trump’s behest. As Rosen prepared to meet Trump later that day and fight for his job, his top deputies, including the acting deputy attorney general, Richard P. Donoghue, and his outgoing chief of staff, Patrick Hovakimian, convened the depart- ment’s senior leaders on a conference call, according to five former officials with knowl- edge of the call. They told the department leaders that Rosen’s job was in jeopardy because of Clark’s machinations and said they would resign if Rosen was removed. They ended the call by ask- ing their colleagues to privately consider what they would do if that happened. Over the next 15 minutes, all of them emailed or texted Hovakimian, saying that they would quit. While Rosen, Donoghue and other top department and White House lawyers spent nearly three hours with Trump and Clark, debating the merits of sending the letter to Georgia lawmakers, Hovakimian — in anticipa- tion of Rosen’s removal — drafted an email to the department’s senior leaders, including those who were not aware of what was tran- spiring at the White House, according to two people briefed on the letter. In it, he explained that Rosen had resisted Trump’s repeated entreaties to use the depart- ment’s law enforcement powers for improper ends and that the president had removed him, according to a person who reviewed the email. He wrote that he and Donoghue were resigning immediately and encouraged his colleagues to think hard about what they would do and to always act in the interests of the United States. When Hovakimian received word that Rosen had been allowed to stay, he drafted a new email that he sent to the anxiously awaiting offi- cials: Rosen and the cause of justice had won.

Maggie Haberman contributed reporting from New York. 8 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS/OBITUARY

executive board. Sarkis also served on the Sarkis Sam Kouzoujian parish council of St. John Armenian Apostolic Church in San Francisco, on the executive Technology Pioneer, Dedicated to Church board of NorCal Senior Services, and was actively involved with the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU). BELMONT, Calif. — Sarkis Kouzoujian of Karen, Sarkis pursued his academic degree in Sarkis valued his family and friends above Belmont, Calif. was born in the Bronx, New engineering from Farleigh Dickinson all else and was loved by all who knew him. York, on April 18, 1933 to Harry and University, working during the day, going to He would always make himself available to Vartouhy Kouzoujian, survivors of the school at nights. He was selected to be a individuals or organizations needing any of Armenian Genocide. member of an elite group that designed the his wide range of skills. He will forever be He passed away on Christmas Day, depository trust system for the New York known for his loving and giving nature, warm December 25, 2020, from complications due Stock Exchange. In 1973, this led to an and broad smile, the twinkle in his eyes, and to COVID19. opportunity in San Francisco to work for the his roaring sense of humor. He had a passion He is survived by his loving wife of 62 Pacific Stock Exchange. The entire family and love for travel, crossword puzzles, and years, Seda, son Van, daughter Karen, and moved, including his mother and mother-in- exploring the unknown. grandson Jack. law, to the San Francisco Bay Area to start a The family has chosen to defer a celebra- Early on, Sarkis realized his passion for tech- new life in California. tion of Sarkis’ life until we can all gather nology. He attended Samuel Gompers Technical With an entrepreneurial spirit and a keen together safely to honor him. To memorialize High School where he excelled in the emerging awareness of the dawning of the microcom- Sarkis’ love of technology and enthusiasm to field of radio and television technology and puter era, Sarkis followed his dream and inspire the next generation, the family has set design. This would form the foundation for his opened one of the nation’s first personal up the Sarkis Kouzoujian Scholarship fund, future in the evolving field of data processing computer stores, ComputerLand, in 1978, with the AGBU at 55 E. 59th St, New York, and the birth of microcomputers. Sarkis’ desire with additional stores to follow. Recognized NY 10022. for lifelong learning fostered an open mindset as a pioneer in the industry, Sarkis was asked and was the backbone to his positive and opti- to participate on the advisory boards of both mistic nature, and a belief that anything is pos- IBM and Apple Computer. After the sale of sible. Contrary to prevailing workplace prac- the business in 1986, Sarkis leveraged his Ann (Vartabedian) Talanian, 101 tices at that time, as more women entered the decades of expertise by providing consulting field of technology, Sarkis was an innovator in and advisory services to businesses on imple- demanding equal pay for the women in his menting their computer systems. Longtime Member of Holy Trinity Church department. Sarkis was a very spiritual man and gave Through his active involvement in the back to his Armenian community and church. BELMONT, Mass. — Ann (Vartabedian) greater New York Armenian community, He was a member of the Knights of Vartan, Talanian passed away peacefully at her home on Sarkis met the love of his life, Seda an Armenian philanthropic fraternal organi- Saturday, January 16, at age 101. Katchouny. They married in 1957 and estab- zation, where he was honored as “Man of the She was born on September 19, 1919, in lished their home in Flushing, NY. Shortly Year,” served as Commander of the local Woonsocket, RI, to Reuben G. and Elsie A. after the arrival of their children, Van and chapter, and was a member of the national (Hagopian) Vartabedian. They lived on her uncle’s farm, where she attended a one-room schoolhouse. At age 8, her family moved to Hartford, Conn. She was an Lazarus A. ‘Larry’ Pahigian honors student at Hartford Public High School and an active tennis player. Pharmacist, Advocated for People with Special Needs After graduation, she worked as a client ser- vices supervisor at Travelers Insurance NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — Lazarus A. Company until her marriage to Albert G. “Larry” Pahigian, 89, of North Andover, passed Talanian of Boston in 1948. away on January 14, 2021 at the Lawrence They moved to Belmont with their three General Hospital after a brief illness. daughters in 1959. When her daughters were Born in Lawrence, he was the son of the late teenagers, Ann returned to work as client ser- Ashod and Pilo (Gulian) Pahigian. vices supervisor at Doble Engineering Company Larry was raised in Lawrence, MA, and was a in Watertown until her retirement. graduate of Lawrence High School and Ann and Albert enjoyed 54 years of marriage Northeastern University. until his death in 2002. He was a licensed pharmacist and owned and Ann is survived by her daughters Nancy operated Gulian’s High School Pharmacy in Talanian and husband Francis Fortino of Lawrence, North Andover Pharmacy and Whately, MA; Deborah of Belmont; and Laurie Women’s Guild, and the Armenian Assembly of American Medical & Surgical Supply Co. Travia and husband Anthony Jr. of Winchester. America. Larry once served as President of the Ann is also survived by her sister-in-law Nevart She enjoyed family gatherings, traveling, her Massachusetts State Pharmaceutical Talanian. In addition to her husband, she was summer home in Cotuit, MA, playing bridge, Association, taught at Mass College of predeceased by her sister Arline Bagdigian and and watching the Red Sox. Pharmacy, and after selling his businesses, brother-in-law Edward; her sister Iris Ann’s family gives special thanks to her team became an executive at CareMark. Humphrey and brother-in-law John; her broth- of physicians at Massachusetts General He was involved in numerous community and children, Tyler Richards and his partner er-in-law Charles Talanian; and her sisters-in- Hospital, including Drs. William Carlson, Louis service organizations including as Past Samantha Valletta, Conor and Parker Richards, law Evelyn (Talanian) Mukjian, Virginia Ercolani, Annie Lee, and Katayoon Goodarzi, as President of the North Andover Lions Club, Brad, Brendan, and Amanda Pahigian; his (Talanian) Ohanian, and Arsenne Tutunjian, well as her caregivers Robin Cedrone, Nora The Masons, Armenian Pharmacists great-grandchild, Cayson Richards. He was also and their husbands James Mukjian, Michael Turchi, and Susan Ruane, who surrounded her Association, and as an active member of the predeceased by his brother-in-law, Jack Ohanian, and Simon Tutunjian, respectively. with comfort and love. Special gratitude is also Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe, Pilibosian. Survivors also include nieces Lisa She is survived by many nieces, nephews, extended to West River Hospice of Needham. Haverhill, MA. Gardner and husband Anthony of cousins and friends. Funeral services and burial will be private. A He dedicated himself to defending and advo- Northborough MA, Michelle Beeney and hus- Ann was a member of Holy Trinity Armenian memorial celebration of Ann’s life will be con- cating for the special needs community, their band Jeff of Andover, MA, Julie Ballentine and Apostolic Church of Greater Boston, the church ducted at a future date. rights, and prosperity. husband Scott of Exeter, NH; his nephew Jeff In addition to time with his family, Larry also Pilbosian and wife Heather of North Hampton enjoyed golf and was a 45 year member at NH. Many of Larry’s friends’ children knew him Andover (MA) Country Club and most recently as "Uncle Larry." at Portsmouth (NH) Country Club and Cypress At the family’s request, all services will be pri- Lake Golf Club in Ft Myers, Florida. vate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made Larry is survived by his beloved wife of 65 to the Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye F UNERAL H OME years, Alice (Hamamjian) Pahigian; his children, Pointe. Giragosian Cary Pahigian and his wife Barbara of MD, Burial will be in Bellevue Cemetery, James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC Beth Richards and her husband Jack of Lawrence. Mark J. Giragosian Seabrook Beach, NH, and Pamela Pahigian of Arrangements are by Cataudella Funeral Funeral Counselors Andover; his sister, Carol Bazarian and her hus- Home, Methuen, MA. To send condolences, 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 band Charlie of North Andover; his sister-in-law, please visit www.cataudellafh.com. www.giragosianfuneralhome.com Audrey Pilibosian of Arlington, MA; his grand- Nardolillo Funeral Home Telephone (617) 924-7400 Est. 1906 Aram Bedrosian John K. Najarian, Jr. Rhode Island’s Only Licensed Armenian Funeral Director Funeral Home, Inc. Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 1278 Park Ave. Cranston, RI 02910 (401) 942-1220 1111 Boston Neck Rd. Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 789-6300 MARION BEDROSIAN 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET www.nardolillo.com PAUL BEDROSIAN WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS/OBITUARY

“When my parents went out, Bob Avian I would push back the furni- ture, clear an open space, turn Choreographer of Broadway Smashes on the record player and leap around the apartment,” he together for the next two decades, until Mr. wrote in his memoir. “Boys By Neil Genzlinger Bennett’s death from AIDS in 1987. weren’t supposed to dance, He was assistant or associate choreographer for especially not in Armenian cul- Mr. Bennett on “Coco” (1969), “Company” (1970), ture, but I loved music, and I FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (New York Times) “Follies” (1971) and “Seesaw” (1973). Then, in especially loved the freedom I — Bob Avian, a choreographer, director and pro- 1975, came their biggest hit of all, “A Chorus Line,” found in dancing.” ducer who was deeply involved in some of the on which they were co-choreographers. He didn’t have any formal biggest Broadway shows of the last 60 years, “A Chorus Line” is a musical about dancers training, though, until he including — with his frequent creating a musical, and with enrolled at Boston University, collaborator, Michael Bennett Bennett’s and Avian’s snazzy where he graduated from the — “A Chorus Line,” one of the footwork and Marvin College of Fine Arts in 1958. longest-running musicals in Hamlisch’s catchy music, it He also studied at the Boston history, died on Thursday, caused a sensation. Ballet School. January 21, in Fort “The conservative word for ‘A After the “West Side Story” Lauderdale. He was 83. Chorus Line’ might be tremen- tour — which was playing His husband, Peter Pileski, dous, or perhaps terrific,” Clive Berlin when the Berlin Wall said through a spokesman that Barnes wrote in the New York went up in 1961 — he booked the cause was cardiac arrest. Times, reviewing the original a national tour of “Carnival!,” Mr. Avian also choreo- production at the Public working under the director graphed the Broadway hits Theater in May 1975; it quickly and choreographer Gower “Miss Saigon” (1991) and moved uptown and ran for 15 Bob Avian (Photo courtesy Champion. Not long after, he Bob Avian & Michael Bennett with their 1979 Tony Award for “Sunset Boulevard” (1994), Peter Pileski) years and 6,137 performances got his first chance to see a Ballroom (Photo: Bob Deutsch) among others, and directed a on Broadway, a record at the show choreographed by his 2006 revival of “A Chorus time (though it has since been friend Mr. Bennett, a summer Line” that ran on Broadway for almost two surpassed by several shows). stock production of the Richard Rodgers musi- side of things in his work with Mr. Bennett. On years, as well as productions of that show in Revisiting the show in 2013 in England, Mr. cal “No Strings.” “Ballroom,” in addition to his Tony-winning London in 2013 and at New York City Center Avian reflected on its appeal. “I knew right away that he had it — and he choreography, he was a producer. And on their in 2018. He shared Tony Awards for choreogra- “The show is about the anonymous kid in the knew he had it,” Mr. Avian wrote. next collaboration, “Dreamgirls” (1981), which phy with Mr. Bennett for “A Chorus Line” chorus, the guy who works on the assembly Bennett’s career took off, and with it. Avian’s Mr. Bennett directed and choreographed, he (1975) and “Ballroom” (1978). line, the clerk in the store,” he told The soon did too. was a lead producer. That show ran on It all started with a happenstance of casting. Telegraph of London. “They are everyone. It’s Some of their projects were more challenging Broadway for more than three and a half years. Mr. Avian began his career as a dancer, and not bigger than life; it is life.” than others. There was, for instance, “Coco,” a When Bennett became ill, Avian wasn't sure early on, about 1960, he was cast in an inter- In his memoir, Avian wrote about what made 1969 André Previn-Alan Jay Lerner musical about his own future, and particularly about national tour of “West Side Story.” his creative partnership with Mr. Bennett work. that garnered a lot of attention, both for its whether to accept an offer from the producer “I loved the adventure of traveling around “I wasn’t cautious with Michael,” he wrote. “I enormous budget and for its star, Katharine Cameron Mackintosh to stage a revival of the world,” he wrote in “Dancing Man: A knew him so well that I could tell him exactly Hepburn, who played the fashion designer “Follies” in 1987. In an interview with The New Broadway Choreographer’s Journey,” a memoir what I thought. In effect I seemed to instinc- Coco Chanel. Mr. Bennett was the choreogra- York Post last year, he said it had been Mr. written with Tom Santopietro and published tively assume the role of his editor. Michael was pher, Mr. Avian his assistant, and from the Bennett, near death at the time, who spurred last year, “but the tour would prove even more a more mercurial personality than I, and ambi- beginning they realized that they had their him on, telling him: “You should do this. You momentous for one all-encompassing reason: tious though I was, I did not possess Michael’s work cut out for them. Avian recounted the first know what we did with the original, and you During rehearsals in New York, I met a fellow burning intensity. I didn’t want to be Michael, rehearsal in “Dancing Man”: know the characters.” castmate, Michael Bennett, a 17-year-old high and he didn’t want to be me.” “We’re excited and even in awe of the great Kate Avian went on to do the “musical staging” (as school dropout marked for greatness.” Robert Avedisian (he shortened the name — for precisely 10 minutes. And then Michael and I the credit reads) for Mackintosh’s production of The two became friends, and within a few when he became a professional dancer) was look at each other and realize there’s an elephant “Miss Saigon,” for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s years Mr. Bennett had graduated from dancer born on Dec. 26, 1937, in Manhattan to John in the room: The legendary Katharine Hepburn “Sunset Boulevard" and, in 1999, for the to choreographer. In 1968, when he choreo- and Esther (Keleshian) Avedisian, immigrants doesn’t have a musical bone in her body.” Stephen Sondheim revue “Putting It Together.” graphed the Neil Simon/Burt Bacharach/Hal from Armenia. His father was a chef, and his Still, though critics were unkind, “Coco” ran Avian and Pileski, who had been together for David musical “Promises, Promises” for mother was a seamstress. By the time he was for 329 performances on the basis of star power 36 years and had homes in Fort Lauderdale, Broadway, he brought Mr. Avian aboard as 11, he knew he loved to dance and was pretty alone. New York and Connecticut, married in 2011. assistant choreographer, and they worked good at it. Avian wasn’t limited to the choreographic He is also survived by a sister, Laura Nabedian.

Hagop Ucuzian ADL and TCA Activist Makrouhi Koumrouyan WATERTOWN — Hagop Ucuzian of Watertown passed away at home surrounded by (Kouyoumjian) Passes Away his family on January 20, 2021 at the age of 89. He was born on April 3, 1931 in Sivas, Turkey BOURDJ HAMMOUD, Lebanon — Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (ADL) and Tekeyan Cultural to the late Dikran and Paris Ucuzian. Association (TCA) activist Makrouhi Koumrouyan (Kouyoumjian) passed away on Friday, January 22, 2021. He is survived by his beloved wife Nadia Services took place on January 22 at the Bourdj Hammoud Armenian cemetery chapel, after which inter- (Bilalian) Ucuzian. He was the loving father of ment took place. Talin Bekelian and her husband Kevork of Born as Makruhi Avedisian in 1927, she was the wife of ADL leader Hampartzum Kumruyan (1924-1991), who was former editor of the party organ Zartonk, former chairman of the TCA in Lebanon and veteran mem- ber of the Armenian General Benevolent Union and the Armenian Youth Association. He was an intellectual and educator, who used the penname Hrach Vahuni. Together the couple brought up four children, Dr. Hrach (current chairman of the ADL Supreme Council) and wife Shushan, Vahe and Eleanor, Nora and Kevork Kevorkian, and Harout and Silva, who in turn col- lectively gave them 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren as of today.

Marie ‘Maro’ Ajemian Noted Comic Actress LOS ANGELES — Marie “Maro” Ajemian, a TCA Metro Los Angeles chapter in Pasadena California actress and school finance director, She was a longtime member of the Tekeyan passed away on Saturday, December 19, 2020, Cultural Association as well as the Armenian succumbing to an aggressive cancer. Democratic Liberal Party. Born in Jerusalem on September 21, 1955, she Maro was well liked for her humor and warm moved with her family at a young age to Beirut, personality. Her love for her family and the where she graduated the Armenian General Armenian people and culture were well known. Benevolent Union (AGBU) Tarouhi Hagopian Girls She left behind her husband Hratch; son Ara; Belmont and Tanya Ucuzian of Watertown. He School. She worked for a period of time in Jeddah. daughter Salpie and son-in-law Vahe Rupchian was the proud grandfather of Karina, Liana and In 1981, she moved to the United States. and their children Shant, Aren and Vahan; Lara. He was the dear brother of Mariam Cogan She was a member of the AGBU Ardavast brother Ohan and wife Yvonne Yergainharsian of Montreal and the late Amira Ucuz. He is also Theater Group, which became the Satamian and children, Sona and Nayiri; brother Koko survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Theatre Company, and acted with many other Yergainharsian; and members of the Ajemian, Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and Armenian theatrical groups. She has appeared Yergainharsian, Rupchian, Arakelian, public safety concerns, funeral services & in 13 plays, 2 operettas, 2 professional plays and Melkonian, Demirjian, Balian, Dawani, Interment were private. a film. She performed stand-up comedy because Hovhanessian and Kupelian families. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to she believed that “laughter is the cure.” Funeral services, followed by interment, were St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn Maro Ajemian performing at the sold out “An held on January 5, 2021 at Hollywood Hills St., Watertown, MA 02472. Evening of Comedy” in 2018 organized by the Forest Lawn Mortuary Park. 10 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Egoyan, Kouyoumdjian Pay Tribute to Gorky At Virtual Metropolitan Museum Event

GORKY, from page 1 ic car accident, a devastating studio fire and the whole host of new photos and videos of attacks The composer noted that her grandparents In an expansive interview this week, Egoyan, end of a troubled marriage drove him to suicide on Karabakh’s historic monuments are being were survivors of the Armenian Genocide and an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker with a in 1948. released. they eventually ended up in Lebanon. “As a string of introspective films as well as lush (Interestingly, Maxim Gorky itself was the At the same time, he painting and sketched grandchild who lives in the US and [not worried opera productions and installations, has found pen name for Russian writer Aleksey many versions of the 1912 photograph that was about ] a lot of risk exploring this.” a way to combine his heritage with a non-linear Maksimovich Peshkov.) taken of him and his mother, possibly influ- Kouyoumdjian often mixes voices with her approach to art. During his short and tragic life, again and enced by frescos of the Madonna and Jesus that classical compositions, which are often influ- “Gorky is one of our greatest visual artists,” again he returned to the photograph taken of he would have seen. enced by Armenian folk melodies. In 2015, for he said, adding “he is clearly, in terms of him and his mother before the Genocide. Egoyan noted that initially when the the Genocide centennial, she created music for American contemporary art, hugely important.” “The Armenian Genocide was so appalling,” Metropolitan Museum approached the Kronos Quartet. “He was one of our most important survivors Kouyoumdjian said. Kouyoumdjian and him to put together the pro- “We took the pieces to Yerevan, where we of the Armenian Genocide,” he added, along The processing of that event, and his role as gram, it was meant to be a spread-out series of interviewed with survivors. When audiences with Komitas. survivor, she said, led to so much of his art. His events and concerts. The pandemic, however, hear things … from human voices, it hits a little The two were “creative forces that needed to life, she said, “offers a lot of insight into what forced the two to come up with a new virtual differently than if it were only music,” she said. survive catastrophe” and in that way, con- people had gone through.” format. “It invites empathy from the listener.” tribute to the canon of world art. Egoyan concurred: “He was dealing with a The Metropolitan Museum has on exhibit one Importance of Art and Monuments Kouyoumdjian, Egoyan’s collaborator in this past trauma and that led him to reinvent him- painting by Gorky, “Water of the Flowery Mill.” Egoyan said he was happy that the project program, in an interview said she was thrilled self.” was finished before the recent disastrous war. Armenian Genocide’s Shadow “I hope our holy sites are preserved but we A Painting Casts a Spell Aside from creative outlets as diasporan are incredibly fearful,” he noted. The painting “They Will Take My Island” was artists, what unites Egoyan and Kouyoumdjian Egoyan said that one of the factors that drew the first painting of Gorky that Egoyan saw; it is their connection with the Armenian him so deeply into the late artist’s world was an hangs in the Art Gallery of Ontario. Genocide. essay by Peter Balakian, titled “Arshile Gorky: “It has such an evocative title,” Egoyan said. Egoyan’s grandmother was orphaned during From the Armenian Genocide to the Avant- The title of the painting, Egoyan said, is par- the Genocide and later ended up in Egypt. Garde.” ticularly poignant now, after the disastrous war “Her sorrow seeped through to [her son] my Egoyan said that he “tends to go back to launched against Armenia and Karabakh, which father, who was an artist,” he added. In fact, images and reexamine and reframe them,” he led to the loss of a good portion of the latter. both his parents were painters who met in said. “It has a strong meaning for me, especially in Cairo as students of teacher and artist Ashot He also used footage from an Armenian light of what we have experienced,” Egoyan Zoryan. (Art is a family business for the protest in front of the Turkish embassy and said. “We had no idea how much it would rever- Egoyans; his sister, Eve, is a concert pianist.) other material. All the footage was eventually berate.” His father’s “tremendous sense of grief” was transferred to 35-millimeter film and shown Both he and Kouyoumdjian said they really expressed through his art. In fact, he said, the later as part of the Venice Biennale among oth- loved the titled of the painting. first time his father visited the Tsitsernakabert ers. “It’s a beautiful title” with “an added signifi- Armenian Genocide Monument in Yerevan, “he “We need to instill in ourselves that our cul- cance.” had a psychic breakdown when he saw the ture matters and that it can also matter to oth- At the end, “We are left to wonder,” structure, the pillars … which took him back to ers,” Egoyan said. Kouyoumdjian said. that moment.” In case of Gorky, he said, it was interesting The Met program includes “really crucial Preserving memories — the past — is a theme that Gorky was running away from his history images from” his film “Ararat,” including a Egoyan frequently revisits, as well as addressing as it was too traumatic for him, but “his horri- deleted scene in the Armenian language between Ani, played by his wife and frequent Mary Kouyoumdjian (CAROLINE TOMPKINS PHOTO) collaborator, actress Arsinée Khanjian, and Gorky, in his studio. In the scene they are talk- ing about this reincarnation as Gorky in the US. to collaborate with the Canadian filmmaker. “I am delighted to finally present this scene,” “I have been such a big fan of Atom Egoyan Egoyan said. since I was a teenager,” she said. Kouyoumdjian added, “He [Gorky] kept com- She had sent him a letter and asked for him ing back to the photo. There must have been so to collaborate with her, and she said to her sur- many feelings and thoughts. The loss of his prise, he had replied positively. home and his identity. What he could not say “It was incredible that he had awareness of during the Genocide, he returned to in order to who I was,” she recalled. express himself.” Aside from mutual admiration, she explained “Gorky did express the same image repeated- that both she and Egoyan have been influenced ly. I can relate to it as well,” she noted, adding greatly by the life and work of Arshile Gorky. that “for the past 20 years, most of my work has Egoyan said he was delighted when centered on the Armenian Genocide. Kouyoumdjian approached him for the In addition, it includes scenes from “Portrait Metropolitan project. of Arshile,” which Egoyan explained, is a love One of the reasons Egoyan was thrilled to letter of sorts in the form of a short film, work with Kouyoumdjian was her libretto on addressed to his son with Khanjian. “We want- Egoyan. ed to describe to our son why we had chosen to Scene from “Ararat” in which Vostanik and his mother pose for a photographer. “We were committed to the idea of working name him Arshile,” he said. together,” he said. “It was a way of going deep- The Met project “is a very different way to er into the character.” work,” he said. “Something really developed The program also includes interviews with organically.” the distortion of history. The pain makes it so fying history was so woven into his work.” Saskia Spender, granddaughter of Arshile “This is a collaboration unlike anything I’ve that “there are answers that can’t be pondered,” Artists like Komitas and Gorky, he said, Gorky and President of the Arshile Gorky done before,” Kouyoumdjian added. he explained. “transmit the core of our identity. We have a Foundation; Parker Field, Managing Director of “It was a dialogue between the two of us,” he This theme, he said, applies to his movies that responsibility to preserve those and as artists to the Arshile Gorky Foundation; and Michael said, explaining that as diasporan artists he and do not deal with the Armenian Genocide, such keep them alive.” Taylor, Chief Curator of the Virginia Museum of Kouyoumdjian could offer a specific point of as 2013’s “The Devil’s Knot,” with Colin Firth Asked Kouyoumdjian: “There is so much cul- Fine Arts. view. and Reese Witherspoon, about the “communal ture and art that was destroyed. How do we “We were hoping to present it on stage and Kouyoumdjian said that Egoyan would share horror” that grips a small, rural American town move art and culture forward?” use the museum for an expansive production of clips and she would compose based on those. after the murder of several children. this piece,” Egoyan said. In addition, the project features the voices of History and immigration as well as the Other Projects several experts on the works of Egoyan, includ- Armenian Genocide have shaped Egoyan stressed that it is not always the dark Reinventing Vostanik ing his granddaughter. Kouyoumdjian’s viewpoint, also. side of humanity that interests him; he takes on In addition to his obvious talent and tragic Said Kouyoumdjian, “Normally I write a lot of “When my parents came to the US, they had the jolly side when he works in opera, including backstory, Gorky’s fascination lies in his mys- music for film. Atom had given me access to his no people here. So there was a lot of pressure the Canadian Opera Company’s production of tery, Egoyan said. films ‘Ararat’ and ‘A Portrait of Arshile.’ I took growing up to preserve the culture. Growing up Mozart’s “Cosi fan Tutte,” to which he brings Gorky’s life story is like a work of fiction, with excerpts of audio and edited them into the in the ‘80s and ‘90s, here I was pushing against “joy and lightness.” highs and lows that are almost beyond human music. I sent Atom the mockup of what the all those things. When I moved away from Egoyan is working on various opera projects endurance. He was born in Van in 1904 as music would be. He and his editor created films home,” however, she explained, she started to that have been pushed back because of COVID Vostanik Adoyan, survived the Armenian for that music. It was a really interesting collab- appreciate what she had been rebelling against to 2022 and 2023, and two film projects are Genocide, saw the death from starvation of his oration. I scored music to that story so that the and embraced it. also in the running. beloved mother, and after arriving in the US music would serve the text best.” Another influence of the Armenian Genocide, “Death in Venice” by Benjamin Britten for and reinventing himself as Arshile Gorky, a rel- It is especially heartbreaking to think about she said, is the idea of survivors’ guilt, some- Pacific Opera Victoria and Richard Strauss’s ative of writer Maxim Gorky, became a trail- the “ancient monuments that are being dese- thing that she said fascinated her. “Salome” for the Canadian Opera Company. blazer of 20th-century American abstract crated once again,” he added. The images of the “Part of it has meant that because I am in a When you make a film you think wider, about school of painting along with Mark Rothko, attacks on the Nakhijevan monuments were position that I can speak out, I feel it is my who will see the film, he explained. Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning. A trag- fresh in the minds of Armenians, but already, a responsibility to do so,” she noted. continued on next page S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11

She is currently finishing her doctorate at Columbia Tribute to Gorky University; she holds an M.A. in Composition from Columbia Diocese Creates Group to Focus on University, an M.A. in Scoring for Film & Multimedia from New from previous page York University, and a B.A. in Music Composition from the Protecting Artsakh’s Armenian “It is great to have the support of the Met,” he added. “How does University of California, San Diego. anyone really apply themselves to an art work? The Met did have Kouyoumdjian noted that has made a resolution to do more things Heritage that scare her professionally, in order to expand her horizons. the major exhibition ‘Armenia.” HERITAGE, from page 6 She has collaborated with the Metropolitan before. A couple Kouyoumdjian has received commissions for such organiza- globally about the religious and cultural monuments at of years ago, she recalled, she was commissioned to write for the tions as the New York Philharmonic, Kronos Quartet, Carnegie risk; and compile a database of academic research and soundtrack to be performed live at a showing of Sergei Hall, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Beth Morrison publications topical to Artsakh and its ancient Armenian Paradjanov’s “Color of Pomegranates” Projects/OPERA America, Alarm Will Sound, among others. heritage. For more information about Atom Egoyan and his past and future Her work has been performed internationally at Carnegie Hall, Since the ceasefire, Azerbaijan continues to push out a endeavors, visit www.egofilmarts.com; for information about Mary Lincoln Center, New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the multi-pronged disinformation and revisionist history cam- Kouyoumdjian, visit http://www.marykouyoumdjian.com/. Metropolitan Museum of Art, MASS MoCA, the Barbican paign designed to de-Armenianize the monasteries and To watch “They Will Take My Island,” visit the museum’s web- Centre, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Millennium Park, churches that exist in Artsakh. It persists, too, in destroy- site https://www.metmuseum.org/events. The program will be and more. She has also worked on the soundtrack of the movies ing numerous khachkars and obstructing international up indefinitely. “The Place Beyond the Pines” and “Demonic.” cultural and aid groups from inspecting monuments and monasteries now under Azeri control. Armenian intellectuals around the world have also signed numerous open letters to various global cultural US Secretary of State Nominee Blinken Calls Turkey ‘So-called Strategic Partner’ groups, including UNESCO, condemning Azerbaijan for its attempt at revising the cultural history of the region. BLINKEN, from page 1 that what Turkey has done in acquiring the Russian S-400 mis- As the danger looms over Artsakh’s Armenian heritage Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) echoed sile system is unacceptable: “The idea that a so-called strategic sites, the Diocesan committee aims to contribute to doc- Menendez’s perspective. Risch has been known for criticizing partner of ours is in line with one of our biggest strategic com- umenting and monitoring the Armenian monuments in Turkey on many occasions for buying Russian armaments, stating petitors – Russia, is not acceptable. We need to see the impact the region; bring together existing research while sup- of Ankara that “these interests are in direct conflict with Turkey’s the existing sanctions we have had and then determine whether porting new research on Artsakh, in Armenia and the long-standing allies in NATO and fuel instability in the region.” more needs to be done.” diaspora, to combat Azerbaijan’s disinformation cam- Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) inquired as to whether The final part of Robert Menendez’s questioning was about paign; and reach out to diasporan Armenians and non- Biden’s administration would pursue more sanctions against the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide and its acknowl- Armenian friends and allies regarding the importance and Turkey, “until they change the behavior.” Blinken, who had edgment by the Biden administration. historical significance of the endangered sites. looked into some of CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries The video of the segments related to Armenia/Artsakh and Through Sanctions Act), before coming to the Senate, stated Turkey are available at mirrorspectator.com.

For Sale Donations Old and Very Old The following donations were sent to the Armenian Mirror-Spectator: Ruth and Jacob Harpootian, East Providence, RI $500 Armenian and Other Oriental Records Richard Erganian, Fresno, CA $50 200 78 RPM and 33 RPM Selling as One Lot Call (781) 910-0922 LIKE US ON FACEBOOK 12 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Arts & Living

A Critical Exclusive Alice Antonina Mahari On How to Survive Calaprice: Fascism and Communism — and Deep Roots in Two Being Married to Cultures An Armenian! By Artsvi Bakhchinyan Special to the Mirror-Spectator By Christopher Atamian Special to the Mirror-Spectator YEREVAN/NOVATO, Calif. — Alice Calaprice was born in Berlin in 1941 to a German father and Armenian mother. Her grandfather “That’s how the world is arranged: they Artasches Abeghian was one of the brilliant Armenian intellectuals of the first half of the can take anyone’s freedom from him, with- 20th century. He received his doctorate in out a qualm. If we want to take back the Germany and later taught at the universities of freedom which is our birthright — they Berlin and Munich. Among other works, he make us pay with our lives and the lives of published a German-Armenian grammar book all whom we meet on the way. They can do and dictionary, a map of ancient and modern anything, but we cannot. That’s why they Armenia, a translation of Goethe into Armenian, and of Armenian writers into are stronger than we are.” German. He was also a Member of Parliament The HARC Studio of Armenia’s First Republic. –Georgi Tenno In 1951, Alice immigrated to the US with her The Gulag Archipelago, 1918-1956: An mother and sister, Margit. She graduated in Experiment in Literary Investigation 1963 from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in sociology and minor Detroit’s Armenian NEW YORK — Born in 1923 into an educat- in Near Eastern Studies. In 1970 she moved to ed family of the Vilnius bourgeoisie, Antonina Princeton, NJ, with her husband and two chil- Pavlitayte spent her early twenties during the dren. From 1978 to 2002, she worked as a Nazi occupation that devastated her home senior editor at Princeton University Press and Radio Shows Forge country of Lithuania during WWII. became an author and editor of several books. Much of the country was stripped of its free- Now she lives in Novato, Calif. dom and people — often the most accomplished members of society — were summarily executed Ahead at a whim. The Gestapo imprisoned Pavlitayte on trumped-up charges. She watched members of the country’s leading intellectuals and DETROIT — The Detroit metropolitan area, the home of some 40,000 artists, many of them her friends, mercilessly Armenians, has perhaps the singular honor in the Eastern United States of hav- tortured until they perished rather than confess ing two Armenian programs broadcast on the radio airwaves. to crimes that they had never committed. The two programs, H.A.R.C. (Heritage of Armenian Culture Radio) and the Pavlitayte decided to remain in Lithuania after Armenian Radio Program of Detroit, the war despite warnings from many of her have long supplied cultural content to peers who fled to the West. This was a decision By Harry Kezelian the local Armenian community and that the young writer and thinker was later to Mirror-Spectator Staff beyond. Furthermore, these two serve regret when an even greater threat descended complementary roles. on her nation in the form of the Soviet While the Armenian Radio Hour of Russians who drove out the Germans from this Detroit is similar to programs in other communities which offer popular music once powerful Baltic kingdom. and community news, HARC provides more classical content and is aimed not After having watched so many of her fellow only at the Armenian community, but the music and culture lovers of the wider Lithuanians murdered and tortured by the region. Nazis in the most abhorrent ways, the young It is a testament to the strong Detroit Armenian community that two radio pro- Pavlitayte discovered that if any group of peo- Dear Alice, I first learned about you from grams have been founded there and still exist to the present. ple could perhaps equal the Nazis in vicious ide- your mother, the late Mrs. Rusan Abeghian Detroit’s Armenian Radio Program ological warfare and abject cruelty threat it was (whose letters to me I treasure), who in 1996 Known and beloved for years as the Armenian Radio Hour, this program is the perhaps the Stalinists. Antonina had a heart of sent me the first edition of your first book, oldest Armenian radio show in the country and perhaps one of the oldest ethnic gold and a will of steel, but seeing her fellow The Quotable Einstein, which have been programs, period. countrywomen psychologically tortured and translated into about 25 languages! I was The Armenian Radio Hour of Detroit first aired on May 22, 1943 on WJLB-AM publicly accused of being everything from trai- thrilled to read that book, which revealed (1400), founded and hosted by tar-player Haig Ohanian, who had at the time tors to their nation to common street whores, many aspects of Albert Einstein the man. It recently relocated to Detroit from the New York area. was even more difficult. One might have expect- later had three updated editions, plus you Ohanian, born in Ekaterinodar ed such behavior from Fascists who after all wrote a book on children’s letters to Einstein, (renamed Krasnodar), Russia, was a placed the nebulous entity known as The a bibliography of his writings that you put into musician and sometime actor in ethnic Nation above all individuals –and over the con- personal and historical context, and a biogra- productions, as well as occasionally cept of Freedom itself. But Fellow Travelers and phy for young adults, written with Trevor playing bit parts in Hollywood. Having the original Marxist-Leninists both had dreamt Lipscombe. Due to your knowledge of German arrived in the United States in 1924, he of a brotherly Utopia where societal resources as well as your writing and editing skills, you was responsible for the once well- and individual wealth would be shared equally became one of the right people to help bring known “High Art Recordings” label of by all — the fall seemed even greater yet. How to light some previously unknown aspects of 78 rpm records. Although his Caucasus hen to reconcile any of this with Louis Einstein’s life, legacy, and personality. How style of Armenian music was at the Althusser’s observation that “Ideology... is much of the 42,000 Einstein-related docu- time not in much demand for live indispensable in any society if men are to be ments has been presented to the general audi- events in Michigan, he found his niche formed, transformed and equipped to respond ence? on the radio where his productions to the demands of their conditions of exis- Artsvi, it’s great to be doing this interview were showcased. The “High Art” tence.” with you. The first and last time we met was in recordings, according to many, were Arrested almost immediately once the 2003 in Princeton, which gave us a chance to actually performed by an orchestra of Russian secret services entered Lithuania, talk about our families and maybe also about non-Armenian classical session musi- Pavlitayte was jailed and interrogated for my longtime work with Einstein’s papers. It is cians, for whom Ohanian prepared months. One of the hardest things she hard to estimate how much of the archive made sheet music. Ohanian himself per- Haig Ohanian playing tar, 1940s. described was watching both the proud and the it into my books. The sheer number of docu- formed the tar in these recordings, and Originator of the Armenian Radio Hour weak perish under the strain of human cruelty ments in the archive reflects the complexity of see RADIO, page 13 — the aristocrat shorn of her honor and stand- his work, personality, and the times in which he ing, the innocent young girl who cannot lived. There are thousands more documents see MAHARI, page 16 see CALAPRICE, page 14 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 ARTS & LIVING Detroit’s Armenian Radio

RADIO, from page 12 when vocals were necessary, generally American-Armenian young women from the Detroit area were featured. One of these singers was dramatic soprano Araxie Serkaian Terterian, whose brother, Nerses “Nick” Serkaian would take over the program in 1967. Nick Serkaian’s broadcasts of the Armenian Radio Hour, which he hosted for a staggering 37 years, are fondly remembered by community members to this day. The shrill clarinet strain of the well-known m a r c h Zeitountsiner (i.e. Ippolitov-Ivanov’s Procession of the Sardar) was the signal to the younger genera- tion that “grand- ma was listening to the Armenian Radio Hour.” Nerses “Nick” Serkaian, To many com- former host of the munity members, Armenian Radio Hour Serkaian was the Armenian Radio Hour. Unlike Haig Ohanian, who had broadcast in Armenian, Serkaian broadcast in English to cater to the next generation, and took pride in being one of the few American-born hosts of an ethnic radio program throughout the country. Born in Detroit in 1932 to immigrant par- Bulletin board at HARC studio of famous artists that have been interviewed or featured ents from Turkey, Serkaian was staunchly non-partisan within the Armenian communi- ty. Serkaian made the program a community HARC (Heritage of Armenian Culture ers, turntables, microphones, shelving units for Typically, Cazandjian does 3 contrasting seg- bulletin board, announcing local news like Radio) the completed shows, storage for LPs and cas- ments. At one time, according to Azadian, the 3 weddings, funerals, and church affairs. He The HARC Armenian radio program has an settes, drawers, etc. In a nearby room were the segments would be classical, folk music, and an took pride in having been able to announce entirely different mission and role. The brain- file cabinets with all of the newspaper clippings, interview. Cazandjian says that she sometimes births of children, later on, their graduations child of community leader, cultural and literary photographs, and pamphlets that Apigian had might do a documentary program which could and marriages, and finally the births of their critic, ADL/Tekeyan activist, and the Mirror- collected. For about 15 years, Apigian ably take up the whole show or half the show. She own children. He also promoted local Spectator’s senior editorial columnist, Edmond served as host with Manasian as engineer. does the research and prepares the programs, Armenian-owned businesses. In between, he Y. Azadian, HARC was launched in 1973. “Initially our idea was to broadcast not only as well as hosts the show. Azadian has stepped played popular Armenian folk music. By the Azadian, as founder and executive director, saw music, but also to develop the music archives so back into more of an advisory capacity at this late 1990s, the program had bounced around the need for a different kind of program to that any individual could come and use our point. For the past 22 years, the show has, like the dial to where it is now, WNZK-AM (690) serve not only the Armenian community but to archives. That’s why we have accumulated the the Armenian Radio Hour, moved to WNZK, “the Station of the Nations,” which features introduce the wider public to Armenian culture. voices of many historic artists,” Azadian states, where it now airs on Sundays at 9 p.m. mostly a variety of ethnic programming. The purpose, according to Azadian, was to and goes onto name Akim Tamiroff, William Apigian reminisced about some of the famous In 2004, Vaughn Masropian, the dumbeg promote Armenian culture and give it a more Saroyan, Alan Hovhaness, sculptor Roupen Armenians that have appeared on the program player and vocalist of the local “Johnites” scholarly format as well. Funded by the Nakian, the Kavafian sisters (classi- band, took over the program. When Serkaian Manoogian Foundation, the program does not cal violinists), Ludwig Basil (an was on his deathbed, Masropian relates, “he have any advertising and doesn’t consider itself Armenian composer from wanted me at the hospital. He grabbed me to be in competition with other radio programs Germany), and scholars like David with his hand — he had worked in construc- that serve more popular tastes. Azadian credits Marshall Lang, Christopher tion — and almost squeezed it off. He said, four well-known individuals in the cultural Walker, and theatre figure Gerald ‘Under no means does anyone else have the realm that helped give the program a boost at Papasian. Azadian also gives credit rights to the time slot.’” Masropian went to its inception: Berge Jamgotchian, organist of to Soviet Armenia’s “Committee the WNZK studio, whose staff kindly taught the Boston Symphony Orchestra; Detroit native for Cultural Relations with him the ropes of how to record the show, as Ara Berberian, operatic bass who later joined Armenians Abroad” which provid- previously recorded shows by Serkaian were New York’s Metropolitan Opera; New York- ed HARC regularly with music and played for a few weeks. based pianist, composer, and musicologist texts (translated by Azadian) from For the past 17 years, Masropian has been Shahan Arzruni; and Detroit-born, Juilliard- 1973 until the fall of the USSR. the affable host of what is now called the trained Armenian popular folk and dance clar- For the last 30 years, Suzy Armenian Radio Program. He has moved the inetist and ethnomusicologist Hachig Kazarian. Cazanjian has been the host of time slot from 10 a.m. on Sundays, to 6 p.m. Originally airing on Wayne State University’s HARC. As a student at Wayne WDET radio station and hosted by influential State University in Detroit, local radio personality and WDET anchor Judy Cazandjian majored in public Adams (of Armenian descent), the program was relations but was heavily also syndicated and aired across the US and involved in taking the Armenian Canada. In the days when everything was done studies courses offered at the on reel-to-reels, the recording of the show time by Professor Dickran would be circulated to stations as far as New Toumajan, as well as music. York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and even Cazandjian, a classical pianist, Halifax, Nova Scotia. was passionate about introduc- Initially, a committee composed of Azadian ing the music of Armenian com- Former HARC host Charlene Apigian with husband Ardo. They and community leaders and musicians such as posers such as Khachaturian, performed together in an Armenian band in the 1960s Alice Haidostian and Margaret Benian (both Babajanian, and Barkhoudarian noted pianists) had developed the plans for the in piano competitions that she program. Benian had suggested Charlene entered. Toumajan introduced her to Azadian in her time: Eddie Mekka (from the TV show Apigian to be involved in the planning commit- at a time when Apigian needed to retire from “Laverne and Shirley”), Mike Connors (star of tee as well. Since part of the goal was to provide the radio program, and she was given the role. “Mannix”), and movie actor David Hedison. academic level information on composers, Cazandjian sees her job as host as a natural “We featured anything written by or per- Vaughn Masropian, host of the Armenian Radio artists, and other cultural figures, Apigian sug- extension of her championing of Armenian formed by an Armenian,” Apigian recalls. They Program gested the creation of an archive or mini-library music through her own appearances as a would record noted baritone opera singer Ara of information on these individuals. In 1976, pianist. Berberian (a Detroit native) reciting poetry. In Apigian was given the role of program host and The current focus of the program is on clas- some cases, Apigian was able to get noted poets Under the slogan of “A Community in Unity,” co-producer. sical, opera, folk and liturgical music. Features such as Diana Der Hovanessian and David he has forged relationships with the clergy of As the program developed, operations were on Armenian composers, musicians, writers, Kherdian to record themselves reciting their all four area Armenian churches, St. John’s moved from the WDET studio to a specially-con- and poets are included as well as documen- own poetry at their homes, and send the tapes (Diocese), St. Sarkis (Prelacy), St. Vartan’s structed radio room in the St. John’s Armenian taries on Armenian history and culture. back to Detroit. Armenian Catholic Church, and the Church complex in Southfield. Recording engi- Everything is broadcast in English. Cazandjian “The caliber of artists we’ve had on the pro- Armenian Congregational Church, whose neer, Ron Manasian, was put in charge of con- says that she gets a lot of feedback from non- gram, everything about it is very unique and clergy appear as regular guests on the show. structing the radio room along with his cousin Armenian listeners and it thrills her that they special,” says Cazandjian. Entering the digital age, the show is also now Joe Arslanian, a carpenter. An impressive mini- are hearing this music that they wouldn’t be For a schedule of the programs, visit available online. studio was built, complete with reel-to-reel play- able to hear otherwise. http://www.birach.com/wnzkpgm.html 14 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING Alice Calaprice: Deep Roots in Two Cultures

CALAPRICE, from page 12 Of course, that trip was memorable as well! I about those activities. least not about Einstein! The motivation to con- now than there were 43 years ago, when I pre- had heard about a group of Armenians who Yes, after we came to America, we became tinue writing about him has disappeared by pared the original computerized index of the were given permission to go there in September part of the Armenian community. I joined the now, especially since I’ve moved away from my archive for which Prof. John Stachel laid the 1986, and decided to join them, then my moth- Armenian Youth Federation Juniors in San colleagues. I had been asked to co-author a groundwork. In my books, I tried to impart er and sister decided to go as well. It’s a special Francisco, and later the “seniors.” During my book about the Armenian displaced persons some facets of Einstein’s remarkable life that experience to breathe, for the first time, the air college years, I became an active member and and the DP camp in Germany after World War could be found in the archive at the time my that one’s ancestors had breathed for centuries. held several positions as an officer, including II, but I recently decided I wasn’t up to it as an books were published. I am neither a physicist I had the same feeling later, when, in 1991 or AYF West Coast Council president. As a dele- author. I had already bought a few books on nor a historian of science, so my books were vet- 1992, I visited Berlin, where I myself had taken gate, I attended national conventions on the postwar displaced persons in Europe and ted by specialists but are written for a general my first breath. East Coast and in this way got to know became interested in the topic, so I offered to audience. Einstein was not only a physicist but In Armenia, my mother was, of course, much Armenian communities in other parts of collaborate if I can be of help in some other also a humanitarian, an astute political activist, more emotional than Margit and I. She was, America. I was also a camp counselor at Camp way. I decided to dig into my own family histo- and a man of many involvements and interests, once again, back in Yerevan, where she had Hayastan in Massachusetts for two summers, ry instead, as people of my age often do! such as philosophy, music, travel, and leisure- spent several years of her childhood. In 1966, where each counselor directed the activities of Coincidentally, last year a German cousin time activities like sailing. His name is known she had already made her first return visit. a group of children. Several of my fellow AYF informed me she found a boxful of old letters all over the world, but there are many myths Some of her many relatives came to the hotel members are still friends. But being half- among the belongings of her deceased mother. about him that scholars have been attempting for a tearful reunion and to meet Margit and German, I always had an identity problem, as Among them were letters from my mother, my to correct. me. For the most part, we were not allowed to the pressures to “be Armenian” were many, and Armenian grandmother, and my father to my And your Einstein work became An leave our group and guide, and we were sometimes hurtful. aunt and to my German grandmother, from Einstein Encyclopedia, published in required to spend nights at our hotel. As to the Armenian folktales: My grandfather 1946 until we left Germany in 1951. Some of 2015 with two co-authors. Somehow, a cousin and her boyfriend managed had translated them from Armenian into them were heart-wrenching but enlightening, Yes, I thought it would be useful to have a to get permission (or maybe not!) to whisk us German, and he probably published some of answering some of my unanswered questions. I small, desk-top encyclopedia that summarily out of town to their favorite restaurant in a fair- them in German newspapers. When I was still a also learned that my father, whom I met only covers the fundamentals of Einstein’s life. I had ly distant rural area, farther away than we were, child, my mother showed them to me. I read once as an adult, became a pacifist after the often wished I had such a reference at my dis- in principle, allowed to go. them, loved them, and decided to translate war. My mother’s diary from 1931 and 1932, posal while doing research and spending hours We were able to sight-see within Yerevan on them from German into English. My mother while she was in Geneva as a young woman to search for basic facts. Einstein scholars can our own and got around by subway. We man- suggested I submit them to the Armenian news- studying languages, was also in the box. All this now quickly find facts about his life, family, col- aged to visit a cousin, Mher Abeghyan, the papers, and some were published a few years material was written in German. I am thinking leagues, works, activities, awards, interests, rela- artist and son of Manouk Abeghyan, who took later. As an adult, I translated more stories and that this treasure trove will provide some good tionships, and so forth. Two Einstein-scholar us to the wing of a museum that contained thought I might try to get them published in material for memoir-writing! friends — a historian and a physicist, both of many of his paintings. In another cousin’s small book form, but then I learned that one or two As to trips, who knows how this year will whom had worked on The Collected Papers of apartment, we enjoyed a lavish dinner and won- authors had already done so, and I gave up on unfold? A friend and I had planned to go to Albert Einstein volumes — agreed to join me in derful hospitality. In the rural areas, we visited the idea. Armenia last fall, but of course that became this project. I had copyedited the fifteen vol- the usual famed venues, including the poignant Do you have any plans for a new book and impossible because of the coronavirus. Maybe umes that have been published to date and thus genocide memorial at Tsitsernakaberd and sev- trip in this new year? this year, big adventures will become possible had easy access to facts. Princeton University eral of the beautiful churches for which I don’t have any plans for another book, at again! I still feel up to it! Press published the encyclopedia. I think we Armenia is famous. My mother became most succeeded in presenting the most useful infor- emotional, however, when we visited Tbilisi mation, including reproductions of some inter- (Tiflis) in Georgia, where she was born and, as esting documents and photos from the archive. noted in her memoir, had spent the most joyful Mariinsky Theater Records Beethoven Symphonies You are an avid traveler and have visited years of her early childhood. When she was about 45 countries. Which one stands out for about 7 years old, after my grandfather became Performed by Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra you? a member of Parliament during the First Thank you for asking about my favorite pas- Republic, her family moved to Yerevan. After ST. PETERSBURG (Panorama.am) — The neer Arseniy Nikolayev. Specialists from Saint time! Traveling widely is, in my opinion, as that, her life became very chaotic, with emigra- Russian Mariinsky Theater, one of the largest Petersburg praised the orchestra level of per- important an educational pursuit as reading a tion to Germany four years later, wartime, cultural institutions in the world, are record- formance, skill and dedication of Maestro wide variety of books. I’ve always been capti- divorce, and then off to America with Margit ing Beethoven symphonies performed by the Topchjan, professionalism of local sound and vated by the foreign and the unknown, both in and me. Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra light specialists, and effectiveness of the hall travel and in subject matter. Twenty-five years Alice, although you were a child when you (ANPO). The works are being carried out staff who diligently assisted to the specialists of ago, I became especially curious about the knew your maternal grandfather, what kind of with the consent of the theater’s artistic the Mariinsky Theater throughout the whole remote parts of the world that many people memories do you have of Artasches director and principal conductor Valery recording. Hopefully soon Armenian and inter- don’t want to visit. I had also become more pas- Abeghian? Gergiev. national public will have the opportunity to see sionate about wildlife and conservation and By the time I was born in Berlin during the Within the framework of A Pilgrimage to and hear the result. We should have high-quali- wanted to combine the two interests. My first war, my grandparents and mother had been set- Beethoven festival, the orchestra is performing ty video and audio product, which we will pro- eco-trip was in 1995 to a part of Siberia called tled there for almost 20 years and were assimi- the genius composer’s Symphonies No. 1, No. mote and distribute via various electronic the Russian Far East; the organizers labeled it lated into German life, but they were fervently 2, and No. 5 out of 9 planned for recording streaming platforms,” General Producer of the “In the Tracks of Siberia’s Great Cats.” Who hanging on to their Armenian culture as well. I under the baton of its artistic director and prin- Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra could resist a trip to track tigers and Amur leop- know that my grandfather was intensely cipal conductor maestro Eduard Topchjan. The Arman Padaryan noted. He has organized the ards! Our small group was the first non-scientist involved in Armenian activities, even though process is carried out at Aram Khachaturian visit of the Mariinsky Theater technicians to group to be allowed into that area after the Iron the Armenian community in Germany was Concert Hall, the head of the Public Relations Armenia. Curtain fell. We visited three nature preserves small at the time. I didn’t know about some of and Marketing close to the coast during this trip. Today I can’t his involvements until I read about them after Department of A believe that I ventured out like that, but it’s still my mother’s death. I know he was revered by Pilgrimage to my most memorable trip. We didn’t see any wild the displaced Armenians who ended up in post- Beethoven, Rosa cats, only some huge paw prints in the mud. war Germany. We were generally introduced to Grigoryan, reported One of the guides poured plaster on a track, them as his grandchildren, suggesting to us on Monday. made a mold, and later gave it to me. We also that it was an honor to be related to him. The 14-member had to scale a cliff along the Sea of Japan I’m sorry to say I don’t remember much staff led by because of high tides in the area we were about my grandfather firsthand, since I’ve for- Mariinsky Theater exploring, and I think this might have been the gotten almost everything about our years in top specialists has most frightening experience in my adult life. I Germany, which for me were years of war and brought high-quality wrote a detailed journal about this trip, as well postwar experiences and losses. My remem- and state-of-the-art as subsequent trips to Botswana and to bered image of him is his bald head bending video-recording Mongolia and China, where I traveled with my down, fountain pen in hand, looking at papers equipment, including adult children. Also memorable were Iran, the and books. Occasionally, he would put me on 2 PTS devices, as Amazon Basin in Peru, India — I went there his lap and show me how to use a dictionary. well as 5 cameramen, twice — and Uzbekistan. You might remember My grandmother, Natasha, lived in his shadow, who shoot from 10 that you had put me in touch with a friend of but I think she was his equal intellectually, positions, to create a yours in Tashkent, whom I met there, musicol- being well educated, cosmopolitan, and a com- high-quality image Members of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra ogist Alexander Djumaev. I also loved Rwanda, pulsive reader and storyteller. I believe both my and sound. The final Kenya, Botswana, and Namibia because of the grandparents spoke to us mostly in German, product will be dis- chance to see wild animals. In Rwanda, just a and we called them Oma and Opa, the words tributed via international streaming and distri- A Pilgrimage to Beethoven festival is orga- few years ago, a friend and I, together with a German children call their grandparents. We bution platforms, presenting Armenian classical nized by the Armenian National Philharmonic small group of adventurers and porters, spoke German with my mother as well, and art in the best way possible. It should be noted Orchestra with the support of Armenia’s climbed a steep mountain, close to the later English, so I never became fluent in that these specialists are behind audio and Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Democratic Republic of the Congo, in rainy Armenian. But we did learn the Armenian video production of a famous Mariinsky TV Sport. weather. All this for the privilege of having a alphabet and learned to write simple sentences, channel. The festival pays tribute to the legacy of the one-hour visit with a family of mountain goril- and Margit also speaks the language better “It is a great honor for us that the artistic genius composer, which was created in the context las! The porters carried rifles to protect us not than I do. director and the principal conductor of the of his eternal struggle against darkness. Two sym- from gorillas, but from Congolese guerrillas and During your youth, you were involved in Mariinsky Theater, Valery Gergiev, approved phony and two chamber concerts have already poachers. Armenian community life. I remember some the visit of his specialists to Armenia, who carry taken place within the framework of the festival. Alice, you have also been in your mother’s translations of Armenian tales from German out the process under the direction of the There will be more Beethoven concerts this year. country — Armenia — when it was still a part into English in the American-Armenian press Grammy-nominated sound director Ilya Petrov, Incidentally, ANPO plans to complete recordings of of the Soviet empire… what about that trip? of the 1960s… It will be interesting to know stage director Dmitry Kazakov, and video engi- all 9 Beethoven symphonies in 2021. S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 ARTS & LIVING U.S.-Turkey Accord Grants Ankara Rights to Christian Cultural Heritage

ACCORD, from page 1 State, Anthony Blinken correctly identified approval on the destruction of Christian cultur- including Greek, Armenian, and Assyrian heritage of the region’s indigenous peoples and Turkey as a ‘so-called strategic partner’ of the al heritage in Turkey. We will work with the Christians, and Jews. The incoming Biden minority populations – among them United States. The fact that the present State incoming Biden Administration to ensure U.S. administration will face one more challenge in Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Department ignored both the divergence in policy towards Turkey will be much stronger trying to restore U.S. leadership in the protec- Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, Jews and Kurds,” strategic interest and, most importantly, demo- moving forward.” tion of human rights and religious freedom, as said ANCA Executive Director Aram cratic values and signed a cultural agreement Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, who served on the Washington tries to ensure that Turkey does Hamparian. “This reckless and irresponsible with a Turkey that has demonstrated the intent US Commission on International Religious not hide beyond the MOU in order to commit move was done over the protests of the ANCA, to wipe out its Christian minorities and their Freedom from 2004-2012 and lectures at Tufts ‘memoricide’ against its Christian and Jewish the Hellenic American Leadership Council, and heritage is a travesty. Those that participated University Fletcher School, called the agree- minority communities.” In Defense of Christians by an Administration in the signing of this agreement are potentially ment “a surreal moment in U.S. foreign policy.” The cultural property agreement with Turkey well aware that Turkey has openly, unapologet- complicit in the continuation of Turkey’s Prodromou explained, “well-documented and was negotiated by the State Department under ically, and systematically spent the past two cen- oppression of its Christians. We will work with extensive evidence by cultural heritage experts the U.S. law implementing the 1970 turies destroying minorities, desecrating their the incoming Secretary and Administration to leaves no doubt that the state of Turkey is the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and holy sites, and erasing even their memory from ensure that this agreement is indeed effectuat- single greatest threat to that country’s cultural Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and the landscape of their ancient, indigenous ed in such a way that actually protects heritage. The Trump Administration has now Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. homelands.” Christian heritage in Turkey,“ stated put the United States in the position of enabler U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey Hellenic American Leadership Council Zemenides. to Turkey’s weaponization of cultural heritage David Satterfield and Turkish Minister of Executive Director Endy Zemenides concurred. IDC President Toufic Baaklini explained, policy, used for a century as a cudgel to erase Culture and Tourism Mehmet Ersoy signed the “In his confirmation hearing for Secretary of “This MOU is a shameful stamp of American the country’s vulnerable religious minorities, bilateral Memorandum of Understanding. While the final memorandum text has not been made public, Turkey’s request called for U.S. import restrictions on virtually all art orig- inating in their territory, spanning all periods in history from the prehistoric up to the modern era. U.S. law requires that four conditions be sat- isfied before signing an agreement: Recipe 1. The cultural property of the requesting country [and on the designated list] is in jeop- ardy from pillage. 2. Turkey has taken measures consistent with the 1970 UNESCO Convention to protect its cultural patrimony. Corner 3. The application of import restrictions, if applied in concert with similar restrictions implemented, or to be implemented within a reasonable amount of time by those nations by Christine Vartanian individually having a significant import trade in such material, would be of substantial benefit in deterring a serious situation of pillage, and remedies less drastic than import restrictions are unavailable. Lebanese Judra (Lentils and Rice) 4. The application of import restrictions is consistent with the international community’s Cooking with Jon’s Lebanese Judra interest in the interchange of cultural property. Opponents of the agreement argued that This recipe appears in Cooking With Jon, the engaging cook- none of the key criteria had been met. book written by award-winning chef Jon Koobation, the owner In testimony submitted on January 21, 2020, and head chef at the acclaimed Jon’s Bear Club in Reedley, Calif. to the State Department Cultural Property for several decades before he retired. Born in Dinuba, a small Advisory Committee which recommended the farming town in the central San Joaquin Valley, Jon’s history with signing of the agreement, the Association of Art the restaurant started many years earlier. He worked at the Museum Directors argued, “While all of the famed Vallis’ Restaurant in Kingsburg, the Redwood Inn of facts are important, perhaps the most troubling Sultana, Dinuba Ranch, and the Swedish Mill, and became The is Turkey’s failure to take measures to protect Bear Club’s executive chef in 1973. Through the 1970s and mid- its cultural patrimony. Instead, it is taking affir- 1980s, Jon’s Bear Club established itself as a fine steakhouse. mative steps to eradicate some of the country’s “Using the freshest local ingredients available each season was most important heritage—particularly that of its always valued by our guests,” says Jon, “and one of the reasons minority cultures and religions—through state- they chose to return again and again.” sanctioned destruction of cultural patrimony. Jon learned how to make this recipe from Mike Raphael, his Nobody should condone this conduct. But that boss and the former owner of Jon’s Bear Club Restaurant. “Mike is exactly what the Committee will do if it con- and his partner cludes that Turkey qualifies for import restric- owned The Bear tions and recommends the MOU.” Club up until 1985 Joint testimony submitted by the Committee when I bought it and for Cultural Policy and the Global Heritage changed the name to Alliance opposing the agreement went further, Jon’s Bear Club. INGREDIENTS: noting, “By encouraging an MOU with Turkey, Mike would go rac- 1 cup brown lentils, rinsed the State Department is not only ignoring com- ing with me and 2 cups Swanson’s chicken broth (or beef or vegetable broth) mon sense and the balanced cultural policy set make this recipe at 1 1/2 cups water by Congress decades before – it is directly harm- the racetrack. We 1 cup long grain rice (or coarse bulgur), rinsed ing important U.S. constituencies such as the parked our large 1 large onion, finely diced Armenian, Greek, Cypriot, Syriac, and Kurdish motorhome and 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil communities founded by minorities who suf- trailer next to many Kosher salt and cracked black pepper fered under Turkish persecution in the 20th of our competitors, Dash of cumin, optional century. […] A MOU approving Turkey’s cultur- and after a long day Serves 10. al heritage policies will strengthen Erdoan’s of practice and qualifying, we would all set up to cook and have nationalist and anti-Semitic program, which a huge potluck dinner. As memorable as the racing was during PREPARATION: For the lamb: already threatens to deprive Jewish and those trips, the friendships and the incredible array of foods, In a saucepan, add lentils to the broth and simmer for 15 min- Christian communities of rights to community desserts, and grilled barbecue dishes are truly unforgettable. utes. Add the water, rice, stir, and cover. Cook 20 minutes more property and their most precious religious arti- This recipe, made with lentils and rice followed by caramelized until the water is absorbed. facts.” onions, was a crowd favorite,” says Jon. Meanwhile, sauté the onion in olive oil until nicely caramelized. Following the signing of the agreement, the “Serve this dish with labne or yogurt, flatbread, and an Fold the onions into the lentil and rice mixture. Season with salt State Department Bureau of Education and Armenian or Fattoush Salad, and if you want to get fancy, add and pepper to taste. Drizzle with olive oil, if desired. Cultural Heritage will work with Turkey’s crispy fried onions strings on top. The main flavor is the onions, Note from Jon: “The onions should be caramelized so that they Embassy and archaeologists to build a compre- fried to the point of dark golden brown. This is what gives the are very dark brown, but not burnt. If you go too far, the burnt hensive “designated list” of items prohibited rice its beautiful depth, both in color and taste. onions can cause a bitter taste and this will ruin the dish. Also, from import. Similar lists, developed as part of Cooking With Jon is in keeping with Jon’s commitment to the burnt onions won't disappear magically into the cooked lentils, memoranda with other countries, have includ- making fine dining accessible for today’s home cook. His signa- like the soft unburnt ones do.” ed virtually all objects, unless they can be ture recipes include: Baja Cobb Salad, Sweet Chili Prawns, proved to U.S. Customs’ satisfaction to have Cabbage Dolma with Beef and Lamb, Herb Seared Lamb https://thebusinessjournal.com/best-valley-restaurant-award- been out of country for more than ten years. Tenderloin with Eggplant Caviar and Basil Oil, Grandma winners-announc ed-2/ Agreements are usually valid for five years, Bazarian’s Shish Kabob, and the ever-popular Chicken George — Jon is the recipient of the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award in though legislative oversight is generally lax, plus poignant family memories and stories about Jon’s remark- the California Restaurant Association's "Best of the Valley" awards. and memoranda with other countries have able culinary history and car racing experiences that are sure to Contact Jon at [email protected] to order his cook- been renewed for decades, often with no mea- delight readers. book and for a personally signed copy. surable benefit for the preservation of antiqui- ties. 16 S ATURDAY, J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

Antonina Mahari on How to Survive Fascism and Communism — and Being Married to an Armenian!

MAHARI, from page 12 events in the Soviet republics and also in what Western Armenian in Beirut in 1994. The Calendar find the energy to fight back on any level. it teaches us about the human spirit. It also sug- final Russian manuscript was published in Pavlitayte was eventually sent to a Siberian gests that good and evil are not just opposites Yerevan in 2003 and only in 2007 was it but can both be deeply translated into this present English-language enmeshed in the human edition. It will be of particular interest to MASSACHUSETTS soul. Mahari makes it Armenian readers because of the love story FEBRUARY 10 – Wednesday at 10am clear that in many ways at its core between one of Armenia’s greatest Celebrating What Unites Us! A virtual cook- Soviet rule was perhaps writers and one very smart woman from a dif- ing series, a collaboration of City of Boston Age- far worse than the Nazi ferent land whose amazing devotion to her Friendly Boston, OLDWAYS and Friends of occupation in Lithuania. husband are touching indeed — as was his Armenian Heritage Park to keep us connected, Armenians rightfully devotion to her. And the story as well of one coming together. To register, email think of themselves as woman’s unfaltering belief in justice that tri- [email protected] French having suffered unbear- umphs over almost every form of evil imagin- Cuisine Chef Tyler Stout Executive Chef, Troquet ably at the hands of their able, she who once said, “If I am not worthy on South Ottoman oppressors who of respect for who I am, then turn your gaze FEBRUARY 27 — UNDER THE SNOW murdered over half of away. Mahari lived a long an eventful life MOON A virtual program of Friends of the world’s Armenian before passing away in 2017 at the age of 95 Armenian Heritage Park to Meet & Greet, population, but here are in Yerevan. She did outlive her husband by Virtually Walk the Labyrinth. Share Wishes some sobering numbers. quite a few years, as he had feared, but after for The Wishing Tree. Enjoy Musical Of the two million his death she converted his house into a Performances. at 4pm. TO REGISTER VIA Lithuanians alive at the museum and devoted herself to his memory ZOOM, please email onset of WWII, 500,000 and to writing the unvarnished truth about [email protected] with (including 90 percent of life under Soviet Communist rule in the February 27 in Subject line the country’s Jewish pop- Soviet Union. MARCH 3 — Labyrinth Walking: The ulation) were massacred My Odyssey was published as part of the Power & Health Benefits. A virtual pro- by the Nazis and an addi- Armenian International Women’s Association gram of the Benson-Henry Institute for tional 150,000 were (AIWA) Press series of woman writers, and Mind Body Medicine, Osher Center for deported by the their editors are to be commended for includ- Integrative Medicine at Brigham & Women’s Russians and sent to die ing this work, for the window that it offers us Hospital/Harvard Medical School and in Siberia. Altogether on another Soviet Republic, as well as for the Friends of Armenian Heritage Park in collab- some 35 percent of all light it sheds on the life of Gurgen Mahari as oration with Armenian-American Medical Lithuanians were massa- well. Finely translated from the original Association, Boston Public Health cred. While comparative Russian by Jaklin Ekmekjian and Gohar Commission, City of Boston Age Friendly Arsenyan, what the prose sometimes lacks in and The Greenway Conservancy. at 5pm. Portrait of Gurgen Mahari victimology is not of much interest in the end, pure elegance it more than makes up for in Welcome: Maura Koutoujian, PCC, CPHWC these numbers are passion and historical detail. Senior Professional Coach, Mass General labor camp in the Krayonarsk region where telling. Brigham/Brigham and Women’s Hospital; she met the love of her life, the Armenian It will come as no surprise Fellow, Institute of Coaching, poet Gurgen Mahari; he from the warm lands then that Antonina prefaced McLean/Harvard Medical School; In of the Caucasus, she from the frigid North, her book with the following Conversation: Darshan Hemendra Mehta, both communicating in Russian, a language sentence: “I dedicate this auto- MD, MPH, Medical Director and Director of that wasn’t theirs, and perhaps most serious, biographical narrative to my Medical Education, Benson-Henry Institute; he already in his 50s and twice her age, so unforgettable friend of harsh Associate Director, Osher Center for old that he felt compelled to tell her that life and anxious days — to Gurgen Integrative Medicine, Brigham & Women’s had dealt him one last cruel blow — to Mahari, with whom I walked Hospital/Harvard Medical School; Assistant undoubtedly die years before his beloved along these most agonizing Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical Antonina. roads.” Here Antonina seems School, with Armineh Mirzabegian, MD She would spend ten years in the Siberian to implicitly acknowledge that Internist, Reliant Medical Group, part of camps, and he seventeen. During those years, just as she saved Gurgen’s life OptumCare; UMASS Medical School, To he grew sickly from illness and malnutrition. on many occasions that he register, email Several times he almost perished of illness, ultimately may have saved [email protected] with but each time Antonina nursed him back to hers as well. Rising above ide- March 3 in Subject line health. She describes the pain a well of being ology and nationalism and MARCH 24 – Wednesday at 10am a writer or an artist imprisoned under such religion, above material con- Celebrating What Unites Us! A virtual stark conditions, robbed of everything that cerns and the desire to be cooking series, a collaboration of City of they valued: their friends and family, the sun, wealthy or all-powerful: pure Boston Age-Friendly Boston, OLDWAYS and their work — all creativity forever extin- love. Friends of Armenian Heritage Park to keep us connected, coming together. To register, guished. And yet Pavlitayte not only survived A True Odyssey but she eventually thrived even when faced email [email protected] with the worst that her jailors could do to Mahari completed the Seafood! Executive Chef Kathy Sidell her. While in Siberia and tending to chores original Russian-language Owner, Sidell Hospitality, Saltie Girl, Met all day, Gurgen wrote Antonina love poetry manuscript of My Odyssey in Back Bay, Stephanie’s on Newbury and made exile bearable for her. Eventually 1972 while still living in dif- they were able to safely reach Yerevan, where ficult conditions in Soviet- they brought up their only son, Sasun. But controlled Yerevan. As editor RHODE ISLAND Mahari’s health was still poor and he faced a Ruth Bedevian relates in her The Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian backlash from other writers such as Paryur foreword, the book was Church of Providence hosts the follow- Sevak for ideological reasons and most prob- smuggled out of Soviet ing Armenian Cultural Hour programs ably, out of jealousy, turned on him. Mahari’s Armenia and published in virtually every Friday at 7:30 pm. For infor- masterpiece, The Burning Orchards, about mation on how to watch or participate in the flight from Van during the Genocide, was the programs, contact the church office or famously purged due to its unflattering por- check the church’s Facebook Watch page. trayal of Armenian Marxists and because it January 29 –Levon Hovsepian & Armen appeared in parts “too nationalistic.” Mahari Ghazharyan in Concert “From Classics to was accused of having glorified the useless New Days” resistance of the fedayis against the Ottoman Empire, or conversely for describing some Armenians’ deep if perhaps misplaced sense NEW JERSEY of loyalty to the Sublime Porte. JANUARY 23 — Saturday at 8 p.m., The changes in the book combined with Composer Michelle Ekizian discusses the outcry against it in both Soviet Armenia “Gorky’s Dream Garden” on the Lied and the Armenian Diaspora, sent Mahari into Society’s weekly hour-long “Round Table” a deep depression. streamed LIVE on Facebook: Mahari’s ultimate revenge lies perhaps in https://www.facebook.com/liedsociety the fact that the original unexpunged version JANUARY 27 — From Wednesday, January of The Burning Orchards is now considered 27 through Sunday, January 31, the one of the great books in the Armenian Ridgewood Guild International Film canon, alongside Abovian’s Wounds of Festival will screen virtually Michelle Armenia and the poetry of Charents. Ekizian’s 90-minute “Love Songs Showscape But time and again it was Antonina’s inner from ‘Gorky’s Dream Garden’” taped live in strength and determination that saved both her concert at The Newark Museum of Art’ on and Gurgen. The value of Mahari’s memoir lies its dedicated screening platform. See its Wall of photos at the residence of Antonina Mahari both in his accurate descriptions of historical website for forthcoming schedule updates: https://ridgewoodguildfilmfest.com S ATURDAY J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 17 COMMENTARY

EDITORIAL Mirror A Window of Diplomatic Opportunity

worship; condemns the reported use of cluster munitions in the Spectator By Edmond Y. Azadian conflict; urges both Armenia and Azerbaijan to ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which comprehensively bans their use, without further delays; stresses that a lasting settle- The speed and magnitude of the Karabakh war of September ment still remains to be found and that the process of achieving 27-November 9 stunned the diplomatic world. Turkey had cho- peace and determining the region’s future legal status should be led by the Minsk Group co-chairs.” EstablishedEstablishe d1932 1932 sen the right psychological moment to strike. Russia was no less interested in the war, which would allow its peacekeeping forces Article 38 of the same Resolution condemns Turkey’s desta- AnA nADL AD LPublication Publication into Azerbaijan’s territory. bilizing role in the conflict, its military assistance to Azerbaijan Throughout the war, the US was embroiled in one of its most and the injection of terrorists into the battlefields. contentious presidential elections, not that otherwise it would Both the US and Europe have been left out of the game, have minded what was happening to Armenia and Karabakh. which was controlled by Russia and Turkey. The two remaining EDITOR Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had spared a single sarcastic co-chairs, France and the US, have been demanding that their Alin K. Gregorian sentence for the Karabakh war, stating: “We hope Armenians voices be heard, by reviving the negotiation format of the Minsk can defend themselves.” Group. ASSISTANT EDITOR Time was also of essence in Moscow and Ankara, since both Once the Minsk Group revisits the issue, Armenia has to take Aram Arkun were interested in bypassing the Organization for Security and up the current challenge to bring up its agenda forcefully and ART DIRECTOR Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group format, which had clearly. To begin with, it has to concentrate on Azerbaijan’s vio- Marc Mgrditchian been handling the simmering Karabakh conflict for the last lation of the group’s core principles. The first principle was that three decades. there can be no military solution to the conflict. Therefore, Now, with the elections over, the US is realigning its domes- Baku must be held accountable for its aggression. tic and world agendas. At this time, the diplomatic world is In addition, as a result of that aggression, another principle catching up with the events that took place during the war in has been accomplished by default: that of Azerbaijan’s territori- SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: the Caucasus and that process will afford an opportunity for al integrity. The last principle remaining to be resolved is the Edmond Y. Azadian Yerevan to address its grievances and insist on its agenda which self-determination of the people of Karabakh. was ignored by all the stakeholders in the war. Once the co-chairs convene, the focus has to be on that last CONTRIBUTORS: principle, and that will not happen Florence Avakian, Dr. Haroutiun by itself. Arzoumanian, Philippe Raffi Kalfayan, Already, Russia, through Philip Ketchian, Kevork Keushkerian, Harut Sassounian, Hagop Vartivarian, President Vladimir Putin and Naomi Zeytoonian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, has been insisting that Karabakh is CORRESPONDENTS: Azerbaijani territory, because Armenia - Hagop Avedikian Moscow has a very clear solution Boston - Nancy Kalajian in mind — to offer its citizenship to Los Angeles - Taleen Babayan Karabakh Armenians to obtain the Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach right to hold on the Azerbaijan ter- Contributing Photographers: ritory. Once its five-year mandate Jirair Hovsepian expires, under the pretext of “pro- tecting its citizens,” it can itself annex the territory. It is an uphill battle but The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published weekly, except two weeks in July and the first Armenian has to take up the chal- week of the year, by: lenge and dispute the identity of Karabakh’s territory. Baikar Association, Inc. To say that Karabakh is part of 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 the internationally-recognized ter- Telephone: 617-924-4420 ritory of Azerbaijan is a political FAX: 617-924-2887 statement which cannot be sus- www.mirrorspectator.com tained by either international laws E-Mail: [email protected] or history. When Baku annexed For advertising: [email protected] Now, positive statements are being pronounced both in the Karabakh Autonomous Oblast to its territory in 1989, it Washington and European capitals, favoring Armenia. The committed an illegal act. Even when Stalin placed the enclave incoming Biden administration has its political plate full. under Azerbaijan’s rule, he recognized the region’s identity. Despite that fact, it has already addressed the Karabakh war and The people of Karabakh obeyed the terms of the Soviet con- reiterated its pledge for the recognition of the Genocide. stitution to seek independence from Azerbaijan as well as the Of course, these statements are more of warning shots to Soviet Union. But the strongest case for independence is Baku’s SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Ankara than rewards for Armenia. mistreatment of its minorities and the pogroms it has launched The European Union has also positioned itself along against Armenians. The Armenian people have no choice but to Washington’s lines. seek self-determination and secede from the grip of the tyrant. U.S.A. $80 a year At this time, it is incumbent for Armenian diplomacy to work When opinions vary so much, it will take tremendous effort overtime to take advantage of this window of opportunity. Canada $125 a year and diplomatic skills to force the issue. Is Armenia ready for Statesmen who have studied Turkish President Recep Tayyip that? Other Countries $190 a year Erdogan’s political decision-making processes in the past can There will be a contest between Armenia and Turkey to win easily forecast its ability to adapt to new situations and make over the European Union and the US. Turkey has already toned Turkey’s political role relevant to President Joe Biden’s evolving down its rhetoric and is negotiating with Greece and is plan- © 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator policy for the Middle East and the Caucasus. ning to similarly engage with Cyprus. Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA Even if Armenia exerted the same flexibility, its value and Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavusoglu was in Brussels and additional mailing offices. impact would not match that of Turkey, given the latter’s mili- recently to reset the fraying ties with NATO. Pretty soon, Turkey tary potential and political clout. will send its coterie of lawyers, lobbyists and diplomats to ISSN 0004-234X During recent Senate confirmation hearings, in answer to Washington to make nice. Sen. Ed Markey’s question, the nominee for Secretary of State Turkey’s economy is in decline and if the US applies further Anthony Blinken reiterated Biden’s pledge to recognize the POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The sanctions, the country’s economy will collapse. Armenian Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount Auburn Armenian Genocide. He also promised to “review US security Al-Monitor’s senior correspondent Amberin Zaman predicts St., Watertown, MA 02472 assistance to Azerbaijan.” that “Things will get tougher in the US-Turkey relations” Other than the editorial, views and opinions This enforcing of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, because irreconcilable issues divide the parties, such as the expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily which has been waived by all presidents since 1992, should be demand for the extradition of dissident cleric Fethullah Gulen reflect the policies of the publisher. welcome news for Armenia. by Turkey, the purchase by Turkey of the S-400 Russian missile US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy has reinforced systems, US support to Syrian Kurds (YPG) and particularly Blinken’s statements in an article published on January 20, say- Biden’s priority for human rights issues. ing, “The Untied States continues to call for the swift and safe President Trump used to condone all despots’ rights to tram- return of the remaining detainees. We condemn the acts of ple the human rights of their citizens. President Biden is chang- Copying for other than personal use or atrocities connected within the conflict.” ing course as Erdogan is moving to improve relations with internal reference is prohibited without The European Parliament has adopted a resolution whereby Europe, but the latter will hit a snag there too, because human express permission of the copyright it has made its position very clear on the Karabakh conflict. rights are a non-negotiable issue for the European Union. owner. Address requests for reprints or Article 24 of the resolution states: “[The parliament] regrets that Erdogan has pledged a new package of human rights to dupe back issues to: changes to the status quo were made through military force, the Europeans but he cannot go too far in that direction rather than peaceful negotiations; strongly condemns the killing because it may erode his Islamic base at home. of the civilians and destruction of civilian facilities and places of see DIPLOMACY, page 18 Baikar Association, Inc. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 18 S ATURDAY J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

inhabitants around or below the poverty line. The hardship of life, when Ashot visited his parents in Yeghvard, we all would have a Remembering however, made our friendship and bonds even stronger. reunion. We would catch-up and chat for hours, usually about Ashot and his brother Arman lived with their parents Alik families, children, and world politics, but rarely about work. Then, (Aleksan) and Haykush on the top, fifth floor of an apartment as usual, Ashot would start telling jokes and endless engaging building with no elevator. As many families did at the time, Alik stories from his time in the armed forces. He was a very enter- Our Heroes: installed a wood-burning oven in their apartment that served as a taining and interesting person, but also very humble. He never heater and a stove to cook food in winter. Early fall was the season boasted of his achievements, promotions or awards. After a few when all close friends of ours, five or six people, would gather on hours spent together, we all had the feeling as though we had Lieutenant-Colonel weekends at one of our friends' apartment buildings to chop wood said goodbye yesterday and we were going to see each other the for winter with two-man crosscut saws and axes. The work was next day, and this would continue every day. hard and physically demanding, especially at Ashot’s place, where In 2012-2013 Ashot finished a 10-month intensive training pro- Ashot Chobanyan after the chopping was done we all had to load our hands with as gram at the Russian Military Academy in Moscow. Upon his much chopped wood as we could carry and climb the stairs up to return, he was appointed to serve as deputy commander of the the top fifth floor. Exhausted from work, we were happy, however. border guard brigade in Noyemberyan, in the north-eastern By Vahe Sahakyan The work was usually followed by a social gathering and a small region of Armenia. After serving in the military for more than feast around some modest meal cooked on a wood burning oven. twenty years, Ashot retired in 2018 with the rank of lieutenant- The date was January 9, 2021. Many of my friends in Armenia It was during the years of war, when Ashot, Hayk, Armen colonel, and settled in Yerevan, ready to enjoy civilian life with his gathered at St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Yeghvard to bid farewell (another mutual friend of ours) and I began playing rock music wonderful family. to a dear friend of our childhood, Ashot Chobanyan. A huge crowd at the local music school in Yeghvard. My father was a teacher at Ashot was dreaming of having his own home, starting a small attended the memorial service at the church, despite the snow on the the music school. He taught students how to play various instru- business and establishing a modest life in Yerevan, but above all, ground and the bitter cold, to pay tribute to their compatriot from ments — drums, electric guitars, and synthesizers. The best of of a peaceful and bright future for his children in Armenia. Yeghvard, to the fallen hero of the second war in Nagorno- them played in the band my father had started, composed of Business partnership with Aram, our other childhood friend, was Karabakh/Artsakh (September 27 - November 10, 2020). youngsters between ages 13 and 18. With his encouragement bringing Ashot very close to the life he wanted to have, when the Lieutenant-Colonel Ashot (Arshaluys) Chobanyan was killed in and support, we used the outdated Soviet-era instruments in his second war in Artsakh broke out on September 27, 2020. Ashot action on October 13, 2020, near the village of Sarinshen rehearsal room to play our own rock compositions loud enough volunteered to rejoin the army, and was appointed to serve at the (Shahyeri), on the way from Jrakan military commissariat in Yeghvard. At his own initiative and (Jebrayil) to Hadrut in Nagorno-Karabakh request, however, Ashot was dispatched to the frontline, where he — an area that remained under the thought his experience and skills would be more needed. The bat- Azerbaijani control following the Russia- talion under his command selflessly defended the borders of brokered cease-fire on November 10, 2020. Nagorno-Karabakh against the heavily armed, more numerous Ashot’s body was recovered only at the end and technologically more advanced Azerbaijani army between of December, and was laid to rest at the October 6 and 13. Ashot fell on October 13, the day after his long- Yerablur Military Pantheon in Yerevan, time friend and colleague in service, commander Colonel Vahagn Armenia, on January 10, 2021. Asatryan, was killed in action in the same location. Posthumously Ashot was born in Orojalar (Orojalari), a Ashot Chobanyan was awarded the Order of the Combat Cross by village in the district of Bogdanovka (now the president of the Republic of Armenia for exceptional courage Ninotsminda, Samtskhe-Javakheti) in and self-sacrifice in the service to the homeland. Soviet Georgia on September 3, 1978. He Ashot’s daughter Haykuhi expressed the following words of was very young when his family moved to tribute about her father: “He never retreated. He always saw the Yeghvard, a small town in Armenia, some good, the positive in everything... He brought us up that same 10-15 miles north of the capital Yerevan, on way... He kept teaching us that we should not give in to emotions the slopes of Mount Ara. I first met Ashot and we should always be guided by our minds, by reason. His when he was 10 years old. My brother dreams were all about me and my brother, about our good edu- Hayk and Ashot were classmates at the No. cation and bright future.” I hope the bright and peaceful future 3 Secondary School in Yeghvard. My own that Ashot dreamed for his children will someday become a real- family moved to Yeghvard from Armenia’s ity in Armenia and Artsakh, for which Ashot and many others third largest city of Kirovakan (now paid the ultimate price of self-sacrifice. Rest in peace, my dear Vanadzor) in the summer of 1988. This was friend. You will live in our minds and thoughts forever as a happy, the same year the Karabakh movement had Ashot with his family in 2012 kind and positive individual as you always were. started and the anti-Armenian sentiments (I would like to thank Ashot’s wife Marine Jalavyan, his daugh- in Azerbaijan and the pogroms in Sumgait ter Haykuhi Chobanyan, his brother Arman Chobanyan and had driven many refugees to Soviet Armenia. Hayk and Ashot to often annoy the refugees from Baku who were temporarily Arman’s wife Lusine Arzumanyan, my friend Aram Musayelyan became friends that same year, when Hayk joined their class. placed in some of the rooms at the music school. Ashot took and my brother Hayk Sahakyan for helping with factual details They studied in the same classes for seven years and graduated accordion classes for five years. He had also learned to play the and providing the photos.) in 1995. piano, but he became the Jason Newsted of our band. He loved As two adventurous middle schoolers, Ashot and Hayk spent the heavy metal of Metallica and loved playing the bass guitar, much time together, both at school and after school. Aspiring and although at the time we had only a few tape recorded songs by curious, their ambitious projects of building a robot, an auto- Metallica, and their full albums were nowhere to find in our small Window of Opportunity matic coffee grinder and maker (not known at the time in town. Not a very gifted singer, occasionally he would also try his dull and funny voice alongside our singer Armen. Armenia), or discovering medicine to cure some illnesses made DIPLOMACY, from page 17 Ashot was a happy, positive, and funny young man with a won- their friendship ever stronger. Ignoring my skepticism, they con- Turkey is also wooing Israel to ingratiate itself in derful sense of humor. He was the soul of our social gatherings, tinued putting much time, effort and imagination into drawing up Washington but thus far, no response, because Israel is facing who would tell jokes, do silly things and act to make people plans, finding appropriate materials, putting together some parts, new elections. Besides, the latter has found new friends in the laugh. I can still recall one of his jokes, told many years ago. A and conducting experiments in the pursuit of their projects, until region, while until recently, Turkey was the only Islamic state really drunk person in Yerevan waves for a cab. A cab stops, picks at some point a new interesting idea or project occupied their that was friendly with Israel. him up, and the driver asks: “Where to?” The drunk person goes: curious minds, energy and time. Those were the days of our Now, through the Abraham Accords, Israel has established “To China,” and falls asleep. The cab driver decides to play a trick. happy and careless childhood. relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and He turns the ignition on, revs the engine a couple of times, then We were teenagers when the first war in Nagorno-Karabakh Sudan, and Saudi Arabia is next in line. turns the ignition off and wakes the passenger up: “Hey, wake up, broke out in the winter of 1991-1992. Armenia’s independence, In addition, Turkey’s support for Hamas in Gaza does not we arrived!” The drunk dude, surprised and apparently impressed the collapse of the Soviet Union, the war in Nagorno-Karabakh bode well with the administration of Benjamin Netanyahu. by how fast they arrived, turns to the driver and, wearing a seri- and the economic blockade imposed by the neighboring Another component of Turkish overtures to the US is its ous expression on his face and raising his finger, expresses a Azerbaijan – all these events had disrupted the Soviet-era supply readiness to take on Iran or Russia, just in case Washington rebuke: “Dude, don’t ever drive that fast, you’ll get yourself into lines, infrastructure and transportation networks. The events decides to turn the screws on both and may need local surro- trouble sometime.” that made news headlines in many countries had very tangible gates on the ground. That is why Turkey is flexing its muscles I still remember that day vividly – Ashot acting as a drunk per- effects on our daily lives. The war, the devastated economy and in Kars, right across from the Russian base in Gyumri, through son, the expressions changing on his face and his voice, as he hyperinflation, accompanied by the shortage of energy, water, joint military exercises with Azerbaijan’s army. made the switches between the roles of the driver and the pas- natural gas, and food, left hundreds of thousands of Armenia’s Throughout this complex web of political issues, Armenia senger. He was a good joke teller, but he never considered becom- has to find openings to plead its case in Washington and ing an actor or a standup comedian. At some point, he was European capitals. preparing to become a musician. But life had other plans for him. However, it looks like Yerevan is beginning to take up the Ashot was drafted to compulsory military service at the age of challenge in a misplaced manner. While a seasoned diplomat 18. Armenia’s Military University, established a few years before, must be stationed in Washington in these trying times, the in 1994, had been actively recruiting students from among the Pashinyan administration is toying with the idea of sending new army conscripts. I remember those days when Ashot dis- Lilit Makunts, a political appointee with no diplomatic experi- cussed with family and friends the offer he received from the ence, to Washington. Makunts is the head of Pashinyan’s My Military University, and the prospect of starting a career in the Step political party and her only previous experience was as military. It was a hard decision, but Ashot made the choice, culture minister. The current ambassador to the US, Varuzhan entered Armenia's Military University, and successfully graduated Nersesyan, is a career diplomat. It is the wrong move at the as a lieutenant in 2001. Since 2001, Ashot served in various mil- wrong time to downgrade your diplomatic representation at itary units in Artsakh and Armenia, mostly in commanding posi- what is virtually the capital of the world. Unfortunately, this tions, and continued climbing up the military ladder. seems to be a pattern with Pashinyan in selecting his cadres at Ashot got married in 2002. Ashot and his wife Marine grew up other ministries too. in the same neighborhood in Yeghvard, and knew each other Some concerns have been raised in the parliament regarding from a very young age. I remember their wedding party, my Makunts’ appointment. In the end, wiser heads must prevail to brother Hayk being the kavor (godfather), and the good time we avert a self-inflicted wound to Armenia’s diplomacy. all had that day. Ashot’s daughter Haykuhi was born in 2003, in Armenian-American advocacy groups will certainly play a Yeghvard, and his son, Alik, was born in 2007 in Goris, in the role in Armenia’s rapprochement with Biden’s administration. Syunik region of Armenia. Ashot’s military career moved his fam- They can serve as the extension of Armenia’s foreign policy ily from one place to another, wherever his services to the home- Ashot Chobanyan’s awards arm, but Armenia has to help itself before the diaspora can land would be most needed. They lived in the apartments lend a helping hand. reserved for military personnel for many years. Occasionally, S ATURDAY J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 19 COMMENTARY

Aliyev’s daughters Leyla and Arzu Aliyeva according to The Azerbaijani government has also used its investments reporters for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting in contemporary art around the world to project power and Project, is one of YARAT’s main partners,” The Calvert establish goodwill. “Mehriban Aliyeva, through the Heydar Journal wrote. Aliyev Foundation, has shelled out generous sums for cultur- “Mahmudova is also the director of another of Azerbaijan’s al institutions such as The Palace of Versailles, Paris’ Louvre My Turn main contemporary art galleries: Baku’s Museum of Modern Museum, and the Vatican Museums, while the Friends of Art (MoMa). The museum was founded by Mehriban Aliyeva Azerbaijani Culture Foundation, a non-governmental charity By Harut Sassounian in 2009, and is funded by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation (of which she founded in 1995, routinely organizes art exhibits which Mehriban Aliyeva is the President and Leyla Aliyeva abroad,” according to The Calvert Journal. the Vice-President), a charitable organization created in mem- As a result, “in 2004 Mehriban Aliyeva was designated Azerbaijan Exploits Everything ory of the former president of Azerbaijan and father of cur- UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, a laurel given in recogni- For Propaganda, Including Art rent president Ilham Aliyev. Elsewhere in Baku, another star tion of her actions to promote international cultural venue on Azerbaijan’s cultural scene is the Heydar Aliyev exchanges. Later, in 2010, Aliyeva received a gold medal The Calvert Journal published last week an article by Lucía Center. The current director of the Heydar Aliyev Center is from UNESCO for her ‘efforts in establishing an intercul- de la Torre titled, “The Aliyev influence: how nepotism and Anar Alakbarov, a former assistant to the Vice President of tural dialogue.’ Over the years, Azerbaijan has had a partic- self-censorship rule Azerbaijan’s art scene.” Azerbaijan and current assistant to the President,” The ularly favorable relationship with the UN body -- in October On October 2, 2020, two days after the start of the Calvert Journal reported. 2015, at the petition of Mehriban Aliyeva, UNESCO hosted Artsakh war, a giant Azerbaijani flag was placed on the Baku has several other smaller art galleries which are con- an exhibition ironically called ‘Azerbaijan -- Land of façade of Baku’s YARAT Contemporary Art Space gallery trolled by Azerbaijan’s government. “The Qiz Qalasi Gallery, Tolerance’ at its Paris headquarters. At the opening, when with a giant message: “Karabakh is Azerbaijan.” an art venue in Baku with a branch in Berlin, is headed by a journalist asked Aliyeva whether the title of the exhibition This did not sit well with the Turkish-born Kurdish artist Emin Mammadov, who also works as Art Curator for the lived up to the reality in Azerbaijan, considering the coun- Ahmet Ogut whose exhibition “No Poem Loves Its Poet” had Heydar Aliyev Foundation. ‘Modern Art of Azerbaijan’ is a try has ‘many political prisoners in jail,’ Aliyeva denied this been displayed in the gallery since May 2020. Ogut request- travelling exhibition supported by the Heydar Aliyev Center and turned her back while security guards pushed the jour- ed that the propaganda banner be taken down and boldly that toured European capitals, where Mehriban and Leila nalist away. The relationship was particularly favorable declared: “I refuse to allow my work to fall prey to political Aliyeva hosted lavish inaugurations attended by European between Mehriban Aliyeva and Irina Bokova, Director- instrumentalization.” government officials and diplomats. In November 2020, the General of UNESCO, 2009-2017. Their relationship came The gallery refused to remove the banner and closed down gallery launched ‘Armed with the Arts,’ an exhibition alleged- under scrutiny in 2017, when Kalin Mitrev, Bokova’s hus- Ogut’s exhibit on October 29, 2020, three weeks earlier than ly meant to promote peace after the Second Nagorno- band, was investigated by the Bulgarian Chief Prosecutor in scheduled. Karabakh war, while, similarly to YARAT, openly supported relation to media publications about payments made by According to The Calvert Journal’s article, “This is one the position of the Azerbaijani government and used politi- Azerbaijani companies to his [bank] accounts. Bokova then example of how Azerbaijan’s apparently thriving art scene cally-charged, bellicose language. Kicik QalArt Gallery, a pro- wrote a letter to The Guardian [newspaper] defending the conceals something darker: a deeply nepotistic environment ject of the ‘Art ex East Foundation’ and another important rightfulness of her relationship with Azerbaijan, but never which routinely suppresses dissident voices while crafting an smaller-scale venue in the capital, although now closed, used spoke openly about the money allegedly received by her international image of Azerbaijan as a free, art-loving nation.” to be owned by Olivier Mestelan, a Swiss art collector and husband or her stance towards Azerbaijan’s human rights Artists like Ogut, who refuse to go along with Azerbaijan’s financier. Mestelan used to sit on the board of Ataholding, an abuses,” The Calvert Journal reported. political propaganda, are quickly ostracized and lose all artis- open joint-stock company that managed Atabank, one of the However, Azerbaijan’s devious use of the arts was tic privileges. biggest commercial banks in Azerbaijan, now bankrupt and exposed in 2011, when “Azerbaijan censored its own entry Artists worldwide were alarmed by Azerbaijan’s abuse of owned by the Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF). to the Venice Biennale, the world’s most high-profile show- power, trampling on the rights and independence of an artist. According to an investigation carried out in 2011 by Radio case of contemporary art, by hiding the work of one of its However, this came as no surprise to those who have followed Free Europe’s Azerbaijani Service, Mestelan was also claimed own artists under a piece of cloth. Moscow-based artist many other violations by the country’s despotic leader. Ruled to be the treasurer of three offshore Panama-based compa- Aidan Salakhova’s work Waiting Bride, which showed a “by President Ilham Aliyev and Vice-President and First Lady nies linked to Azerfon, a Baku-based telecommunications woman in a black veil from head to foot, and another Mehriban Aliyeva, the Azerbaijani government has been company with links to Arzu and Leyla Aliyeva,” The Calvert sculpture, which showed the Black Stone of Mecca con- repeatedly criticized by human rights’ groups for ongoing Journal wrote. tained in a vagina-shaped marble frame, were hidden censorship, a poor human rights record, and rampant cor- Lesley Gray, a scholar researching the development of the under a white cloth. The [Azeri] government later claimed ruption. And, like many nearby authoritarian regimes, mem- contemporary art scene in the Arab Gulf and Caspian Sea that the artworks were ‘damaged during transport’, while bers of the President’s family are known to own most of the region, explained that Azerbaijan and other countries use senior sources at the exhibition clarified that the works country’s major businesses, earning them millions of dollars contemporary art as a tool to reshape the country’s interna- were censored for being considered offensive to Islam,” since the fall of the USSR and situating Aliyev amongst the tional image. according to The Calvert Journal. world’s richest oil billionaires,” The Calvert Journal reported. Azerbaijan’s leaders are not interested in art for art’s sake. Nothing is surprising about the exploitation of art by The YARAT gallery was founded by Aida Mahmudova, an “They hope to use art as a tool to attract international atten- Azerbaijan. A government, whose soldiers cut off the heads artist, curator, and Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva’s niece. tion for something other than imprisoned journalists and and ears of captured Armenians, can easily abuse art to cover The Marriott Hotel in Baku, “which is allegedly connected to crackdowns on free speech,” The Calvert Journal reported. up its corruption and gross human rights violations.

Why Azerbaijan Is Unfit to Rule over the Armenians of Artsakh

depicted as Azeri. Project (OCCRP) named President Ilham Aliyev its 2012 By David Boyajian Museums were looted of artifacts that proved Artsakh to be “Organized Crime and Corruption Person of the Year.” an ancient Armenian province. Azerbaijan is guilty of “arbitrary arrest and detention of Even the name Artsakh was banned. opposition politicians, civil society activists, human rights Corrupt, sadistic, and run by a hereditary dictatorship, Large quantities of meat, dairy products, and wool were defenders and critical journalists,” says the European Court of Azerbaijan is unfit to rule over others, least of all Armenian directed to Azerbaijan instead of to needy local Armenians. Human Rights. Christians. Baku frequently imprisoned local Armenian leaders who Freedom House ranks Azerbaijan as “Not Free” — worse Yet that iniquity could materialize due to the recent 44-day protested, but gave Azeri gangs free rein. than the Congo and Cuba. war by Azerbaijan, Turkey, and terrorist jihadis against the Breaking Free Reporters Without Borders rates Azerbaijan’s press freedom Artsakh Republic (Nagorno-Karabakh) and Armenia. Artsakh voted to exit Azerbaijan in accordance with Soviet as 168th out of 180 countries — worse than Pakistan and The November 9, 2020 armistice could force democratic, law in 1988 and international law in 1991 as the USSR dis- Somalia. Armenian-governed Artsakh (pop. 150,000) into Azerbaijan’s solved. In response, Azerbaijan massacred Armenian civilians International human rights organizations have rebuked (pop. 10 million) despotic grip. in Artsakh, Baku, Ganja, and Sumgait. Azerbaijan for repressing and forcibly assimilating its Lezgin Since the war began, though, mainstream media have rarely The ensuing war ended in 1994 with victory for Artsakh’s and Talysh minorities. pointed out Azerbaijan’s depravity and long-standing abuse of Armenians. Armenians fled the rest of Azerbaijan, and Azeri Lieutenant Ramil Safarov was prosecuted and impris- Armenians. Azerbaijanis fled Armenia. oned for beheading Armenian Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan In the 1920s, Stalin transferred the ancient Armenian Artsakh became self-governing, reformist, and widely at a 2004 NATO program in Hungary. Under questionable cir- provinces of Artsakh — 96-percent Armenian — and respected. It maintained representative offices in Washington, cumstances, Hungary later dispatched Safarov to Azerbaijan. Nakhichevan to Turkey’s friend, Azerbaijan. The delusional D.C., Europe, and elsewhere. He was hailed as a national hero, awarded a medal, and pro- tyrant mistakenly believed that this would lure Turkey into the Azerbaijan proceeded to gorge on revenue from its gas and moted. USSR’s web. That injustice has brought Artsakh nothing but oil fields. Yet it still mirrored its Soviet self: repressive, corrupt, Azerbaijan has perpetrated the utmost brutality since the agony. Even before the transfer, Azerbaijan had been mas- violent, and anti-Armenian. earliest days of Artsakh’s struggle and during the recent war. sacring Armenians in Artsakh and Baku. Artsakh became doubly determined to never again submit to Azeri troops have abused, mutilated, and beheaded Armenian Unlike 3,000-year-old Armenia, no country named Azerbaijan. civilians and soldiers. Armenian POWs have been summarily Azerbaijan existed before 1918. Its inhabitants didn’t even call Azerbaijan’s Post-Independence Horrors executed. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch themselves Azeris until the 1930s. The U.S. State Department says Azerbaijan has “significant have decried these war crimes. Azerbaijan has still not Artsakh was officially autonomous within Soviet Azerbaijan, human rights” problems, including: unlawful/arbitrary killing; released all POWs despite pledging to do so and continues its but the latter held the real power. Artsakh’s Armenians were torture; arbitrary detention; political prisoners; heavy restric- attacks in violation of the armistice. persecuted due to raw Azeri fanaticism, not the Soviet system. tions on the press; incarceration of/violence against journal- In the 1990s, Azerbaijan imported Afghan Mujahedin, Armenians went from from 96% to 76% of Artsakh’s popu- ists; severe restrictions on political participation; Chechens, Pakistanis, and terrorist Turkish Grey Wolves to lation by 1988, the result of repression, deportations, econom- systemic government corruption; torture of [LGBTQ] individu- fight Armenians. The recent war saw Azerbaijan and Turkey ic warfare, and murder by Azerbaijan. als; and the worst forms of child labor. Azerbaijan “did not bring in thousands of jihadis and ISIS terrorists from Syria, Then-KGB Major General Heydar Aliyev (Azeri dictator prosecute or punish most officials who committed human Libya, and elsewhere. In so doing, Azerbaijan has violated the Ilham Aliyev’s father) acknowledged importing Azerbaijanis rights abuses.” UN convention against using mercenaries. Draw the appro- into Artsakh to replace the Armenians that he had exiled. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom priate conclusion about a political culture that deploys terror- Azerbaijan maliciously closed many Armenian schools, cites Azerbaijan for “engaging in or tolerating severe violations ists and thugs. orphanages, and libraries. of religious freedom.” Like Turkey, Azerbaijan has long desecrated and destroyed Armenian-language inscriptions on ancient monuments were Europe’s Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting see ARTSAKH, page 20 20 S ATURDAY J ANUARY 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

projects are now moving forward). Other commercial agreements quickly followed. Congress Should Stop Giving Subsequent announcements showed these agreements were not only aspirational but real as the two countries fulfilled their agreements. Over the past decade, Azerbaijani imports to Iran have quadrupled to almost $500 million. As the Trump administration implemented a Azerbaijan a Free Pass on Iran “Maximum Pressure” campaign on Iran, Azerbaijan became a major lifeline for the Islamic Republic. Consider: Between January and August 2020, Iranian exports to Russia via Azerbaijan amounted to $1.5 billion; over the same period the year before, the total was just And Russia $4.3 million. Other aspects of the bilateral relationship should have raised alarm bells in Washington. By Michael Rubin On a June 8, 2016, visit to Germany, Aliyev reportedly admitted that Azerbaijan had been buy- ing weaponry from Iran. Iran-Azerbaijan military cooperation picked up pace over the fol- The guns are now silent in Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia has released its prisoners-of-war and lowing year and, in 2018, the two countries reached an agreement to jointly produce military diplomats pressure Azerbaijan to do the same. The Minsk Group, which the United States co- equipment. This means that U.S. arms sales to Azerbaijan risk bettering Iran’s own domestic chairs alongside Russia and France, seeks to restore its diplomatic relevance as Azerbaijan blind- armament industry. A 2018 Agreement on a legal convention to govern Caspian waters sided it and the State Department with its September 2020 military offensive on the disputed removed the major barrier to further cooperation. Bilateral military cooperation accelerated territory. That action contradicted the basis of its waiver under Section 907 of the Freedom in 2019 even as Azerbaijan feigned cooperation with U.S. sanctions on Iran. While Support Act that enabled the United States to provide Azerbaijan with military assistance. Suleymanov continues to assure Congress that Azerbaijan is an ally in the war on terror, Rep. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, high- Azerbaijan’s foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov lamented the death of Iranian Qods Force lighted the challenge that both Turkey and its alliance with Azerbaijan will pose to U.S. for- Chief Qasem Soleimani. eign policy during his committee’s confirmation hearing for Anthony Blinken, President Joe Tehran and Baku also signed a memorandum of understanding to extend media coopera- Biden’s nominee to lead the State Department. Blinken criticized Turkey but did not signal tion. Aliyev told Khamenei during a meeting on March 5, 2017, in Tehran that both countries any substantive change in policy. actively supported each other’s positions in international organizations. In 2016, Azerbaijan, While continuing the policy status quo toward the Caucasus would be a mistake, part of Iran, and Russia began holding trilateral summits to advance their strategic axis, the first of the reason why the State Department continues to undermine efforts to hold Azerbaijan many. accountable for its actions is because of the fundamental disconnect between perceptions of Of equal importance has been the further development of the north-south transport corri- Azerbaijan in Congress and the reality of that country’s policy. dor. On March 7, 2016, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia signed a memorandum outlining further While the Armenian lobby vocally promotes U.S. recognition of Armenian Genocide, rail cooperation and reduction of trade tariffs. In order to implement the corridor, Aliyev Azerbaijani diplomats and lobbyists have long maintained a lower but equally effective profile loaned Iran $500 million. Iran and Azerbaijan continue to develop facilities and protocols to in Congress where they both paint Azerbaijan as both an ally in the war against terror and further the project. as a regional bulwark willing to stand up to Russia and Iran. As important, Elin Suleymanov, Aliyev now brags openly about how Azerbaijan’s cooperation with Iran and Russia comes at Azerbaijan’s skilled and extremely effective ambassador in Washington, and a bevy of unreg- Armenia’s expense. In his 2021 New Year’s address, the Azerbaijani president declared that istered agents of influence argue to senators and congressmen that Armenia is beholden both “there is a trilateral format involving Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia. Does Armenia have such a for- to both Iran and Russia. mat with any other countries? No! This is a clear example of how correct our policy has been.” It is true that Armenia has ties to both Iran and Russia. Turkey and Azerbaijan’s econom- Azerbaijan’s turn to Russia has been just as striking. Indeed, Aliyev is quickly defining him- ic blockade on Armenia makes Iran an economic lifeline to which Armenia can export is agri- self as Azerbaijan’s most pro-Russian president since Ayaz Mutalibav, a former communist offi- cultural and some manufactured goods. Russia maintains a military base in Gyumri. Troops cial who ruled Azerbaijan from 1991–1992. While the two countries enjoyed cordial relations stationed at the base largely remain confined to it and do not appear active elsewhere in in subsequent years, the 2008 Georgian War appears to have been a turning point as the con- Armenia or the Caucasus. Armenians I interviewed—including those more oriented philo- flict weakened Baku’s faith in the West’s capacity to oppose Moscow’s revanchism and power sophically toward the West—say that the Russian presence largely serves more as a deterrent projection. Aliyev traveled to Moscow just one month after the cessation of hostilities in to Turkish or Azeri aggression than as an endorsement of Russia’s foreign policy. Georgia to lay the groundwork for a new relationship between Russia and Azerbaijan. It was In reality, however, Azerbaijan’s ties to both Iran and Russia in recent years have become the first of many other Aliyev visits to Russia. deeper and more strategically significant than Armenia’s. Azerbaijan’s relationship with Iran Moscow and Baku’s formal delineation of their border in 2010 removed the chief impediment was not always positive. While the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992, to economic cooperation. Whereas in 2001, Azerbaijan imports from Russia totaled perhaps Baku accused Iran in 1999 of both spying for Armenia and training militant Islamists to $100 million, today, they surpass $2 billion. Aliyev, meanwhile, allowed Russia to expand cul- undermine the Azerbaijani government. In 2001, an Iranian warship ordered an Azerbaijani tural and educational programs in Azerbaijan. Indeed, the last decade has witnessed numerous exploration ship hired by British Petroleum to withdraw from exploration operations in a dis- economic agreements, especially in the energy sector. Military trade also increased. In 2017, for puted zone within the Caspian Sea. Iranian officials also clashed with their Azeri counter- example, the Azerbaijani Army reportedly received a new batch of Khrizantema-S anti-tank mis- parts over Azerbaijan’s security cooperation with Israel. Iranian resentment toward sile systems from the Russian Federation. In 2018, Azerbaijan hosted a conference for senior Azerbaijani secularism kept mutual suspicion high. Azeri and Russian officials in Jojug Marjanli, a town transferred from Armenian control in the In recent years, however, the relationship between Tehran and Baku has grown steadily April 2016 “Four-Day War.” Significantly, the conference was titled “Baku-Moscow Geopolitical warmer. In August 2004, for example, the two countries agreed to a twenty-five-year gas swap Axis: Azerbaijan is Russia’s Only Ally in the South Caucasus.” The feeling is mutual. On April 4, contract in which Iran would supply Azerbaijan’s landlocked Nakhichevan region and 2020, the Russian Foreign Ministry declared Azerbaijan to be “Russia’s major strategic partner.” Azerbaijan would deliver has to Iran’s northeastern provinces. In December 2005, Azerbaijani Russia and Azerbaijan are now openly discussing nuclear cooperation. president Ilham Aliyev joined Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the opening cere- There is grave danger when the White House and State Department calibrate policy to per- mony for the new gas pipeline from Iran to Azerbaijan’s landlocked Nakhichevan region as ceptions of what a country once was rather than what it has become. The United States’ they put the agreement into action. strategic posture suffered because both the George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Such cooperation has accelerated with alacrity in recent years. On April 9, 2014, Aliyev trav- Trump administrations wished to see in Vladimir Putin a willingness to cooperate produc- eled to Tehran. At his audience with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, he stressed the “impor- tively which, simply, was never there. The same pattern has been true with Turkey and China tance of broadening Azerbaijan-Iran ties even further.” Ali Hasanov, the head of the where, for too long, American officials have been deceived or in denial about the malign Department of Social and Political Affairs at the Azerbaijani presidency, explained at the time intents of their leaders. Alas, Azerbaijan too must now be included on such a list. The that Aliyev’s visit to Iran was the “beginning of an important stage for development of friend- Azerbaijani embassy and its lobbyists might paint Azerbaijan as a country that stood by ship and partnership . . . and deepening mutual cooperation.” Shortly after, Azerbaijan host- America in the dark days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks but that is not the Azerbaijan ed an Iranian trade delegation comprised of fifty Iranian companies led by Mahmoud Vaezi, of today. Instead, Azerbaijan has become a strategic ally of both Iran and Russia, maintaining Iran’s minister of telecommunications and information technology. its pro-Western façade only to avoid accountability in Washington for its strategic turn. Simply In 2015, the rapprochement deepened. Iran announced its support for the Azeri position put, to arm or support Azerbaijan today is to empower the Kremlin and Khamenei, not to in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the two countries formed a joint defense commission. Six months bring security or further American interests in the region. later, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to construct a north-south Part of the reason why the State Department continues to undermine efforts to hold railway, part of the growing linkage between Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia. Baku and Tehran Azerbaijan accountable for its actions is because of the fundamental disconnect between per- reached agreements to link the two countries’ power grids shortly after. On Feb. 23, 2016, ceptions of Azerbaijan in Congress and the reality of that country’s policy. Aliyev returned to Iran to sign eleven documents, including an agreement for the construc- tion of hydroelectric plants on the Aras River. These applied specifically to regions that Azerbaijan had lost to Armenia in 1994, and signaled the economic logic behind the Islamic (Michael Rubin is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. This commen- Republic’s shift from Armenia to Azerbaijan. (According to the Persian language press, these tary was originally published on nationalinterest.org.) Why Azerbaijan Is Unfit to Rule over the Armenians of Artsakh

ARTSAKH, from page 19 supply“ and Holy Savior Cathedral in the recent war. Azerbaijan’s territorial ambitions have included not just multitudes of Armenian churches and monuments. YouTube’s ‘‘Within the next 25 years, there will be no state of Armenia Artsakh but also Armenia. In December, Pres. Aliyev once again “The New Tears of Araxes” shows Azeri soldiers obliterating in the South Caucasus. These people … have no right to live in claimed parts of Armenia while beside him Turkish President a large 9th century Armenian cemetery in Nakhichevan. this region,” declared Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry spokesper- Erdogan glorified Turkey’s 1915-23 genocide against millions of UNESCO is being prevented from inspecting Armenian son in 2004. A year later, Baku’s mayor told a German delega- Armenians and Assyrian and Hellenic Christians. Azerbaijan and monuments Azerbaijan has just taken control of. tion, “Our goal is the complete elimination of Armenians. You Turkey’s intentions are obvious. The Azerbaijani Laundromat was — and may still be — a Nazis already eliminated the Jews in the 1930s and 40s, right?” Now you know why Artsakh’s Armenians have fought and died multi-billion dollar money laundering racket run by Azeri “We [Azerbaijanis] must kill all Armenians — children, women, to live free from Azeri rule. In their place, you’d do the same. kleptocrats and the Aliyev clan. German, Italian, the elderly. [We] need to kill [them] without [making a] distinc- Artsakh is at least as deserving as other states that since the Slovenian, and other European officials were bribed to tion.” After Azeri soccer manager Nurlan Ibrahimov posted that 1990s have achieved self-determination through international whitewash Azerbaijan’s human rights record. in October, the Union of European Football Associations banned support, such as East Timor, Montenegro, and South Sudan. Azerbaijan covertly bankrolled a PR junket to Baku in 2013 him. Regardless of the recent war’s outcome, if the international for several Members of Congress and staff. They were lavished Such venom has resulted in the horrors we see above. community cannot see the justice of Artsakh’s case and effectu- with rugs and other gifts which the Office of Congressional Some Azerbaijanis have threatened to bomb Armenia’s nucle- ate a remedy consistent with self-determination, then there is no Ethics ultimately made them surrender. Azerbaijan funded the ar power plant. Last year Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry formal- justice. junket through a Dallas-based organization affiliated with rene- ized the threat. gade Turkish imam Fethullah Gülen. In sheets of newly released Azerbaijani postage stamps, an (David Boyajian is an independent writer whose efforts focus Human Rights Watch says Azerbaijan intentionally struck Azeri in a hazmat suit is spraying Artsakh with chemicals, sug- on commentary and investigative reports regarding the Artsakh’s “homes, businesses, hospitals, schools, the local water gesting Armenians are vermin to be exterminated. Caucasus.)