JULY 22, 2017 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVIII, NO. 1, Issue 4495 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF Two Armenians Injured ‘The Bird Has Flown’ In Egypt Attack CAIRO (Public Radio of Armenia) — Two about the Prophet Mohammed in a Armenian nationals were injured on July 14 in Sevan Nisanyan September 2012 blog post. stabbings at a hotel in the popular Red Sea Escapes From Prison “For anyone familiar with the workings resort of Hurghada that left two tourists killed, of the Turkish legal system, it is obvious reports the Armenian Embassy in Egypt. ISTANBUL (Rudaw) — A Turkish- that the construction charges are a smoke- The injuries are not life-threatening, the Armenian intellectual out on a temporary screen, and that Nisanyan is being pun- Embassy said. pass from prison did not return at the ished for his political and religious imperti- Two tourists, reported to be women, were appointed time, instead taking to social nence, made all the more serious by the killed in the incident, the BBC quotes Egyptian media to announce he had escaped. fact that he is an ethnic Armenian,” his medical officials as saying. “The bird has flown,” Sevan Nisanyan website states. At least four other people were injured and a tweeted on Friday, July 14, changing his In interviews man has been arrested. The attacker was neu- profile picture to an image of a bird. “The with Turkish tralized thanks to efforts of one of the same wishes for the remaining 80 million.” media outlets, Armenians, Spokesman for the Armenian N i s a n y a n Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tigran Balayan said Nisanyan, 61, is a linguist and writer. He Sevan Nisanyan taught linguistic history at Istanbul’s Bilgi declined to in a Twitter post. University. In his writings, “his targets have reveal where he The suspect is being questioned by police to included Ataturk and Islam, two ‘untouch- was or how he Turkey has come under fire determine his motives, the Interior Ministry said. ables’ of Turkish public discourse,” it states had escaped for increased arrests of intel- from prison, on his website. Sevan Nisanyan changed his profile lectuals, journalists, and Istanbul’s Patriarchal He was jailed in January 2014 on nine promising to tell photo on Twitter and Facebook to this political opponents. charges related to illegal construction of a the full story at a image after escaping a Turkish prison. Rights monitor Freedom Election May Take Place house in a heritage site in the town of later date. He Photo: Sevan Nisanyan House said in its 2017 report Sirince, Izmir. He was sentenced to 11 told Haberturk on the country that “the gov- In Late Fall that the three years and six months, according to Hurriyet ernment has been able to YEREVAN (Public Radio of Armenia) — The and a half years he had served of his prison Daily News. influence judges through appointments, election of the Armenian patriarch of Istanbul sentence “were enough” and it was time “to On his website, Nisanyan said he was promotions, and financing.” can be held in late November or early December take a bit of a breath.” jailed after using “mocking language” of 2017, Sepuh Aslangil, spokesperson of the Initiative group dealing with organization of the process of the election of patriarch, told Agos Rep. Trott’s Measure to Stop Gun Sale to Turkey Cleared for House Vote daily. The spokesperson said they are going to form and release the voter lists, after which time WASHINGTON — US House Committee Rohrabacher (R-CA) set for consideration our NATO allies take extraordinary steps is needed to examine all possible appeals. on Rules has cleared Congressional by the panel. against Turkey, and it’s time for the State The same process will take place after releas- Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Dave Trott’s (R- The Trott Amendment opposes the $1.2 Department to do the same,” said Trott. ing the names of candidates of patriarch. “All MI) Turkey sanctions amendment for vote million sale of US semi-automatic hand- “We need to block this arms sale and once these processes are of course time-consuming. this week by the full House of guns to Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s security and for all point a finger in Erdogan’s chest And if there are no obstacles as a result of large Representatives, with three more measures, detail, in response to their May 16 attack and tell him that a strategic location does number of appeals during this process, I think it presented by Representatives Don Beyer on peaceful protesters in Washington, DC. not place Turkey above the law.” will be possible to hold the election of a patri- (D-VA), David Cicilline (D-RI) and Dana “Over the past few months, we’ve seen Trott went on to note that, “just two arch in late November or early December,” months ago, Erdogan’s henchmen, with Aslangil said. him complacently observing just feet away, launched a brutal attack on peaceful pro- testers exercising their first amendment Syria President rights. A notorious oppressor of basic Appoints New human rights and freedom, Erdogan imported his nefarious attitudes to our Ambassador to nation’s capital. While Erdogan’s thugs may run unchecked in Ankara, this is the Armenia United States of America and this is totally YEREVAN (Armenpress) — President of Syria unacceptable.” Bashar al-Assad hosted the newly appointed see GUNS, page 5 ambassadors of Syria to Armenia, South Africa and Cuba, Sana reports. Mohammad Ahmad Haj Ibrahim has Georges Kepenekian been appointed smbassador of Syria to Armenia. After the swearing-in ceremony, President al- Elected 35th Mayor Assad received the ambassadors separately, gave respective tasks and wished success in their Of Lyon future activities. Seated, from the left, Dr. Armen Demerdjian, Edmond Y. Azadian, Apet Torosian, Ani Torikian; standing, Vartan Ilanjian, Shoghig Tutundjian, Kevork Marashlian, LYON, France Kevork Tutundjian, Hratch Torikian, and Hagop Alexanian. Maro Bedrosian is miss- (Armenpress) — ing from the picture. The city council of the city of Lyon has elected 67- INSIDE year-old Georges ADL District Committee of Eastern Kepenekian as the 35th mayor of the US and Canada Meets in Boston city during the Gariné July 17 session, Le WATERTOWN — On Saturday July 7, the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party Figaro reports. His (ADL) District Committee of the Eastern United States and Canada held a regular candidacy was pro- Cocktail meeting at its headquarters in Boston in the Baikar Building and reaffirmed its posed by former Georges Kepenekian loyalty to the ADL Central Executive based in Armenia and the Supreme Council Lyon Mayor Page 16 created through the latter body. Gerard Collomb. The participants discussed the District Committee’s reports on financial and Georges Kepenekian received 49 out of political activities and took decisions concerning forthcoming political plans. This 70 city council votes. year the English-language weekly newspaper founded by the Committee, the “I leave this post to you with strong emo- INDEX Armenian Mirror-Spectator, is commemorating the 85th anniversary of its found- tions,” Gerard Collomb said. He continues Arts and Living ...... 13 ing on November 2 and 3 in Boston. to remain a member of the city council. Armenia ...... 2,3 The committee members thanked Edmond Y. Azadian for his decades of dedi- Previously Kepenekian was the First Community News...... 6 cated labor and wise leadership. They then unanimously elected Kevork Deputy Mayor of Lyon on cultural affairs. Editorial ...... 18 Marashlian as his successor as chairman. Azadian will continue to serve as the liai- He is a son of Armenian emigrants. International ...... 4,5 son with the English-language weekly on behalf of the District Committee. Kepenkian is a urological surgeon. He will remain in office until 2020. 2 S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Russian-Armenian Investors Said to

Sale of Russian Weapons Finance First Projects in Armenia To Azerbaijan Pains YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — An invest- According to one of Karayan’s megawatt facility would cost roughly ment fund set up recently by three deputies, Hovannes Azizian, the ICO $150 million. Armenia dozen wealthy Russian entrepreneurs will likely launch its first investment Azizian would not be drawn on the of Armenian descent will start financ- projects in October or November. “The amount of funding which the ICA has YEREVAN (Public Radio of Armenia) — The sale of ing business projects in Armenia this projects to be implemented by the Club set aside for its first projects. “When Russian weapons to Azerbaijan is the most painful autumn, a senior government official in will mainly target the areas of energy the projects are finalized we will give issue in Armenian-Russian friendship, in the Yerevan said on Tuesday. and renewable energy,” he told a news information about the investment pack- Armenian-Russian strategic partnership, and shad- The fund called the Investors Club of conference. “Now discussions are age,” he said. ows many things, Armenian President Serzh Armenia (ICA) was officially set up in underway on the possibility of the Foreign direct investment in the Sargsyan said in an interview with R-Evolution pro- March at a ceremony in Yerevan attend- Club’s involvement in some manufac- Armenian economy has rapidly gram of Armenia TV. He added, however, that noth- declined in recent years. Government ing serious has happened yet. data shows that it stood at a modest “We can condemn Russia if there are serious con- $130 million in 2016. sequences. If not, we have to consider that it’s a long- Prime Minister Karapetian has term policy of Russia aimed at stabilizing the situa- repeatedly promised to attract more tion in the region,” President Sargsyan said. than $3 billion in investments in the The president said the calls to review relations with coming years since he was appointed as Russia can bring about extremely dangerous conse- prime minister in September. The for- quences. mer business executive, who lived and “If we review relations with Russia, who can we worked in Russia from 2011-2016, has improve relations with? Turkey? Or is everyone in said that at least $830 million of the NATO looking forward to Armenia’s arrival with sum will be invested in 2017. open embrace?” the President said. The Russian-Armenian businessmen He added that “we cannot accuse all of supporting voiced strong support for the 53-year- Azerbaijan, turn away from everyone and go against old premier’s ambitious reform agenda the world.” when he paid an official visit to “Our policy is as follows — we develop relations Moscow in January. Samvel Karapetian with close allies and cooperate with partners,” he Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan (C) talks to Russian-Armenian businessmen at the reaffirmed that backing at the official stated. official launch of their Investors Club of Armenia fund in Yerevan, March 25. launch of the ICA in March. In addition to his extensive business Armenian Companies in ed by Prime Minister Karen turing sectors as well.” interests in Russia, the tycoon owns Karapetian. The latter has warm rap- Azizian said that the Russian- Armenia’s national electric utility, Iran IT Forum ports with its key founders, notably the Armenian investors are particularly largest thermal power plant, and a Armenian-born billionaire Samvel interested in hydropower and solar shopping mall in Yerevan. His Tashir YEREVAN (Arka) — Armenian companies are to Karapetian (no relation). energy. The government, he said, Group is due to open another sprawl- take part in an information technology forum in The Armenian government signed a expects them to finance, among other ing trade center in the Armenian capi- Iran, Vahan Martirosyan, Armenian transport, com- memorandum of understanding with things, the construction of medium- tal in September. munication and information technology minister, the ICA in April. Minister for Economic sized hydroelectric plants. According to “Forbes” magazine esti- told journalists on July 12. Development Suren Karayan said at One of those plants would be built in mates, Samvel Karapetian’s personal “Around 20 Armenian IT companies have already the time that the fund’s investments in Samvel Karapetian’s native Lori fortune is currently worth $3.5billion, applied for participation in the forum,” he said. the Armenian economy should total province. The Armenian Energy meaning that he is most probably the “Preparations for the forum are under way now, and around $300 million this year. Ministry estimates that work on the 76- richest ethnic Armenian in the world. therefore we will present all the details a little later.” The minister said the forum will take place in the fall. He thinks the Iranian market would be interested in the innovative solutions as well as the program- ming and IT products offered by Armenian compa- 2018 Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity Ceremony nies. Vahan Shakaryan, director and founder of And 3rd Annual Aurora Dialogues Dates Announced Technology and Science Dynamics (TSD) company, on his side, said Armenian companies can use Iranian YEREVAN — The Aurora gles in a substantial manner and at Catena – during the May 28 cere- specialists’ experience. Humanitarian Initiative announced great personal risk,” said Aurora mony in Yerevan, Armenia. As the The turnover of Armenia’s IT industry amounted that the 2018 Aurora Prize for Humanitarian Initiative Co- second Aurora Prize Laureate, Dr. to $500 million in 2016. Its average annual growth Awakening Humanity ceremony, Founder Ruben Vardanyan. “As a Catena was awarded $100,000 in is 20 percent. Aurora Dialogues and weekend of country that has prospered despite gratitude for his dedicated service inspirational events, will take place the atrocities suffered in the past, as the sole surgeon operating in Byurakan Observatory, June 8-10, 2018 in Armenia. Pre- Armenia is emerging as a global the war and famine-ravaged Nuba eminent humanitarians, academics, hub for humanitarian thought, dis- region of Sudan. In addition to the Travel Agencies Team Up philanthropists, human rights cussion and action. In hosting this $100,000 prize awarded to Dr. defenders, government officials, important weekend of events again Catena for his selfless efforts, YEREVAN (Armenpress) — According to tourism journalists and business leaders next year, the Aurora Humanitarian $1,000,000 was designated to orga- officials, there is need to include the Byurakan from around the world will gather Initiative seeks to continue to nizations of his choosing, which Astrophysical Observatory in tourism and travel for the purpose of galvanizing express Gratitude in Action by included the African Missionary packages. Areg Mikayelyan, director of the action to address today’s most helping those who are most vulner- Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), Observatory and Mekhak Apresyan, first deputy pressing humanitarian challenges able today.” Catholic Medical Mission Board chairman of the state tourism committee said the and to celebrate the best of human- The 2018 Aurora weekend of (CMMB), and Aktion joint work of astronomers and tour guides and com- ity. The weekend will culminate events will feature the Aurora Canchanabury. These organiza- plex services will contribute to including the obser- with the presentation of the third Dialogues, an international plat- tions, in turn, will continue to offer vatory in travel packages. annual $1.1 million Aurora Prize, a form for academics and practition- help to vulnerable and victimized “The observatory doesn’t have contracts with global humanitarian award given to ers who explore and debate human- populations, thus continuing the tourism agencies yet, but we are already taking cer- an individual for the exceptional itarian challenges. The conference cycle of giving. tain steps. We are establishing contacts with compa- impact their actions have had on will seek to better understand the The Aurora Prize Selection nies, we invite them to conferences on scientific preserving human life and advanc- issues, analyze lessons learned Committee includes Nobel tourism and organize visits to numerous locations. ing humanitarian causes. The lau- from the past, and encourage inno- Laureates Oscar Arias, Shirin We have also proposed to make joint packages,” reate is invited to share $1million vative action in the present to fos- Ebadi and Leymah Gbowee; former Mikayelyan said. with organizations which inspire ter a better future. A schedule of president of Ireland Mary Although the observatory chief says they don’t yet their work. events and additional information Robinson; human rights activist have contracts with tourism agencies, Apresyan said The Aurora Humanitarian about the 2018 Aurora Dialogues Hina Jilani; former foreign minister the observatory is indeed included in some packages Initiative was founded in memory and Aurora Prize weekend will be of Australia and President already. According to him, one of the reasons behind of the survivors of the Armenian available in the coming months at Emeritus of the International Crisis not including the observatory in some packages is Genocide and in honor of their sav- www.auroraprize.org. Group Gareth Evans; former presi- the absence of complex services. iors by descendants of the sur- Nominations are now open for dent of Mexico Ernesto “We must design the service packages better, at vivors who wish to demonstrate the 2018 Aurora Prize. Public nom- Zedillo; President of the Carnegie the same time contribute to the representations of their gratitude by action. inations will be accepted through Corporation of New York Vartan them and the observatory in the market and work “We are gratified to be able to do September 8, 2017 at https://auro- Gregorian; and Academy Award- with travel agencies. We must be able to offer com- this in their memory, and raise pub- raprize.com/en/prize/detail/nom- winning actor and humanitarian plex services to tourists by also working with hotel lic consciousness about the human- inatenow. George Clooney. The late Nobel businesses of Byurakan,” Apresyan said. itarian atrocities occurring around Singer and songwriter Charles Peace Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel the world by rewarding those who Aznavour announced the 2017 served as the Selection are working to tackle those strug- Aurora Prize Laureate - Dr. Tom Committee’s inaugural co-chair. S A T U R D A Y , J U L Y 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 ARMENIA AGBU Armenia Launches EU-Funded BRIDGE4CSOs Program

New Program to Strengthen Civil Society Will Engage Diaspora Expertise to the development of the Armenian non-profit sector. “Through our program, any qualified Armenian Non-Profits Provide Better Services individual can be a consultant, become a board member of a local organization, conduct a spe- YEREVAN — On June 26, AGBU Armenia needs. their skills. Most of the CSOs also consider cific training or workshop, become a supporter officially launched its BRIDGE4CSOs program The program started by building a database social entrepreneurship as key to self-sustain- of a non-profit’s projects and thus contribute implemented in collaboration with the Eurasia of CSOs and conducting their needs assess- ability and are looking for more opportunities to diaspora involvement in advancing Partnership Foundation and financed by the ments. The more than 200 Armenian non-prof- to form networks and consortia to experience Armenian civil society,” said Arsen Stepanyan, European Union. The three-year, 2.2 million its and experts surveyed have stated that they exchange and to build links with overseas orga- the team leader of the BRIDGE4CSOs pro- euro program aims to help Armenian civil soci- are more and more willing to acquire new skills nizations working in the same area. gram. ety organizations (CSOs) enhance their skills and better knowledge. This is where BRIDGE Through the program, Armenian CSOs will A free, web-based Together4Armenia.am plat- and deepen their knowledge by tapping into truly helps by providing funding and expertise, have the opportunity to participate in themat- form, jointly managed by AGBU Armenia and the expertise of the diaspora. and finding the most relevant pro bono con- ic trainings and a university-based, non-profit UNICEF in Armenia, will allow for the transfer management certificate program; benefit from of knowledge and skills from a network of free consultations; and apply for small grants. experts based in the diaspora. Experts and ‘’Bringing the expertise of diaspora Armenians CSOs can register on this platform, and the to Armenian CSOs is a win-win situation for BRIDGE4CSOs team will then match them. all,” said head of the EU Delegation in BRIDGE4CSOs is not limited to three years as Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Switalski. it intends to enact a new approach to linking “As a global Armenian organization, AGBU Armenia and the diaspora. A tool for change- is committed to strengthening civil society in making in the long term, the program expects Armenia by shaping its resilience, sustainabili- to turn a new page for the Armenian world at ty and impact,” said Vasken Yacoubian, large with EU support. President of AGBU Armenia. For more information on BRIDGE4CSOs A unique component of the program is the project, visit http://www.agbu.am/en/bridge- engagement of diaspora talent and potential in for-csos.

Ambassador Piotr Switalski, head of the EU Delegation in Armenia, highlights the importance of hav- ing a strong civil society in Armenia.

With more than 5,000 NGOs registered in sultants from the diaspora to help local orga- Armenia, the lack of funding along with the nizations on a specific project or task. lack of professional skills often hinder the sus- As the first step in the program’s implemen- tainability of the non-profit sector, leaving tation, BRIDGE4CSOs conducted sector-relat- many CSOs inactive. Charities, associations, ed professional needs assessments of more CSOs, and foundations address the needs of than 200 Armenian non-profits and experts the citizens in many different areas, ranging working in the fields of education, healthcare, from education and youth and women empow- art and culture, sports, youth and gender erment to culture and health. BRIDGE’s main issues. The research findings revealed that goal is to strengthen the capacity of the Armenian CSOs are willing to become more Armenian nonprofit sector to effectively con- professional, and believe that peer-to-peer train- AGBU Armenia President Vasken Yacoubian at the launch of the BRIDGE4CSOs program implement- tribute to decision-making processes in ings, on-site consultations and coaching are ed in collaboration with the Eurasia Partnership Foundation and financed by the European Union. Armenia and to better respond to citizen’s among the most efficient methods to improve

LINDA RAVUL PHOTO formers included mezzo-soprano Solange Concert Raises Merdinian; violinist Sami Merdinian; as well as pianist and AGBU Performing Arts Department Money for director Hayk Arsenyan, and boasted a varied program with traditional Armenian pieces and lullabies alongside Argentine tangos and Afro- Artsakh Schools Cuban dances. The concert, which raised nearly $4,000 to NEW YORK — On June 14, the AGBU purchase instruments for music schools in Performing Arts Department held a benefit con- Nagorno-Karabakh, is part of a series of benefit cert for music schools in Nagorno-Karabakh concerts initiated by the Armenian Ministry of entitled “What Have You Done for Artsakh?” at Diaspora and launched by AGBU Buenos Aires the Yamaha Piano Salon in New York. The per- in May through the efforts of AGBU Buenos

On June 14, the AGBU Performing Arts Department held a benefit concert for music schools in Nagorno-Karabakh entitled “What Have You Done for Artsakh?”

Aires vice president Antonio Sarafian and artis- lot to me personally. Concerts like this one tic director of the series, duduk player Gagik remind us of how lucky we are to be using our Gasparyan. Concerts have been held in three music and passion to contribute to bettering soci- cities across Argentina, the proceeds from ety, to making the world a better place. While I which have already been used to buy three was playing, I felt a stronger connection to my school pianos. Concerts are scheduled for São roots and ancestors who sacrificed so much and Paulo, Brazil on July 27 as well as Yerevan, went through all kinds of hardship so our gener- Armenia on September 22 in collaboration with ation could have a better life. In a way, this con- the National Folk Instrument Ensemble and cert symbolizes my gratitude to them, to all the Armenian State Dance Ensemble. During Armenians around the world, for keeping our the week of the concert, from September 18 to identity and culture alive. When we work togeth- 23, an art exhibition will be held at Yerevan City er, we are stronger. I’m humbled to be a part of Hall to raise money for the cause. The goal of this world concert tour and team of musicians Concerts have been held in three cities across Argentina, the proceeds from which have already the series is to purchase more than 250 instru- who are donating their talent to bring smiles to been used to buy three school pianos. ments for schools. children and contribute to a brighter future in “Being part of this incredible project means a Artsakh,” said Sami Merdinian. 4 S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL International News Turkey Chooses Russia over

Azerbaijan Cuts Ties NATO for Missile Defense With Uber and Yandex Syria that Turkey considers terrorists, would have to spend billions to create a Citing Armenian Exec By Selcan Hacaoglu and the relationship with the European whole new industry.” BAKU (Armenpress) — A new company formed as Union soured as the bloc pushed back The S-400 is designed to detect, track a result of uniting the Russian Yandex.Taxi and Uber against what it sees as Turkey’s increas- and then destroy aircraft, drones or mis- will work in territories of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, MOSCOW (Bloomberg) — Turkey has ingly autocratic turn. Last month, siles. It’s Russia’s most advanced inte- Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kazakhstan. The new com- agreed to pay $2.5 billion to acquire Germany decided to withdraw from the grated air defense system, and can hit pany is led by Tigran Khudaverdyan. However, Russia’s most advanced missile defense main NATO base in Turkey, Incirlik, targets as far as 250 miles away. Russia Azerbaijan has broken ties with Yandex and Uber system, a senior Turkish official said, in after Turkey refused to allow German has also agreed to sell them to China because of Khudaverdyan being an ethnic Armenian, a deal that signals a turn away from the lawmakers to visit troops there. and India. Azerbaijani media report. NATO military alliance that has The missile deal with Russia “is a The sides are currently sorting out anchored Turkey to the West for more clear sign that Turkey is disappointed in technical details and it could take about than six decades. the US and Europe,” said Konstantin one year to finalize the project, the Dozens of Interior The preliminary agreement sees Makienko, an analyst at the Center for Turkish official said. One battery may Turkey receiving two S-400 missile bat- Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, be available earlier if Russia decides to Ministry Employees in teries from Russia within the next year, a Moscow think-tank. “But until the divert it from another country, the offi- Turkey to Be Arrested and then producing another two inside advance is paid and the assembly cial added. The missiles are not ready to Turkey, according to the Turkish offi- begins, we can’t be sure of anything.” sell off-the-shelf and Russia will have to ISTANBUL (Armenpress) — Ankara authorities cial, who asked not to be named The Russian system would not be produce the batteries before delivering ruled to arrest 40 former and current employees of because of the sensitivity of the matter. compatible with other NATO defense them, the official said. the country’s interior ministry within the framework A spokesman for Russia’s arms-export systems, but also wouldn’t be subject to The official said the systems delivered of the investigation into Gulenists. According to company Rosoboronexport OJSC said the same constraints imposed by the to Turkey would not have a friend-or-foe Anadolu, the suspects are users of the ByLock app, a he couldn’t immediately comment on alliance, which prevents Turkey from identification system, which means they secure communications application involved in the details of a deal with Turkey. deploying such systems on the could be deployed against any threat coup attempt. Turkey has reached the point of an Armenian border, Aegean coast or without restriction. According to Turkish law enforcement, more than agreement on a missile defense system Greek border, the official said. The 53,000 Gulen supporters were identified through before, only to scupper the deal later Russian deal would allow Turkey to Domestic Production the app. amid protests and condemnation from deploy the missile defense systems any- US and European rivals have also bid NATO. Under pressure from the US, where in the country, the official said. to co-produce missile defense systems Turkey gave up an earlier plan to buy a The partnership could boost Turkey’s with Turkey, as it seeks partnerships Duma Speaker Suggests similar missile-defense system from a defense industry and serves the nation’s allowing it to enhance its domestic arms Armenia Adopt Russian state-run Chinese company, which had goal of diversifying arms suppliers. production amid a military buildup in been sanctioned by the US for alleged For Turkey, the key aspect of any deal the region. As Second Language missile sales to Iran. is transfer of technology or know-how, Disagreements between Turkey, Turkey has been in NATO since the the Turkish official said. Turkey wants which has the second-largest army by MOSCOW (Public Radio of Armenia) — Speaker of early years of the Cold War, playing a to be able to produce its own advanced personnel numbers in NATO, and the the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin suggests key role as a frontline state bordering defense systems, and the Russian agree- US, the bloc’s biggest military, have also that Armenia accept Russian as second official lan- the Soviet Union. But ties with fellow ment to allow two of the S-400 batteries impacted business. No US companies guage for the national driving license to be recog- members have been strained in recent to be produced in Turkey would serve bid for a Turkish attack helicopter con- nized on the territory of Russia. years, with Turkish President Recep that aim, the official said. tract in 2006 after Turkey insisted on The Russian law, which came into effect on July 1, Tayyip Erdogan pursuing a more “There are a lot of different levels of full access to specific software codes, prohibits drivers with foreign driving licenses to assertive and independent foreign poli- technology transfer,” and any offer to which the US refused to share, consid- work in the country. At the same time the Duma cy as conflict engulfed neighboring Iraq Turkey would probably be limited in ering it a security risk. Turkey part- adopted a law on July 14 allowing citizens of and Syria. terms of sophistication, said Makienko, nered with Italy instead in a $3 billion Kyrgyzstan (where Russian is a second official lan- Tensions with Washington mounted the Moscow-based analyst. “For Turkey project to co-produce 50 attack heli- guage) to work as professional drivers in Russia. over US support for Kurdish militants in to be able to copy the S-400 system, it copters for its army. “The measure will automatically apply to Armenia, should the country declare Russian as a second offi- cial language,” Volodin said at a meeting with Ara Babloyan, speaker of the Armenian National Jean-Claude Juncker: Death Penalty Will End Turkey’s EU Bid Assembly. failed to live up to its agreements with reporters on Friday, July 14, that Wrestler Boranyan Wins By Nikolaj Nielsen Turkey. “Turkey’s strategic position remains for Turkey hosts over 3 million Syrian full membership of the European Medal at Tournament refugees as part of an agreement with Union.” BRUSSELS (EU Observer) — the EU to prevent them from arriving in But he had also defended a BBC YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Member of the European Commission president Jean- Greece. interview with Erdogan, where the pres- Armenian GrecoRoman wrestling team Varsham Claude Juncker has warned against Turkey wants short-term visas lifted ident said Turkey could stand on its Boranyan participated in an international tourna- Turkey reimposing the death penalty. on its nationals travelling throughout own “two feet” and that the EU was ment in Spain, the Armenian National Olympic Juncker in Germany’s Bild am the passport-free Schengen bloc, as a wasting Turkey’s time. Committee reports, and won a bronze medal in the Sonntag newspaper has said the move result. Turkey is the single largest beneficia- 71-kilogram division. would “slam the door to EU member- The EU refuses, given Turkey has yet ry of the EU instrument for pre-acces- This was the preparatory stage for the World ship.” to meet a half-dozen benchmarks, sion assistance (IPA), with more than 40 Championship, and Armenia was represented only by The comments follow statements including demands to reform its percent of all IPA fund allocation. Boranyan. He had missed the international tourna- over the weekend by Turkey’s presi- counter-terrorism laws and implement a Turkey was allocated just under 5 € ment in Tbilisi due to injury. dent, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that he readmission agreement for non-Turkish billion over a seven-year period, with would not hesitate to introduce capi- nationals. around a third of that geared towards Remains of WWII tal punishment should the parliament Those benchmarks will be discussed areas such as building democracy and back it. at a high-level political meeting between the rule of law. Soldier Transferred Erdogan, addressing crowds in Turkey and the EU commission on 25 Asked why the taxpayers in the EU Istanbul on Saturday (15 July) to mark July. should continue financing Turkey, given From Ukraine the one year anniversary of the failed The agreed “statement” also requires Erdogan’s comments, Olcay said the military coup, vowed to avenge the the EU to finance refugee projects amount was small. KIEV (Armenpress) — On July 12, the transfer of deaths of some 250 people. inside Turkey to the tune of 3 billion. “It is not that much funding to start Jr. Sgt. Sedrak Aghajanyan’s remains to Armenia € “We’ll first rip the heads off these trai- Some of that money has also gone to off with,” he said, noting that Turkey’s was held here. He had died in 1941 during battles tors. We will cut their heads off,” he Turkey’s ministries of education and membership process dates back to the near Malyn, the Union of Armenians of Ukraine said. said. health. 1954 Ankara agreement. Aghajanyan’s remains were discovered recently by Turkey says that the Fethullah Gulen The tug of war between the two sides The EU parliament wants talks, which Vertical, a search organization. movement, now labelled by Ankara as a is underpinned by conflicting messages. are already frozen, to come to an official Several items were found with the remains, includ- terrorist organisation, was behind the Senior diplomats and officials on both end following Turkey’s widespread ing his ID. It was further revealed that in the outset coup. Gulen, an exiled cleric living in sides say membership remains a priori- crackdown on different sectors. of the war he had married a Ukrainian woman, Galya the United States, denies any direct ty, despite Erdogan’s threats, as efforts Turkey has opened 16 out of 35 of Zhmuyde. involvement. remain to strengthen trade relations via the EU’s accession negotiation chap- The transfer of the remains was held at Ukraine’s Turkish authorities have purged some the Customs Union agreement. ters. Of those, only one has been com- national military history museum, and was attended 150,000 people since last July, including Last week, Ankara had sent its deputy pleted so far. by Armenia’s Ambassador Andranik Manukyan and the chair and director of Amnesty prime minister, Numan Kurtulmus, to Ankara’s path to membership has other officials. International Turkey. Turkey says it has Brussels where he met EU commission also been frustrated, in part, by Greek The soldier’s remains will be buried in Armenia. since reinstated over 30,000 public vice-president Frans Timmermans and Cypriot demands, given the outstanding employees and set up an inquiry com- European Parliament chief Antonio territorial dispute in Cyprus. mission to probe wrongful detentions. Tajani. France, while under the presidency of Erdogan was also critical of the Mehmet Hakan Olcay, Turkey’s Nicolas Sarkozy, also opposed the open- European Union. He said the EU had ambassador to Belgium, also told ing of a number of accession chapters. S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 INTERNATIONAL Argentina Celebrates Café Reopens in Aleppo’s Armenian Quarter 25th Anniversary of of its family atmosphere and leafy terrace, “Midan was almost deserted. Many families Diplomatic Relations By Rana Moussaoui where plastic chairs and tables are illuminated left,” she said, including her daughter, who fled by hanging lanterns. to the Armenian capital Yerevan where her son- With Armenia “We told ourselves that if this cafe reopened, in-law worked as a jeweler. ALEPPO, Syria (Agence France Presse) — the people would come back,” said Menassian, Menassian’s family home was also destroyed Taline Menassian still trembles when she steps whose red hair is cut in a bob. in the fighting, which halted in December, into the Aleppo Armenian Society’s open-air “We’re all one family here,” she said emo- when Syria’s army announced it was in full con- By Ester Mkrtumyan cafe, shaken by memories of the rockets that tionally. trol of the city. once rained down on the Syrian city’s front line. Second-city Aleppo was home to the largest Now, Menassian’s husband is reopening his BUENOS AIRES (Agencia Prensa The eatery in Midan, Aleppo’s main Armenian contingent of Syria’s Armenian community: tire shop in Midan, and their daughter and son- Armenia) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs district, was shuttered for four years after vio- 150,000 out of 350,000 across the country, in-law are moving back to Syria, too. of Argentina and the Armenian Embassy in lence reached the city in 2012. according to Syria specialist and geographer But so far, just a handful of families and busi- the country commemorated the 25th But it reopened in June, six months after the Fabrice Balanche. nesses have returned to the neighborhood, anniversary of the establishment of diplo- government recaptured all of the city. Now, no more than 10,000 are left in Aleppo, although residents see the cafe’s reopening as a matic relations between the two countries Relaxed laughter and giggling children have after thousands fled to Armenia, neighboring positive sign. with an event on the night of July 5. replaced the boom of explosions in the restau- Lebanon or even further afield to the United “It’s the return of the beautiful days,” said Rodolfo Zlauvinen, the Undersecretary of rant, which is nestled between the Armenian States, Canada and Europe. Haroutioun Kahvedjian, a 57-year-old dentist. Foreign Affairs, opened the event by point- Although his family fled to neighboring ing out that Argentina has been one of the Lebanon, he decided to stay in Aleppo and con- top five investors in Armenia for more than tinued to frequent the society. a decade and spoke of a “fluid political dia- During some of the city’s bloodiest days, he logue”: “It is not surprising that all the pres- even treated wounded people inside the idents of Armenia, since their independence Armenian community center’s halls. Now he is in 1991, have visited Argentina.” He also hoping his family will return. stressed that the Argentinian-Armenian “I sent a picture of the cafe to my daughter Parliamentary Friendship Group “is one of to encourage her to come back,” he said with the most active we have.” teary eyes. “The cafe is the symbol of our resis- “The Argentine people have always been tance in Aleppo.” close to the Armenian people in having to Other historic districts of the city are seeing confront their past. That is why the a revival, too. Argentine Congress adopted the law that The celebrated citadel, a jewel of medieval declares every April 24as the Day of Action architecture, was heavily damaged by a massive for Tolerance and Respect Between the blast in July 2015 and remains a military posi- Peoples,” he added during his speech, in ref- tion. erence to the Law 26,199 that formally rec- But a small coffeehouse that has spent ognizes the Armenian Genocide. decades at the foot of the fortress reopened last Ester Mkrtumyan, Armenian ambassador week for the first time since 2012. to Argentina, spoke about Armenia’s desire “When I used to see the pictures of the to “give new content to the cooperation with citadel on television, I had tears in my eyes,” Syrians from Aleppo’s Armenian Communtiy dine at a café in the Al-Maidan Neighborhood of the Latin American countries.” northern Syria City of Aleppo owner Bashir Azmouz said, standing opposite “We want Argentina to be a special gate- buildings in ruins. way for Armenia in Latin America. “Today, my joy is indescribable,” he told AFP. Reciprocally, Armenia may be the bridge Society and the St. Gregory Armenian Syria’s conflict erupted in March 2011 but Children frolicked nearby in the Saadallah al- that links Argentina to the Eurasian Apostolic Church. struck Aleppo the following year, when rebels Jabiri Square, once a favorite gathering place Economic Union, which represents a market “It’s like a dream to be here,” said Menassian, overran much of the eastern parts of city. for families but now another victim of Syria’s of two hundred million people.” 50, looking around at the dozens of customers Army troops dropped barrel bombs and violence. Its historic fountains once gushed “The Argentine Armenian friendship is in the restaurant. Menassian is a member of the launched airstrikes across the front line on streams of water, but they are all dry now. solid and durable, since it is based on the Armenian Society, which kept its doors open rebel groups, who fired rockets back in return. Electricity was restored to the area where the ??common values of both peoples, proof of although the affiliated eatery was boarded up. Midan was caught in the middle. square is located just a week ago, drawing resi- which is the recognition and condemnation “Every time I come in, I can’t believe it,” The neighborhood remained in government dents back again. of the Armenian Genocide by law in 2006,” Menassian told AFP, gazing in amazement at hands but was regularly pummeled by missiles “No one dared step into the square during added Mkrtumyan. dozens of customers smoking water pipes and from the neighboring opposition-held district of the war,” said Mohammad Daouk, 37, who was Lawyer and former judge Leon Carlos sipping arak. Bustan al-Basha. visiting with his family. Arslanian expressed that “the fact that the The cafe opened in 2007, and quickly became “I still remember the day that about 40 rock- “This place was a symbol. All Aleppines used Armenians and their descendants are not just a favored haunt for residents of Midan because ets hit this very spot,” Menassian recalled. to come here.” a migratory phenomenon but a diaspora, is merit of the humanist principles that con- joined the institutional design of Argentina. The diaspora is an incohercible force charged with ethics and moral worth. It Rep. Trott’s Measure to Stop Gun Sale to Turkey Cleared for House Vote is not only the search for new and promising horizons, but above all, it seeks three objec- GUNS, from page 1 President of the United States certifies that and other news outlets, transforming a violent tives: the preservation of life, the struggle for The ANCA welcomed the House Rules the Government of Turkey is cooperating incident into a global spotlight on Turkey’s vio- truth to prevail and the demand for justice.” Committee decision. “We are pleased to see with the criminal investigation and prosecu- lence, intolerance, and aggression. During the ceremony, which was attended the Trott Amendment approved for U.S. tion of Turkish Government employees Hamparian testified before a May 25 by representatives of all Armenian institu- House consideration this week and look for- involved in the assault on civilians in Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on tions, including Kissag Mouradian, Primate ward to the Rules Committee providing all of Washington, DC.” Cicilline has been outspo- this matter. Joining him at the hearing were of the Armenian Apostolic Church for their House colleagues with the opportunity ken in condemning the attacks, noting that Lusik Usoyan, Founder and President of the Argentina and Chile and Dr. Daniel for an up or down vote on additional Turkey “this was a particularly brazen act, on the Ezidi Relief Fund; Murat Yusa, a local busi- Stamboulian, there were a number of artis- sanctions proposed by Reps. Cicilline, heels of a highly-publicized meeting with our nessman and protest organizer; and Ruth tic shows of tango and Armenian dances. Rohrabacher, and Beyer,” said Armenian President, and one has to wonder why Wedgwood, Edward B. Burling Professor of National Committee of America Executive President Erdogan felt so emboldened, that in International Law and Diplomacy, at Johns Director Aram Hamparian. ” the bright D.C. sunshine, in front of cameras Hopkins University School of Advanced “Up on Capitol Hill, across the Washington, and hundreds of people, he sent his attack International Studies. Usoyan and Yusa were Kish Airline May Offer DC foreign policy community, and even dogs out. As Secretary Tillerson said, this is victims of the brutal assault on May 16th by among career Department of State and simply unacceptable.” President Erdogan’s bodyguards. Flights from Yerevan to Pentagon officials, it’s increasingly clear that Rohrabacher’s amendment would prohibit On June 6, with a vote of 397 to 0, the US May 16th marked a watershed moment in the transfer of U.S. defense articles to Turkey House of Representatives unanimously con- Persian Gulf U.S.-Turkey relations — a defining, clarifying, and, instead, make them available to Kurdish demned Turkey’s attack, taking a powerful YEREVAN (Public Radio of Armenia) deeply troubling anti-American episode that Peshmerga forces, who have played an instru- stand against Ankara’s attempts to export its — Deputy Chief of the General Department will, in the months and years to come, con- mental role in the battle against the Islamic violence and intolerance to America’s shores. of Civil Aviation of Armenia Arsen tinue to inform key areas of engagement by State (ISIS/ISIL). Rep. Rohrabacher, who H.Res.354, spearheaded by House Foreign Poghosyan received this week a delegation U.S. policymakers with their Turkish coun- serves as Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R- from Kish Airlines led by Managing Director terparts.” Subcommittee on Europe, presided over the CA), Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel (D-NY), Mohammad-Taqi Jadidi. Beyer’s amendment would ban Erdogan’s hearings spotlighting the Erdogan-ordered House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R- The two parties discussed the prospects security forces who took part in the May 16 attacks in May. CA) and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D- for launching regular flights from Kish attack from securing US visas for future trav- The ANCA’s Hamparian captured live video- MD), has received the public backing of Island in the Persian Gulf to Yerevan’s el to the United States. Beyer has been out- tape at the scene of the May 16 attack, which House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI). A compan- Zvartnots International Airport. spoken in condemning the brutal beatings, took place in front of the Turkish ion measure has been introduced in the The Armenian side offered to discuss the calling for the expulsion of the Turkish Ambassador’s residence, where President Senate by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA). opportunities of operating flights to Ambassador to the US and signing multiple Erdogan was scheduled to have a closed-door “We commend Congressman Trott and his Gyumri’s Shirak Airport. Congressional letters condemning the meeting with representatives of The Atlantic colleagues for this initiative and standing up Kish Airlines has been carrying out reg- attacks. Council, a think tank in Washington, DC for American values in light of such a flagrant ular flights between Tehran and Yerevan Cicilline’s proposal would block a pending which receives Turkish funding. Hamparian’s disrespect for our cherished rights,” stated since June 22. sale of F-35 jets to Turkey “until the video served as source footage for CNN, AP Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. The Armenian government ruled earlier this year to lift visa requirement for citizens of Iran. 6 S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Community News

Armenian Assembly’s CYSCA Annual Arpi Vartanian Receives Presidential Award Meeting Recaps WASHINGTON — President Serzh Sargsyan Achievements awarded Armenian Assembly of America Yerevan-based Regional Director Arpi Vartanian with the Medal of Gratitude last month for her “contributions to the strengthening of By Nancy Kalajian Fatherland-Diaspora relations.” The Medal of Gratitude is awarded to individ- CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The 31st annual meet- uals who conduct state, economic, social, scien- ing of the Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City tific-technical and public activities, as well as Association (CYSCA) took place on Thursday, provide major personal contribution, many June 22, at Johnson Hall at Holy Trinity years of devotion, and other fruitful activities Armenian Apostolic Church. aimed at promoting the spheres of health, edu- During a brief business meeting, CYSCA cation, and culture in Armenia. President Alisa Stepanian gave welcoming “I am honored to receive this presidential remarks. She began by speaking about award for my work with the Armenian Suzanne “Suzy” Pearce, one of CYSCA’s Assembly of America. I remain dedicated to founders, who passed away last year. She was Armenia and the work we do to better relations honored for her dedication and decades of ser- with the United States for the good of our peo- vice as a CYSCA Board of Directors and has ple in Armenia and Artsakh,” Vartanian said. been greatly missed by all whose lives she “The work done by the Armenian Diaspora touched. does not go unnoticed, and has a significant In addition, Patricia Nolan, CYSCA member impact on people’s lives. Our Diaspora should ex officio and longtime member of the be proud of its role in that work.” The winners of the Hasmik Mgrdichian Scholarship Awards Cambridge School Committee, was recognized; The awards ceremony took place at the over the years, she has been active in hosting Presidential Palace on May 28, Armenia’s CYSCA guests visiting from Armenia. Republic Day. In his remarks, Sargsyan stated: An update and annual report of the Armenia “Today we celebrate the anniversary of the cre- School Aid Project (ASAP) was given by Jack ation of the First Republic of Armenia. In the AIWA Presents Hasmik Medzorian. Founded in 1994, ASAP continues last 99 years, many values have been created — its successful 24th year in aiding needy schools material, spiritual, technological. They are the Mgrdichian Scholarship Awards in Armenia. In 2016, 10 schools in the region of Berd and nearby frontier villages received dona- tions from 10 sponsors totaling $9,000. In April At Los Angeles Gathering this year, Eva and Jack Medzorian visited the same region again and distributed $10,500 of LOS ANGELES — The Annual Meeting of the Los Angeles Affiliate of the aid from 22 sponsors to 11 schools. Funds pro- Armenian International Women’s Association and the AIWA National Board was vided assistance to different schools in a wide held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 27, 2017 at the Noor Restaurant in Pasadena, gamut of ways including repair of toilets, replac- California. On this occasion, AIWA-LA proudly announced and introduced the six recipients of the Hasmik Mgrdichian Scholarship Awards for the 2017-2018 aca- demic year. Scholarships of $5,000 each were awarded to Taleene Marseille Armen, psychology major at Loyola Marymount; Monique Gevorkian, communi- cation studies at Cal State Northridge; Vana Keshishian, graduate student, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy; Lala Mirzayan, architecture major at Southern California Institute of Architecture; Suzanna Agavni Sargsyan, graduate student, public administration, University of Southern California; and Talin Khachatoor Sarkissian, graduate student, optometry, Marshal B. Ketchum President Serge Sargsyan presents the award to Arpi Vartanian. University. Cynthia Norian, AIWA-LA Executive Committee Board member, served as Mistress of Ceremonies, welcoming the members and guests and presenting the results of the labor of dedicated and profes- myriad of speakers during the morning session. Included in the program were sional individuals, of their talent and purpose- greetings from AIWA President Ani Kharajian, speaking from Boston, reflecting fulness. Nowadays, you have come to take their on AIWA’s 25-plus years promoting women’s rights, providing ongoing funding place, and our society takes pride in your for projects aiding Armenian women and showcasing Armenian women and their efforts and dedication.” accomplishments. Vartanian was recognized earlier this year for Kharajian welcomed the newly elected members to the Board of Directors. The her accomplishments in Armenia. During the group extends AIWA’s reach in the United States and globally with members resid- annual New Year Gathering at the home of ing in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and New York and working in Africa, Assembly Board Member Talin Yacoubian and Europe, Asia and the United States. They are: Lily Balian, a Los Angeles based consultant for political campaigns Brian Corr, executive director, Cambridge Peace her husband Varuj Babikian in Glendale, Commission Vartanian received a Certificate of and noted writer; Silva Katchiguian, formerly AIWA-Los Angeles Affiliate Congressional Recognition from Rep. Judy Chu President, writer and public speaker; Rachel O. Nadjarian, Washington, D.C.-based (D-CA) for strengthening relations between the management consultant for non-profits, start-ups and corporations; Anaide ing crumbling windows with new ones, United States, Armenia and Artsakh, as well as Nahikian, Head of Advanced Training Program on Humanitarian Action at installing a new fresh drinking water line and a Certificate of Recognition from Los Angeles Harvard University; Anna Ohanyan, the Richard B. Finnegan Distinguished even providing refrigerators and stoves for a Mayor Eric Garcetti for her commitment and Professor of Political Science; Nicole Vartanian, executive director of school lunchroom. The school communities are selfless dedication to gathering stories from Weatherhead East Asian Institute of Columbia University, N.Y. ever so grateful for this generous assistance. As individuals in Armenia and Artsakh about the They will join current board members: Carolyn Atinizian, Attorney and Asset an aside, Jack Medzorian shared that Vigen situation on the Front Line. Manager in Cambridge; Sara Janjigian Trifiro, founder-owner of SJT Marketing; Sargsyan, previously chief of staff to President Since 1994, the Michigan native has served Ani L. Kharajian, senior Director, New Markets, Executive Education at Harvard Serge Sargsyan, is now Armenia’s minister of the Assembly in a number of capacities, both in Business School; Barbara Merguerian, PhD, writer and historian, co-founder of defense. Vigen Sargsyan first came to the US in Yerevan and in Washington, D.C. Some of those AIWA; Judy Norsigian, co-founder and former executive director of Our Bodies 1994, as part of the first CYSCA student positions included country director, acting exec- Ourselves; Joy Renjilian-Burgy, associate director of Spanish and co-director of exchange. utive director (in Washington), Armenian Latin American Studies at Wellesley College. For the eighth consecutive year, CYSCA par- American Action Committee (ARAMAC) and Representatives from the National Board and the affiliates submitted reports ticipated in the well-regarded Cambridge Internship Program director, and NGO center on their event, projects, activities and plans for their continued growth and suc- Science Festival. CYSCA organized a panel dis- director. In addition to working with the cess. cussion on lightning, climate change and other Assembly, she has worked with the Armenian Joan Quinn, United Nations Liaison, reported that AIWA is a registered Non- scientific challenges at the Massachusetts General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and with the Governmental Organization (NGO) at the United Nations in New York and regu- Institute of Technology (MIT) and invited world- Armenian Monuments Awareness Project larly hosts and participates in panels and programs highlighting key issues of renowned Dr. Ashot Chilingarian from Yerevan, (AMAP) Human Development NGO. interest to women in Armenia and worldwide. Over the years, she has represent- Director of the Yerevan Physics Institute and “We are proud of our longtime friend and ed AIWA at UN sponsored conferences and workshops and participated annually head of its Cosmic Ray Division to be on the regional director, Arpi Vartanian. The in the Commission on the Status of Women sessions. panel. Joining him were experts from MIT, the Presidential Award is well-deserved and a testa- Presentations by Silva Katchiguian, President of AIWA-LA Affiliate and Jennifer University of New Hampshire and the Florida ment to her dedication to Armenia and Phillips, Executive Director, referred to AIWA’s support and funding of the Institute of Technology. The panel discussion Artsakh, as well as the values and purposes of see SCHOLARSHIPS, page 7 was skillfully and enthusiastically moderated by the Armenian Assembly,” Assembly Co-Chairs Mike Wankum, chief meteorologist at WCVB Anthony Barsamian and Van Krikorian stated. see CYSCA, page 7 S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 7 COMMUNITY NEWS

Christian Arax Krommenhoek Graduates Summa Cum Laude from Seton Hall CYSCA Annual CLINTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Christian Arax Krommenhoek graduated summa cum laude Meeting Recaps from Seton Hall University in May with a 3.9 GPA. She received her Bachelor of Science in education (Concentration: special education) while also majoring in liberal studies (Minor: English). Krommenhoek was a founding member of the Seton Hall National Student Speech Achievements Language Hearing Association and co-president for two years. She was the Education Senator for the Student Government Association for three years. She served as historian for Kappa CYSCA, from page 6 Delta Pi International Honor Society for two years and was a member of the National Society Channel 5 in Boston, attracting more than 100 of Collegiate Scholars. She served on the Oldwick Community Players’ board and assisted the participants. theater group in their children’s summer acting workshop for six years. During Chilingarian’s stay, CYSCA also orga- Krommenhoek is a member of St. Mary Armenian Church, Livingston, NJ where she grad- nized his visits to various universities including uated from their Sunday School and Araratian Armenian School. She served as president of MIT, University of New Hampshire and their ACYOA Jr for one year. Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he gave Her maternal great-grandparents, Hagop Bozian and Rose Bozian (née Takakjian), were talks to colleagues and graduate students. He Genocide survivors and founders of St. Mary Armenian Church. Her grandmother is also visited the MIT Haystack Observatory and Valentine Nemetz. She is the daughter of Carol Nemetz and Steven Krommenhoek of Clinton the Museum of Science. Discussions were held Township, NJ. for potential collaborations and visits to Armenia by climate change experts. Christian Arax Krommenhoek She will continue at Seton Hall and will complete her master’s in speech language pathol- ogy in 2019. For the 2016 Cambridge Science Festival, CYSCA hosted solar energy expert Dr. Artak Hambarian of the American University of Armenia and local counterparts in a fascinating panel discussion on renewable energy held at AIWA Presents Hasmik Mgrdichian Scholarship Awards at LA Gathering Lesley University in Cambridge. In May 2016, with funding from Open World, SCHOLARSHIPS, from page 6 ly 500 attendees heard from Armenian and Arsine Phillips and Marissa Nadjarian, CYSCA hosted a group of young experts in the Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (WEP) at international speakers offering multiple ses- Secretary, Diane Cabraloff, Treasurer; Ani field of disabilities and inclusion. Over a period the American University of Armenia (AUA) to sions, topics and perspectives. The presenta- Aivazian, Correspondence; and Diana of eight days and 25 meetings, they met with provide extensive leadership training for tions shed light on the best ways to embrace Hekimian, Membership. local counterparts, such as the Cambridge women to develop small businesses; the the potential of girls and women. Members emerged with energy, ideas and Commission for Persons with Disabilities; State Women’s Support Center to prevent domestic Information gleaned from the conference will renewal of AIWA’s mission to impact on the Committee on Children, Families and Persons violence and respond to the needs of battered help inform a multi-component women’s issues and challenges facing Armenian women with Disabilities; Disability Law Center of women and their children; and the Women’s empowerment initiative at the American across the globe and commitment to focus on Massachusetts; Boston Center for Independent Leadership Program, a course at AUA advanc- University of Armenia. cultural, academi and socio-economic projects Living; Charles River Center, Arc of ing women in leadership and decision-making. After lunch, the Los Angeles Affiliate which advance and empower women. Massachusetts and Perkins School for the Christine Soussa, President of the San announced its newly elected Executive For information regarding AIWA, involve- Blind. A panel discussion took place on May 26 Francisco Affiliate, reported on their corporate Committee Officers: Nicole Nishanian, ment opportunities and membership, visit at the National Association for Armenian partnerships, domestic activities and active pro- President, Margaret Mgrublian, Vice President, www.aiwainternational.org. Studies and Research (NAASR), during which jects in Armenia. The SF Affiliate continues to guests shared their experiences in Boston and enjoy support from corporate donors, including the realities in Armenia. The experts have IBM, Symantec, Netflix, and GoPro. Reports of brought back to Armenia the lessons learned in 2016-17 highlights were also presented from the Boston area. CYSCA is very appreciative of affiliates in Los Angeles, New Jersey, and New the host families, and visits that took place to England. Boston area historic/cultural sites. Following the annual reports, Cynthia CYSCA announced that Open World recently Norian, introduced the Luncheon Speaker, granted CYSCA a fourth grant, this time for a Shakeh Kaftarian, Ph.D, a noted medical psy- media literacy program for five young profes- chologist. Norian stated Dr. Kaftarian served as sionals from Armenia that will take place in the a research scientist at the White House Office Boston area from September 28-October 5. An of National Drug Control Policy; National important goal of the program is to develop Institutes of Health, F. Edward Herbert School leadership capability of young professionals by of Medicine, and the United Nations. She engaging them with US counterparts, and an recently completed serving as a Fulbright intense program of visits and meeting with var- Scholar at the American University of Armenia ious individuals and organizations in the where she helped design the Women’s greater Boston area has been planned. Host Empowerment Initiative and served as the families are needed and the experience gives Chair of A Conference on the Empowerment of both visitors and locals the opportunity to Girls and Women in Armenia. share learnings, forge cultural connections and Kaftarian focused her remarks on her role friendships. as the organizer of the conference held at the For further information on CYSCA member- American University of Armenia, April 21-22, AIWA members at the reception ship or becoming a host family, contact asteoan- 2017 in Yerevan, Armenia. The approximate- [email protected] or check www.cambridgeyere- van.org The 2017-2018 slate for the CYSCA Board of Directors was accepted and include Nathan Allukian, Isabelle Hamel, Nancy Kalajian, Philip Ketchian, Eva Medzorian, Jack Medzorian, Ashot Papoyan, Alisa Stepanian and Scott Yerganian. After the CYSCA annual meeting, guest speaker Brian Corr, executive director, Cambridge Peace Commission, discussed the importance of sister city relationships, shared values and the future. Corr discussed the peace movement in the 1980s, the importance of peo- ple to people relationships and formation of sis- ter city relationships. He praised the distinct accomplishments of CYSCA, their continuous commitment to their mission and “ongoing con- nections with the city of Cambridge.” Corr con- tinued, “You are so good at supporting people in need.” Corr conducted an interactive activity and asked attendees to pair up to discuss what brought them to the CYSCA annual meeting. Responses were varied and ranged from an interest in citizen exchange to getting involved with a group that was not political. During a post-meeting reception, participants reflected on CYSCA and its noteworthy accomplish- ments. “We are very pleased to be going strong after 30 years and to be the most active sister city organization in Cambridge. Our programs have allowed for numerous follow-on projects in Armenia. We look forward to another 30 years,” CYSCA President Alisa Stepanian remarked. 8 S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Armenian Bar Association Holds 28th Annual Meeting

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — The Armenian Bar Association celebrated its 28th year of service when its members congregated for the Annual Meeting in picturesque Huntington Beach the weekend of June 9-11. The gathering featured guests of honor California Supreme Court Justice Mariano- Florentino Cuéllar and Ruben Melikyan, the Ombudsman/Human Rights Defender for the Republic of Artsakh. Organizing committee Chairwoman and Board member, Sara Bedirian, said in an interview at the start of the weekend’s activities: “To have Justice Cuéllar address our members — and offer potential solutions — to the deepening divide which exacerbates the unequal access to justice is nothing short of a major milestone for the Armenian Bar. And to have Melikyan present his views on the chal- California Supreme Court Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar (center) flanked by Armenian Bar Association Board of Governors lenges facing the Armenians of Artsakh only strengthened our organization’s resolve to embrace and assist our brothers and sisters in the homeland.” West, SillyBeez and Keush Ranch and gave the from Harvard have been a quest in search of his spectives from those who serve from behind the The annual event began with a meeting of the general assembly a breakdown of the “inner Armenian-ness.” Cuéllar thanked bench. Featured on the judicial panel were three 17 members of the Board of Governors. Board Association’s budget and assets. Kerkonian for the best introduction he has ever highly-respected California jurists, Judge Andre members heard from veteran executive Gary The final report came from Armen K. had and provided the guests with a compelling Manssourian, Judge Maria Daghlian-Hernandez Moomjian as he provided an update on the New Hovannisian, chairman of the Armenian address on the subject of the California courts and Judge Gassia Apkarian. With artful and York/New Jersey/Connecticut Chapter commit- Genocide Reparations Committee (AGRC). insightful interlocu- tee’s activities. Treasurer Gerard Kassabian Hovannisian shared that the AGRC committee tion, San Francisco- reported on the status of the organization’s members have been exploring and honing in on area star litigator finances and Student Affairs Committee Co- definitive stratagems involving an array of legal Ara Jabagchourian Chairwomen Lucy Varpetian and Elizabeth Al- theories to address Genocide-related civil served as modera- Dajani presented on a proposed amendment to wrongs. Hovannisian stated “From our perspec- tor. the by-laws to incorporate the National tive, monetary settlements will bring only fleet- The Executive Armenian Law Students’ Association into the ing gratification to our cause and will do little to Committee of the Armenian Bar Association and also addressed help heal our people’s open wounds. Our aim is Board of Governors the groundbreaking work of the Mentor-Mentee to secure verdicts in courts of law against the was selected at a Program. Scholarship Committee Chairwoman Republic of Turkey and those who have profited Board Meeting on Christine Engustian addressed the progress of from the great national dispossession of the Saturday afternoon, the scholarship committee. Armenian homeland.” during which the Following the Friday afternoon board meet- The meeting of the general membership then following officers ing, members and guests enjoyed an continued with the election and re-election of were installed: Saro outdoor/indoor gala reception in the beautiful six board members, including: Christine Artsakh Human Rights Panel (l-r): Amy Ashvanian, Ruben Melikyan, Nora Kerkonian, chair- Royal Tern Room at the Hyatt Regency. Rev. Engustian, Garo Ghazarian, Armen K. Hovsepian, Armen Hovannisian, Ara Khachatourian, and Saro Kerkonian man; Kathy Ossian, Karekin Bedourian of Forty Martyrs Armenian Hovannisian, Vanna Kitsinian, Gary Moomjian vice-chairwoman; Apostolic Church of Orange County offered an and Lucy Varpetian. There was also unanimous Gerard Kassabian, inspirational blessing and invocation, followed approval of the amendment to the by-laws which and how it is incumbent on them to ensure that treasurer, Vanna Kitsinian, secretary, and Harry by welcoming remarks by Association Chairman will formalize the incorporation of the National it is a judicial system that provides equal and Dikranian of Montreal remains as Chairman Ex- Saro Kerkonian. Guests enjoyed dinner and Armenian Law Students Association as part of unfettered access to justice for all. Officio. drinks with a view of the Pacific Ocean. the Armenian Bar Association. The National In the afternoon, Armenian Bar members The weekend’s activities concluded with a On Saturday, June 10, the meeting began with ALSA will be given a representative seat on the were given an eye-opening opportunity to Saturday night dinner. a comprehensive report from Karnig Kerkonian, board of governors. inform their knowledge and sharpen their skills Co-Chair of the Armenian Rights Watch Prof. Jessica Peake of the UCLA Promise with a frank and free-flowing exchange of per- Institute for Human Rights, which recently received a signifi- cant grant from Nardolillo Funeral Home the late Kirk Kerkorian’s phil- Est. 1906 anthropic legacy, John K. Najarian, Jr. educated the Rhode Island’s Only Licensed Armenian Funeral Director guests about the purpose of the 1278 Park Ave. Cranston, RI 02910 (401) 942-1220 Institute and 1111 Boston Neck Rd. Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 789-6300 asked for the Armenian Bar www.nardolillo.com Association and Judicial Panel (l-r): Judge Andre Manssourian, Judge Maria Daghlian- other community Hernandez, Judge Gassia Apkarian, Ara Jabagchourian, Armen Hovannisian, organizations to Gerard Kassabian, and Saro Kerkonian participate in the Institute’s work. The business Committee (ARWC). Kerkonian explained that, meeting was followed by the first legal educa- with the leadership of Co-Chair Garo Ghazarian, tion panel on the current situation in the F UNERAL H OME “The ARWC is a grassroots initiative which iden- Republic of Artsakh and the work of its Human Giragosian tifies transgressions against fundamental rights Rights Defender, Ruben Melikyan. In addition to James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC and then acts promptly to protect and promote Mr. Melikyan, the panel featured the expertise of Mark J. Giragosian their positions in civil society. Our mission is to Nora Hovsepian, the Chairwoman of the Funeral Counselors stand and deliver a laser-like focus on human Armenian National Committee of America- 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 rights and civil rights violations in order to help Western Region and Los Angeles County www.giragosianfuneralhome.com ensure the enshrinement of a recognized and Assistant District Attorney Amy Ashvanian and respected bill of rudimentary rights for our fel- was moderated by Asbarez English Editor Ara low citizens, both in Armenia and the Diaspora.” Khatchatourian. Together the panelists and Following Kerkonian’s presentation, newly- moderator unveiled and explained the intricate appointed Mentor-Mentee Program director, and uplifting work of the Artsakh Human Telephone (617) 924-7400 Aleksan Giragosian, spoke of the success of the Rights Defender, the fallout from the Four Day program and its goals for the future. The War of April 2016, and the current situation fac- Aram Bedrosian Mentor-Mentee report was followed by an ing the Armenians of Artsakh. update from Membership Committee Then came the Grand Luncheon. With the Chairwoman Lucy Varpetian, who spoke of cadence and aplomb of a seasoned toastmaster, Funeral Home, Inc. plans to enliven membership in the Armenian Karnig Kerkonian provided an entertaining and Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 Bar Association and a report on the use of social engaging introduction of his undergraduate media to promote communication with the orga- roommate at Harvard University, Justice of the MARION BEDROSIAN nization’s membership. Association Treasurer California Supreme Court Mariano-Florentino 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN Gerard Kassabian acknowledged and thanked Cuéllar. Kerkonian lightheartedly emphasized WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN the meeting’s sponsors: Mesrop Khoudagoulian, that Justice Cuéllar’s years since graduating Tina Odjaghian, Golden State Bank, Judicate S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS Sheriff Koutoujian Armenian Welcomes Members Memorial Church Makes Donation Of Mass. Legislature To Nursing Home For Criminal Justice BOSTON — The Armenian Memorial Discussion Church of Watertown has made a gift of BILLERICA, Mass. – Middlesex County $1,900 to the Armenian Nursing Home Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian welcomed mem- and Rehabilitation Center (ANHRC) of bers of the Legislature and their staffs to the Jamaica Plain. The Church has through Middlesex Jail and House of Correction on the years made it a policy to designate July 10 for a discussion of ongoing initiatives a portion of the funds raised in its annu- and programs. al fair to a worthy charity. While the The visit was organized in conjunction fair, held in May, is the Church’s largest with the Legislature’s Harm Reduction and fundraiser, this tradition reflects the Drug Law Reform Caucus and was the first Church’s commitment .to serve others stop on a series of visits planned at correc- in need. tional facilities across the Commonwealth. In acknowledging the “generous Monday’s visit focused on a number of donation,” Karla H. Fleming, executive areas, particularly the behavioral health director of the ANHRC notes, “The needs of justice-involved individuals across Armenian Nursing Home and Middlesex County. In 2016, 42 percent of all Rehabilitation Center depends on the individuals entering the facility required med- support of the community to provide ical detox, while 46 percent reported a histo- the high quality of life and compassion- ry of mental illness. ate care to those entrusted to us. Your “I want to thank members of the Harm gift helps assure our ability to continue Rev. Dr. Avedis Boynerian, pastor of the Armenian Memorial Church, presents a check for $1900 to Reduction Caucus for taking the time to visit to offer the best to our beloved resi- Karla Fleming, Executive Director of the Armenian Nursing Home. with us,” said Koutoujian. “The men and dents.” women of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office play a pivotal role in our justice system, and we are extremely proud of the work we do here each day to reduce recidivism and keep our communities safe. We value every opportuni- ty we have for members of the Legislature to visit and see this work and our innovative programming first-hand.” “These visits to our county jails and hous- es of corrections are so important for legisla- tors and staff. Not only must we understand the present problems and challenges, but we must also witness and advocate for potential solutions and programs that strengthen our systems, reduce recidivism, and improve the lives of those re-entering society” said Representative Mary S. Keefe, co-chair of the Harm Reduction and Drug Law Reform Caucus (D-Worcester). “We had a full day with Sheriff Koutoujian and staff and we are grateful for this opportunity to learn more about what is happening at the Middlesex County House of Correction.” “I would like to thank Sheriff Koutoujian and his team for the informative tour of the Middlesex Jail and House of Correction,” said Sen. Jamie Eldridge, co-chair of the Harm Reduction and Drug Law Reform Caucus (D- Acton). “Our members were grateful for the opportunity to learn about the Sheriff’s new initiatives and are encouraged by their poten- tial to reduce recidivism.” Monday’s visit included stops in the facili- ty’s Health Services Unit (HSU), the Housing Unit for Military Veterans (HUMV) and a pre- trial unit where the MSO is currently piloting an educational tablet initiative. Last year, HSU staff had over 178,000 med- ical contacts with individuals in custody. A recent snapshot of HUMV participation showed that of 92 men who spent at least 30 days in HUMV and were subsequently released, only five have been rearrested and four have had violations of parole, while none have been convicted of a new crime. Also discussed during Monday’s visit was the MSO’s Medication Assisted Treatment And Directed Opioid Recovery (MATADOR) Program. MATADOR incorporates the use of an injectable form of Naltrexone (a non-habit forming, non-narcotic, long lasting medica- tion which blocks the effects of opioids), com- bined with counseling and support from a patient navigator. Through the first 20 months of the initiative, the MSO has seen a measured impact on recidivism, with less than 10 percent of total program participants having been convicted of a new crime. Check us out at www.mirrorspectator.com 10 S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Fresno Armenian Community Honors Sister Hanna Christenn for Work in Anjar, Lebanon

FRESNO — On Sunday, June 25, the Armenian Evangelical community of Fresno marked the 75th anniversary of the Armenian Evangelical Secondary School of Anjar, Lebanon (AESSA) and the 70th anniversary of the German-based Hilfbund Missionary’s humanitarian endeavors in that city. Sister Hanna Christenn, a lifelong mis- sionary was the guest of honor. During the morning services at the First Armenian Presbyterian Church, in Fresno, Schwester (Sister) Hanna, gave her testimony of serving God by assisting the needy. She had spent 20 years aiding the children at the Boarding School in Anjar. However, even after her retirement, she continued to serve first the elderly community in Lebanon for some 10 year and after her second retire- ment, she followed Lord’s calling and for the next 11 years helped the needy in the town of Bert, in Tavush region of Armenia. Levon Filian, AMAA West Coast Executive Director introduced Sister Hanna to the congregation. In his comments he talked about AMAA’s lat- est activities and upheld Hilfbund’s mission to the Armenian Community. Later in the afternoon, some 50 individu- als, mainly former residents of Anjar, gath- ered at the home of Ara and Lena Karkazian who, along with Hovig and Hourie Kerkezian Presenting a memorable gift to Sister Hanna hosted a lavish reception in honor of Sister Hanna. Greg Agajanian of Agajanian Winery donated the wine. The event was organized Those gathered expressed their heartfelt Istanboulian (posthumously). Teachers, as Throughout the night, the atmosphere was by the Mousa Ler Association of Fresno, gratitude to Sister Hanna and to her senior well as other community members expressed full of excitement, which moved Sister Hanna spearheaded by George Karkazian and his team members namely Sisters Hedwig their deepest appreciation to Sister Hanna to lead in singing few of the songs that she committee members, composed of Annette Aenishanslin, Marie Rock and Hanna Nishke, and to her colleagues for their sacrifices, and thought the children when they were grow- Kerkezian-Agulian, Salpi Karkazian-Adams, who in 1947 were the first missionaries. They for the opportunity to have served at the ing up. Varoujan Der Simonian, Hapet Garabed, were introduced to Anjar through the efforts institution where once they were students. Henry Keledjian, Ara Karkazian, Nishan and and leadership of Rev. Aram Hadidian, the first pastor of the Evangelical church of Anjar. In his remarks, Levon Filian men- tioned the financial challenges that the school is facing, which became an opportuni- ty to raise some $7,000 for AESSA. On behalf of the community, and as a token of appreciation, committee chairman George Karkazian pre- sented a special gift to Sister Hanna for her years of unselfish devotion and service. “I always pray ask- ing the Lord to be my guidance. Today, because the Lord has been my shepherd, I Sister Hanna with two of the service award recipients, Dzaghig Istanboulian and George Keledjian am very happy; and by having you all in my life, I consider myself a very rich person,” she remarked. With the moral and financial support of the Hilfbund Missionary, for the past 70 years the AESSA and its board- Sister Hanna Christenn ing school have become educational and spiritual institu- Arous Der Kalousdian. Der Simonian acted tion shaping the lives as the master of the ceremony, whereas Rev. of thousands of young Armenian children in Greg Haroutunian offered the benediction. several countries including Turkey, Iran, Sister Hanna became a missionary for India, Egypt, Sudan and Bulgaria. thousands of children and elderly. Now at 87, On this jubilee occasion, recognition of ser- this gathering paid homage to her devotion vice awards was presented to individuals cur- and lifelong commitment. She personifies rently residing in Fresno area who have simplicity, modesty, kindness and righteous- served at the Armenian Evangelical ness. Hilfbund Missionary not only provided Secondary School in Anjar. The recipients financial support to the students at the were George Keledjian, Dzaghig Istanboulian, boarding school, but also they extended their Sona Keledjian-Alikian, Salpy Karkazian- charitable mission to the Armenian refugees Admas, Pauline Kasnakjian-Barsooumian, of Mousa Ler who were rebuilding their lives Annette Kerkezian-Agulian, Varoujan Der Group picture with some of the attendees in Anjar. Simonian, Sosie Haroutunian and Alexon S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 COMMUNITY NEWS 12 S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Prof. Henry Theriault Elected President of International Association of Genocide Scholars

BRISBANE, Australia (Asbarez) — Prof. Henry C. Theriault was elected president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) earlier this month during the organiza- tion’s annual conference, becoming the first Armenian to assume the position. The conference also elected Dr. Suren Manukyan, deputy director of the Armenian Genocide Museum and Institute in Yerevan, as a member of IAGS’s Advisory Board. In his nomination statement, Theriault warned of the threats facing human rights advances due to the dire political climate in the United States and Europe. “Genocide studies has been at the fore- front of recent human rights advances. Dire political climates in the US, Europe, and other areas threaten this progress. Racism, xenophobia, misogyny, etc. pervade public discourse and drive repressive legal and political regressions the world over. Genocide’s prevalence even threatens increase,” said Theriault. “Against this, a vibrant IAGS is essential. Demagogues attack the sensibilities geno- cide studies engenders. Our work is a crucial challenge to their propaganda. IAGS must strive against this marginalization while innovatively expanding the field, especially creating space for emerging scholars partic- ularly vulnerable to this backlash,” he added. Theriault is a board member of the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights and serves as the Armenian Genocide Reparations Study Group Dr. Henry Theriault addresses the IAGS conference in Brisbane, Australia (AGRSG), which was assembled in 2007 by four experts in different areas of reparations theory and practice. In September 2014, the and chair of the Philosophy Department at to 2007, he coordinated the University’s Zoryan Institute’s International Institute for group completed its final report, “Resolution Worcester State University, where he has Center for the Study of Human Rights. Genocide and Human Rights Studies and of with Justice—Reparations for the Armenian taught since 1998 focusing on courses on He earned his BA in English from Transaction Publishers’ Genocide: A Critical Genocide,” a wide-ranging analysis of the genocide, mass violence against women, and Princeton University and his PhD in philos- Bibliographic Review book series. legal, historical, political, and ethical dimen- related topics. He has published and lectured ophy from the University of Massachusetts, In 2013, Theriault served as a panelist at sions of the question of reparations for the widely on his research which focuses on the with specializations in social and political as the Armenian National Committee of genocide. It also includes specific recom- relationship of genocide and sexual violence, well as continental philosophy. America-Western Region’s Grassroots mendations for the components of a com- victim-perpetrator relations in the long-term He is co-editor of Genocide Studies Conference, speaking on challenges facing plete reparations package. aftermath of genocide, genocide prevention, International, a peer-reviewed journal from the Western Armenia, especially with Theriault was most recently professor in genocide denial, and reparations. From 1999 the University of Toronto Press and the regards to Kurdish and Armenian relations.

Massachusetts, Amherst. Any member of the ASA who is an undergrad- student at Nicholas College, received this ASA Silver The Silver Medal Awards are given annually uate student and is at least a sophomore in an award. to high school seniors who have demonstrated accredited college or university within the Applications for Gold and Silver Medal outstanding scholastic ability. United States is eligible for consideration for Awards can be obtained at http:www.asainc.org. The ASA Gold Medal Award is recognized as this award. Deadline for submitting applications and docu- And Gold the highest scholastic award within the ASA. Janina Aimee Messerlian of Greenville, RI a mentation is May 1, 2018. Medal Awards

This year the Armenian Students’ Archbishop Derderian Delivers Opening Prayer Association (ASA) announces that the following students were awarded this award which was instituted to encourage academic achievement. Before US House of Representatives The ASA Silver Medal Award Committee selected eight high school seniors to receive the WASHINGTON — Archbishop Hovnan for his leadership and commitment to the Archbishop’s inspirational prayer,” stated Silver Medal Award. Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of Armenian people. It was a wonderful oppor- Armenian Assembly Co-Chair and The following students were selected to the Armenian Church, on July 13 delivered the tunity to welcome a good friend to Massachusetts Council of Churches receive this award Melanie Talan Alcala of opening prayer before the US House of Washington D.C. and to hear in person the President Anthony Barsamian. Montebello, CA graduate of AGBU Vetches and Representatives, at the invitation of the House Tamar Mandurian High School enrolled at Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence California State University Fullerton: Gregory Ranking Member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). Andreopoulos of New Hyde Park, NY graduate “It was an honor to welcome Archbishop of Chaminade High School enrolled at Fordham Derderian to our nation’s capital to deliver University; Nicholas Hatfield Hanoian of North today’s opening prayer,” Schiff said. “I am so Smithfield, RI, graduate of North Smithfield pleased that the House of Representatives was High School enrolled at University of Vermont; able to hear the inspiring words of such a dis- Serena K. Pelenghian of Arcadia, CA, graduate tinguished and respected spiritual leader from of AGBU Vatche and Tamar Manoukian High our community. Archbishop Derderian has had School, enrolled at Occidental College; Svetlana a tremendous impact on people of all faiths Petrosyan of Fair Lawn, NJ graduate of and played a vital role in the religious and civic Hackensack High School enrolled at Rutgers life of millions.” University; Andrew Madanian Reppucci of Derderian expressed his appreciation to Belmont, Mass., graduate of Belmont High Congressman Schiff and the Assembly, and School, enrolled at Northeastern University; wished the Members of the House of Daniel Yeghia Sarafian of Northridge, CA, grad- Representatives continued success in their uate of AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School diplomatic endeavors. enrolled at UCLA – Irvine; and Peter S. Taraian “On behalf of the Armenian Assembly of From left, Anthony Barsamian, Rep. Adam Schiff, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and Bryan Ardouny of Rehoboth, Mass., graduate of LaSalle America, I commend Archbishop Derderian Academy enrolled at University of S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 Arts & Living

Adrienne Alexanian AFFMA Industry Mixer Presents Father’s Highlights Local Artists Memoir in In Lead-up to 20th Washington D.C. Anniversary ARPA Film Festival WASHINGTON — In June, the Armenian Assembly of America co-sponsored a book pre- GLENDALE — Arpa Foundation for Film, sentation of Forced into Genocide: Memoirs of Music AND Art (AFFMA) kicked off its 20th an Armenian Soldier in the Ottoman Turkish anniversary celebrations with a mixer at Army, written by Yervant Edward Alexanian, Phoenicia Restaurant on June 22. The event an eye-witness to the massacre and dislocation brought together more than 100 influencers, of his family and countrymen in Ottoman entertainers and supporters of AFFMA and the Turkey during the Armenian Genocide. arts. This year’s mixer provided a platform for Adrienne G. Alexanian, Yervant’s daughter, has local artists, photographers, jewelry designers spent years preparing her father’s manuscript and artisans. Proceeds from the exhibited for publication, which she presented at St. pieces went toward AFFMA’s special fund in Mary Armenian Apostolic Church in support of up and coming filmmakers. Featured Washington, DC on Sunday. The Assembly co- artists included Helga Sarkis, Yercan Telli, sponsored the event with St. Mary Armenian Adrian Dilanian and Don Hannah. Among the Apostolic Church, Knights and Daughters of evening’s special guests were Ken Davitian and Vartan, and the Armenian National Committee Alejandro Siranosian. of America. AFFMA is gearing up for its 20th Annual Born in Sivas, Turkey, Yervant Alexanian Arpa International Film Festival to be held at survived the Hamidian massacres as an infant the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, November to later fight for survival as a conscript in the 3-5. The weekend will also feature a gala Ottoman Turkish Army during the 1915 evening at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in cele- Genocide. Despite everything he went through bration of AFFMA’s achievements over the past and witnessed, “he was prepared to die” two decades. instead of saving his own life by converting to This year’s screenings will continue to Islam. He fled to America in 1920, where he explore socially relevant themes such as diaspo- spent his life advocating for justice for his peo- ra, war, genocide, dual identity, exile and multi- ple. There are no other books or comparable account which exists in Armenian literature on this aspect of the Genocide. Carole Long Karabashian and Margo Parnagian-Silk He passed away in 1983, leaving behind many documents and pictures discovered by his daughter. Adrienne explained that the memoirs came to light by chance while she was going through her father’s belongings. He did Armenian Genocide Memoir not share stories of the Armenian Genocide with his daughter, wishing to not burden his family. Instead, he wrote down his memoirs as Book Wins Award a form of therapy that would later live on through Adrienne’s efforts. PHILADELPHIA — From Horror to Hope, a collection of stories of Armenian Award winning Middle East journalist Robert Genocide survivors, was named a finalist by the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Fisk highlighted Yervant’s memoirs in one of Award in the memoir category (overcoming adversity/tragedy/challenges). It con- his articles on Turkey’s denial of the Armenian tains some 66 stories and showcases an overview of brief historical facts, achieve- Genocide in The Independent on March 22, ments and anecdotes of the Philadelphia Armenians. 2017. “Forced into Genocide is Yervant “It was important to write the stories for our children as we were told by our par- Alexanian’s own frightful account of his peo- ents since we are the bridge generation,” said Margo Parnagian-Silk whose idea was ple’s suffering, with unimpeachable documen- the impetus for this book. “The focus was not only to memorialize the accounts of tation — in vast enough amounts to prevent the the genocide survivors but also pay tribute to our immigrants who built a commu- usual Turkish ‘genocide deniers’ (twins of the AFFMA’s Sonia Keshishian, Sylvia Minassian nity and contributed to society.” (founder) and Maral Kazazian European ‘deniers’ of the Jewish Holocaust) of The book evolved on the heels of the 2015 Philadelphia centennial anniversary denouncing the book as a forgery,” Fisk wrote. event “We Not Only Survived, We Thrive” commemorating the Armenian “It is a story which Erdogan should be reading Genocide. – and publicizing – right now, for it involves In true Philadelphia-Armenian style, a spirit of unity, this project was successful culturalism. The diverse tapestry of inspiring more ‘Nazi practices’ than the new Sultan of because of the participation of representatives from the five area churches. films to be featured from around the world, will Istanbul would ever want to acknowledge,” he Another goal, to distribute this book outside the Armenian community, was also continue to focus on further developing cultur- added. met with over 100 books donated to educational institutions and organizations that al understanding and global empathy, while The Assembly also co-sponsored a book pre- research or teach genocide. inspiring our local and worldwide community sentation with Adrienne Alexanian last month The award ceremony was held on May 31, at the Harvard Club in New York City. to connect and advance progressive cinemat- in Boston, with the Armenian Museum of Receiving the award on behalf of the book committee were Carole Long ic art. America, the Armenia Cultural Foundation, the Karabashian and Since its inception in 1995, AFFMA has sup- Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Silk. ported a spectrum of artists including writers, New England District, Project SAVE Armenian Other members of photographers, filmmakers, dancers, designers, Photograph Archives, and the National the team were Karen actors and musicians. Throughout the years, Association for Armenian Studies and Aznavourian AFFMA’s networking events, concerts, art Research (NAASR). Cannuscio, Meredith exhibits, book signings, fashion shows, talent “On behalf of the Armenian Assembly of Hanamirian, Lisa shows, musical performances, lectures, forums, America, I commend Adrienne for her perse- Manookian, Suzanne comedy nights, special screenings, private pre- verance and tenacity in bringing this com- Sherenian, and Paul miers, and most significantly its signature event, pelling account and heroic journey to light. It Vartan Sookiasian. the Arpa International Film Festival, have pro- is truly remarkable and we greatly appreciate Artur Petrosyan, vided artists with a solid platform to showcase Adrienne’s enthusiastic presentation,” Director of Creative their work. Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny Ministries for the Last year’s festival award recipients included Members of the committee stated. Eastern Diocese of the French actor Dominique Pinon (Lifetime Adrienne Alexanian is an Armenian Armenian Church of Achievement Award), singer/poet/songwrit- Assembly Fellow Trustee and, along with her America, consulted. er/artist/composer/activist Serj Tankian mother, Grace, provided an endowment to the Meeting a nine-month deadline, committee members closely collaborated, volun- (Career Achievement Award), award-winning Assembly toward advocacy for Genocide recog- teered their time and unselfishly brought forth their professional skills with enthu- director Albert Kodagolian (Breakthrough nition in memory of her father in 1993. As an siasm. Artist Award), and Emmy Award-winning docu- NGO representative at the United Nations for “Over 2,000 books were submitted this year so it was truly an honor for the book mentary filmmaker Bared Maronian (Armin T. both the Armenian Diocese and the AGBU, to be named a finalist,” Karabashian commented. The non-profit Next Generation Wegner Humanitarian Award). Adrienne initiated, organized, and moderated Indie Book Award, celebrating its 10th year, was started by publishing industry pro- Calls for films for this year’s festival have numerous forums promoting all aspects of fessionals to offer new writers networking opportunities. been announced and details can be found at Armenia’s agenda. She is also an educator and For questions or inquiries, contact [email protected]. www.arpafilmfestival.com. The full lineup of a 2010 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of films, as well as awardees will be announced Honor. soon. 14 S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING ‘Jazz in the Courtyard’ in Watertown Recipe WATERTOWN — The Armenian Cultural and Educational Center has launched its sum- mer jazz concert series, titled “Jazz in the Courtyard” on alternating Fridays in July and August. The first concert in the series, featuring the Yulia Musayelyan Quartet, was held on Corner Friday, July 21. The second concert, to be held on August 4, will feature the critically acclaimed folk-jazz ensemble Musaner. Led by composer and pianist Ara Sarkissian, Musaner has performed by Christine Vartanian Datian widely at top venues in Boston, New York City, Italy and Switzerland. The third concert, to be hold on Eggplant and Lamb Dinner August 18, will feature the young gui- tarist Shahan Nercessian and his new trio, SMB-3. The jazz trio features INGREDIENTS music with subtle Armenian folk under- 2 pounds lamb shoulder, cut for stew tones. The group is composed of musi- 3 medium eggplants (peeled or unpeeled), cut into medium pieces cians who met while studying jazz at 2 medium tomatoes, sliced or diced Tufts University and who have played 2 medium onions, chopped extensively in the Boston area in vari- 2 cups low-sodium tomato sauce ous different musical settings. The band 1 each medium green and red bell pepper, seeded and sliced plays original compositions drawing 1 large carrot, peeled and diced influences from jazz, rock, world music 3-4 cloves garlic, chopped and beyond. They will be releasing their 1/4 cup each fresh chopped parsley and mint first full length album, “Echoes from a Sea or Kosher salt, black pepper, pinch of sweet basil (rahan), and choice of paprika, Distant Past,” this summer. garlic powder, cumin, and Aleppo pepper All three concerts will be held in the Musaner Olive oil, crushed garlic outdoor courtyard at the Armenian Flour Cultural and Educational Center, locat- ed at 47 Nichols Avenue. In case of rain, the event will be held indoors. PREPARATION: There will be refreshments, drinks and snacks available for purchase. Lightly toss the lamb with flour and cook in batches in a pot in olive oil until lightly All three events are co-sponsored by the Boston chapter of Hamazkayin Educational and browned. Add the eggplant, tomatoes, onions, tomato sauce, bell pepper, carrots, and Cultural Association. garlic and toss to combine. Season with salt, pepper and choice of spices. Add a cup of water to this mixture and toss again to combine. Arrange the lamb and vegetables in a large baking dish and bake in a 350-degree oven for 45-60 minutes or until bubbly and the eggplant is tender. Serve over hot rice or bulgur pilaf. Garnish with chopped parsley and mint with Inna Djaniants and crushed garlic on the side. Jon Simonian Jr. Marry Serves 4-6.

NEW YORK (New York Times) — Inna *Christine’s recipes have been published in the Fresno Bee Newspaper, Sunset Mikhaylovna Djaniants and Jon David Magazine, and Cooking Light Magazine, and at: http://www.thearmeniankitchen.com/ Simonian Jr. were married July 8 at Holy Cross Church of Armenia in Washington Also see: http://www.myrecipes.com/search/site/Datian Heights, where three years earlier they met while attending an Armenian cooking class sponsored by the church. Rev. Mardiros Chevian performed the ceremony, with the Rev. Arshen Aivazian taking part. Her husband, 31, is an associate director of Mrs. Simonian, 32, is a first-grade teacher finance at Universal McCann Worldwide, an at Public School 20, a grammar school in advertising agency based in New York. He New York. She graduated from the University graduated from Trinity College in Hartford of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received and is studying for an MBA at New York a master’s degree in education from University. Fordham. He is the son of Charlene R. Simonian and She is a daughter of Karine Y. Djaniants and Jon D. Simonian of New York. The groom’s Mikhail G. Djaniants of High Point, NC. The mother retired as the director of admissions bride’s father, who is retired, was a custom-fur- for Saint Albans School, an elementary niture craftsman at Steelcase, a furniture school in New York. His father retired as an maker in High Point. Her mother is a sales institutional equity salesman for Morgan associate for a Belks department store there. Stanley, also in New York. S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 ARTS & LIVING Fascinating Jerusalem: Armenian History Runs Deep in Holy City

and monastery walls. The four small crosses By Jirair Tutunjian symbolized the four disciples who wrote the New Testament. These ancient crosses can still be seen in the Republic of Armenia. When fol- While many Armenians know that the lowing the Seljuk invasions a significant per- Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem’s Old City cov- centage of Armenians moved to Cilicia, they ers one-sixth of the city, many Armenians, took the cross design with them. A number of including even some living in Jerusalem, don’t Armenian Cilician noblemen adopted it as their know the many Armenian-related facts which flag. The Crusaders saw the cross while passing make our presence in the Holy City so signifi- through Cilicia on their way to the Holy Land. cant. After conquering Jerusalem, they declared it Here are ten such salient facts. their flag. In time the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem appropriated the cross as its own. The St. James Cathedral Another proof of the cross’s Armenian roots: The name is wrong. The actual name of the across from the entrance to the Sts. Jameses cathedral is Sts. Jameses because two saints Cathedral, visitors can see more than half-dozen bearing that name are buried in the cathedral. khachkars (stone-crosses) embedded in a high The first is St. James (known as ‘Klkhatir’ to wall. They have four small crosses around them. Armenians), the brother of St. John. The second One of these khachkars has A.D. 965 — more is St. James, the brother of Christ. He was the than 130 years before the arrival of the first bishop of Jerusalem. The “first” St. James Crusaders to Jerusalem. was beheaded by Herod Agrippa. While his head is buried in the cathedral, the rest of his 4,000 Manuscripts body is in distant Santiago de Compostella in The second-largest collection of Armenian Galicia, in northwest Spain. How the saint’s illuminated manuscripts is at the modest St. body wound up in that remote spot is another Thoros Church located in the lay residential dis- story, if not fable and legend. The “St. James” is The Armenian Quarter trict of the Armenian Convent. The 4,000- popular because it’s easier to pronounce and to manuscript collection, which includes works by write than Sts. Jameses. such masters as Toros Roslin and Sarkis Pitzak, Queen Melisende The seminary, across from the main entrance to is the second-largest after the one in Yerevan The Unknown Soldier Although Queen Melisende of Jerusalem, the the convent, was built in the 1970s. (10,500). At one time there were 100,000 The first known monument to the Unknown greatest Crusader female personality, had an Armenian illuminated manuscripts: most were Christmas on January 18 Soldier was built by the Armenians in the city’s Armenian mother and strengthened the burned by the Turks. Musrara neighborhood, northwest of the city Armenian presence in the Holy Land, few peo- Why do Armenians of Jerusalem celebrate Last Queen of Armenia walls. It is located in the funerary chapel of mar- ple know about her or that she is buried in the Christmas on January 18 when the Armenian tyr St. Polyeucte, an Armenian officer of the Church of Virgin’s Tomb (“Asdvadzamayr” in Apostolic Church celebrates that feast After the fall of Sis in 1375, King Levon V Roman XII legion. The 6.30-meter by 3.90- Armenian), adjacent to the Garden of on January 6? Depending on the source, there (the last king of Armenia), his family and his ret- meter mosaic is made up of 40 medallions Gethsemane. Her mother (Queen Morphia, the are two answers: the Armenian Church of inue were taken prisoners by the Memluks and which contain storks, partridges, geese, ibis, second Armenian queen of Jerusalem) is also Jerusalem uses a different church calendar from incarcerated in Egypt. Years later, when several eagles, and ostriches and interspersed flowers. buried in the underground church at the foot of that used by the Armenian Apostolic Church. European noblemen paid the ransom demand- The mosaic includes, in Armenian, the inscrip- Mount of Olives. Queen Melisende was born The second explanation? There was a time, ed by the Memluks, King Levon was released. tion: “To the memory, and for the salvation, of (1105) and raised in Urfa/Edessa. She came to nearly two centuries ago, when Jerusalem After acting as governor of Madrid for a few all those Armenians whose names are known to Jerusalem with her family at the age of 10 when Armenians and the local Greek Church cele- years, he settled in Paris as a permanent guest the LORD.” It’s believed the mosaic was made her father, the ruler of Urfa, became King brated Christmas on January 6. This resulted in of the king. During the years King Levon was sometime between 527 to 565 in the age of Baldwin II, the second Crusader king of huge crowds of pilgrims (Armenian, Greek, and incarcerated in Egypt, his wife Mariyoon (the Emperor Justinian of Byzantium. Jerusalem. Her mother tongue was Armenian and she received Armenian upbringing while in The City Wall Built by an Armenian the Armenia city of Urfa. Mimar Sinan (1489-1588), the Armenian Queen Melisende was the eldest of four sisters. engineer-architect from the Agirnas village near She was tall, had dark eyes and brows. She was Caesarea, was responsible for building the wall. described by a contemporary chronicler as As chief architect of the Ottoman palace, he was “beautiful, wise, sweet and compassionate.” in charge of the construction of more than 300 Others described her as a willful ruler who did- structures — mosques, hospitals, public n’t suffer fools gladly. She was passionate about kitchens, schools, mausoleums, baths, palaces, horse riding and was resented by some mansions, bridges, aqueducts, and cara- Crusaders because of her gender and her half- vansaries. He circled (in the mid-1530s) Armenian origins. While married to Count Fulk, Jerusalem with the 4 kilometer walls including she shared the throne with her husband. After 34 watchtowers and seven gates. the early death of her husband during a hunting For centuries, the Turks denied Sinan’s accident, she became regent and sole ruler. Armenian origin. In recent years, they have A talented diplomat, she avoided conflict with somewhat relented and say that he was Muslims. She was interested in the arts and in Christian. Evidence that Sinan was Armenian is urban development. The Holy Sepulcher was the letter he wrote to the sultan asking him not reconstructed through her intercession. She also to exile his family to Cyprus when the Turks built the Bethany Abbey for nuns, the St. Anne were shipping the Armenians of his hometown Church, three covered bazaars, and a scriptorium The Sts. Jameses Cathedral to the Mediterranean island. for the production of illuminated manuscripts. She was also instrumental in the expansion of The Security Decree the Armenian Quarter. Melisende spread her Russian) crammed, at the same time, in the last Armenian queen) and daughter Penna set- At the main entrance to the Armenian influence through the arranged dynastic mar- Nativity Church to celebrate Christ’s birth. The tled in the Armenian Convent of Jerusalem Convent there’s an Arabic writing etched in riages of her two sisters to Crusader royalty. She simultaneous celebrations resulted in a where they died a few years later. They were stone. It’s a declaration which guarantees the died in 1161 following a stroke. cacophony of competing hymns, discomfort for buried side by side, next to the pillar facing the integrity of the Armenian holy places and all and in the occasional fight. To resolve the chapel of St. James (“Klkhateer) northwest of exempts Armenians from head tax. Many peo- Cathedral and Convent Construction problem, the Armenians delayed their celebra- the cathedral. ple, including professional guides, wrongly The original cathedral, which was destroyed tions to Jan. 18 but in lieu received certain During his “retirement”, King Levon tried to believe the words are those of Prophet by the Persians in the seventh century, was rights from the Greek Patriarchate. arrange peace between France and England Mohammed granting protection to the built in the fourth century. The present build- hoping to launch another Crusade after the two Armenians of the Holy Land. Others believe ing dates from the Crusader era and is in many Jerusalem Cross neighboring countries had made peace. But the the words belong to Omar Ibn-Khattab, the ways a replica of the Haghpad Cathedral in The Latin (Catholic) Patriarchate of the Holy kings of France and England were not interest- conqueror of Jerusalem. Still others maintain Armenia. The convent’s roots also go back to Land has a distinctive cross which is known as ed in a peaceful solution to their conflict. King that Salah Eddin Ayoubi or Ottoman Sultan the Crusader era. However, most of the convent the Jerusalem Cross. It comprises of a square Levon died in 1393 in Paris and was buried in Abdul-Aziz is the author of the decree. land were acquired and developed in the 17th cross with four smaller crosses over and below the same mausoleum where French royalty However, the actual guarantor was Egyptian and 18th centuries through the donations of its horizontal arms. Although the Catholic were buried. After the French Revolution, the Sultan al Zaher Abou Said Chakmak (1437). wealthy Armenians in the diaspora and pil- Patriarchate has made it its “logo”, the cross is royal remains were reburied at the St. Denis Some scholars believe he was of Armenian grims. A number of prominent buildings of Armenian origin. Cathedral outside Paris. More than a century origin and was related to Armenians who (Gulbenkian Library, Sts. Tarkmanchats In Eastern Armenia, long before the arrival of after King Levon’s death, King James I of were prominent in the Fatimid dynasty of Secondary School, Jarankavorats, the defunct the Crusaders to the Middle East, Armenians England, who was a distant relative, acquired Egypt. printing press) were built in more recent times. etched the identical cross on rocks, churches the title of “King of Armenia.” 16 S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING

‘Gariné Cocktail’ Leaves Yerevan Audiences Shaken, Stirred

orchestration was concerned since most humorous direction was a breath of fresh By Lilit Deryan the opera was performed for the air, fully appreciated by an elated and ecstatic first time since Tchouhadjian’s life- audience. time with the composer’s original Our opera theater seems to be heading for a YEREVAN — The “showcase” titled as instrumentation recently found in very prominent change, bringing it closer to “Gariné Cocktail …” was a triumph. Certainly, Paris by the Dikran Tchouhadjian European and international approaches the lasting and ecstatic standing ovation was International Institute. Some where opera means theatre and a stage director one of the longest and loudest we have wit- never heard before melodies were is the main person to lead it in that direc- nessed in a long time at the National Opera also revealed on this occasion. tion. Kudos to Gerald Papasian! House of Armenia on June 25. The aim of this evening was to As master of ceremonies, Papasian ended the The evening comprised two parts, offered generate enough interest and first act in a take-off of TV soap opera: “What quartets and sextets from operas by Verdi, funds to produce the entire opera- will be the fate of the heroes of the play? You Puccini, Mozart and Tchouhadjian, performed buffa later next season. shall soon find out when we present the full by singers from the opera’s Young Singers’ pro- Yet this “demo production” was production. Join us next season!” gram. not really what one would call a Minister of Culture Armen Amiriyan seemed Three well-known and excellent opera semi-staged performance as to be having tremendous fun along with the soloists, tenors Hovhannes Ayvazyan and Papasian, playing the master of audience. He congratulated all involved artists Liparit Avetisyan and soprano Irina Zakyan ceremonies, had announced. backstage, especially appreciating the modern joined the young singers, some of whom had Viktoria Riedo’s candy store approach and youthful freshness of the never appeared on this stage before; actually, approach of sets, contemporary evening, calling it a triumph and hoping to see some had never appeared on any opera stage costumes, (casual outfits, torn the entire thing soon. before, in front of a full orchestra. jeans, shorts) lights and video Most memorable moments were work were a non-stop visual Mozart’s “Cosi Fan Tutte” sextet dynamically Anouche Martirossian and Gerald Papasian delight. and hilariously staged by the evening’s director As for the staging, it certainly Gerald Papasian, and Olympia’s aria and a showed Papasian’s ability to move Sextet from Dikran Tchouhadjian’s “aperitif,” as he called it, of Tchouhadjian’s the singers, especially the chorus, traditionally opera “Arsace Secondo” (Arshak II) which were opera buffa “Gariné’s” first act, with some of static, rather like backup singers, who were world premieres in their original Italian and the young singers, the opera’s chorus and unrecognizable during the show, displaying uncut form since the opera’s creation in 1868. orchestra. acrobatic moves and dances never before seen After an intermission, Papasian presented an This was yet another “premiere” as far as on the Yerevan opera stage. His buoyant and

Anouche Martirossian and Arsen Gevorgyan

From left, Arsen Gevorgyan, Silva Petrossian and Vahe Matteos Hakhverdian Anouche Martirossian and the performers S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 17 ARTS & LIVING CC AA LENDARLENDAR

Additional parking at Osgood Landing, North Andover (for- SEPTEMBER 30 — Concert by famous Istanbul- MASSACHUSETTSFLORIDA mer Lucent Technologies facility) with free shuttle bus to the Armenian singer, Sibil Pektorosoglu (www.sibilmu- picnic grounds. Music by seven piece Jason Naroian sic.com), at the Ellsworth Theatre at Pine Manor College, JANUARY 20-28, 2018 — Armenian Heritage Cruise Ensemble. Menu includes Lamb Shish, Losh, & Chicken Chestnut Hill. Sponsored by the Armenian International XXI 2018 Eastern Caribbean Cruise aboard the Royal Kebab Dinners, Kheyma, Pastries, & Beverages. Raffles for Women’s Association. Details to follow. Caribbean’s Freedom Of The Seas. Travelling to: St. Kitts Cash Prizes & Gift Certificates. Air Conditioned Hall. Bring NOVEMBER 2 — Thursday, Symposium with the partic- / St.John’s Antigua / San Juan / Labadee, Private Island. your lawn chairs for sitting outside. For more info www.hye- ipation of International media representatives, dedi- Cabin Rates starting from US $1044 / person based on pointearmenianchurch.org or call (978) 372-9227. cated to the Armenian Mirror-Spectator’s 85th Double Occupancy, including Port Charges and ACAA SEPTEMBER 10 — Trinity Family Festival, 12-5 p.m., Holy Anniversary. Details to follow. registration fee. Government taxes of $108.36 are addi- Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston, 145 Brattle NOVEMBER 3 — Friday, 85th Anniversary Celebration tional. Armenian Entertainment, Armenian Cultural St., Cambridge. Delicious Armenian food with take-out Banquet of the Armenian Mirror-Spectator Presentations, Armenian Festival Day, Tavlou & Belote available; Armenian music for your listening and dancing Newspaper the first English Language Armenian Tournaments and much more. Call TRAVELGROUP INTER- pleasure; games and fun activities for children. Blessing Newspaper in the United States @ Newton Marriott Hotel NATIONAL @1- 561-447-0750 or 1-866-447-0750 Ext. of the Madagh, raffle drawing and more. Save the date; Banquet Hall. 85 Years and Beyond. Details to follow 108. Ask for Janie. details to follow. For further information, contact the church office, 617.354.0632, or email [email protected]. NEW JERSEY MASSACHUSETTS OCTOBER 14 — Armenian Friends of America, Inc. Present . . . HYE KEF 5 Dance Featuring: ONNIK OCTOBER 7 — Kalfayan Orphanage of Istanbul Charity AUGUST 8-14 — The Knights & Daughters of Vartan DINKJIAN. 7 p.m. – Midnight, 123 Old River Road • Fund Event. Please save the date for the Gala banquet will hold their Grand Convocation in Cambridge. Andover. AFA room rates until 9/16/17 • Call 978-975- celebrating the 150th anniversary of the orphanage at St’ Hosted by Ararat Lodge and Arpie Otyag. Registration 3600. Ticket Prices Include Buffet and Dance • Cash Bar Leon’s Armenian Church, Fairlawn. Held under the help: (781) 399-5152 Hotel reservation: (617) 492-1234. Only. $55 if purchased before 9/1/17 • $65.00 after Auspices of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian (Primate), Hyatt Regency Hotel - Cambridge, MA Visit 9/1/17. $50 for Students 21 and under. Continuous Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern). www.GrandConvo.com for registration and hotel reser- Buffet 7:30 – 9:30 pm. Advance tickets only. John NOVEMBER 18 — Save the date. Gala banquet cele- vation. On Saturday, August 11, there will be a dance Arzigian - 603-560-3826, Lucy Sirmaian - 978-683-9121, brating the 70th anniversary of the Tekeyan Cultural with Elie Berberian, at the Hyatt Regency, 575 Memorial Peter Gulezian - 978-375-1616, Sharké Der Apkarian - Association. At the Terrace at Biagios. 299 Paramus Drive, Cambridge. All proceeds will benefit the construc- 978-808-0598, To Benefit: The Armenian Churches of the Road, Paramus. Featuring Elie Berberian and his band tion of the Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Merrimack Valley (St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic from Montreal. Pointe. Dinner & Dance—$100 Dance Only—$60, $120 Church of N. Andover, The Armenian Apostolic Church at after July 4 $75 after July 4, Under 25: Dance only $40. Hye Pointe, Haverhill, Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Tickets, [email protected], 781.264.8680 or Church of Chelmsford, Ararat Armenian Congregational Calendar items are free. Entries should not be longer 617.223.7520 Church of Salem, NH) www.Armenian than 5 lines. Listings should include contact informa- AUGUST 20 — Armenian Church at Hye Pointe Picnic at FriendsofAmerica.org. John Berberian / Oud, Mal tion. Items will be edited to fit the space, if need be. A the new Family Life & Cultural Center, 1280 Boston Road Barsamian / Clarinet, Ara Dinkjian / Keyboard, Ron photo may be sent with the listing. Items should be (Rte. 125) Bradford MA/North Andover line. 12 to 5 pm. Tutunjian / Dumbeg sent no later than Mondays at noon.

As the showcase ended with a cliffhanger, a delighted little 6-year-old girl sitting right in front of me turned to her mother and said: “Mama, mama, I want to see how it all ends!” Special thanks go to artistic and acting direc- tor Constantine Orbelian without whose help and vision none of this would have ever hap- pened. “GARINÉ Cocktail …” Stage director Gerald Papasian, conductor Haroutyoun Arzoumanyan, Music director Levon Javadyan, Sets/costumes/lights/video design- er Viktoria Riedo, Choreographer Maria Divanian, Chorus master Radik Melikian. PART ONE singers: Hovhannes Ayvazyan, Liparit Avetisyan, Irina Zakyan, Marianna Martirosyan, Sargis Bajbeouk-Melikian, Sofia Tumanyan, Hasmik Asatryan, Lusine Makaryan, Kim Sargsyan, Hayk Tongouryan, Silva Petrosyan, Vahe Matteos Hakhverdian, Anouche Martirossian, Vardan Sahakyan, Gosh Sargsian, Sergey Stepanyan. GARINÉ singers : Sargis Bajbeouk- Melikian, Silva Petrosyan, Vahe Matteos Hakhverdian, Arsen Gevorgyan, Anouche Martirossian, Nune Grigoryan. Arsen Gevorgyan and company PHOTOS: TIGRAN ARAKELYAN

Curtain call 18 S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

COMMENTARY Mirror Europeanization of Turkey or Spectator Turkification of Europe? midnight, to a crowd of 170,000. By Edmond Y. Azadian Erdogan was very defiant in his speech. He said, “We cannot defeat the queen, the king or the sheikhs without defeating the pawns, knights and castles. Firstly, we will rip the heads of these EstablishedEstablished 1932 1932 The tug of war between Ankara and Brussels continues. traitors.” Then he added that he would approve the death penal- An ADLAn Publication ADL Publication Turkey is a candidate for membership in the European Union. It ty “without hesitation” if the parliament voted to restore it. persists in joining the EU, but refuses to abide by its rules and This kind of rhetoric draws Turkey closer to Saudi jurispru- then blames Europe for blocking its entry into the family of dence rather than to Europe. Western nations. Erdogan is a man of his word. His tough talk does not offer

EDITOR President Recep Tayyip Erdogan outlined the current standoff empty threats; to date, he has detained 155,000 people; 50,000 Alin K. Gregorian in the following manner: “The stance of the European Union is have been jailed and 140,000 have been dismissed from their clear to see … 54 years have passed and they are messing us jobs, on suspicion of having participated in the coup. Those who ASSISTANT EDITOR about.” He then criticized Brussels’ failure to keep its promise on have been dismissed include a third of the judiciary, a tenth of Aram Arkun everything from a visa deal to aid for Syrian migrants. the police force, 7,800 military officers, more than 8,000 aca-

ART DIRECTOR For Europe, Turkey is the necessary evil to execute any plan demics and 33,000 teachers. As well, 942 companies have been Marc Mgrditchian concocted in the West to deal with the crises in the Middle East. seized. But for Ankara, assuming that role comes with the entitlement The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists calls of joining Europe, a dream which has kept Turkey languishing at Turkey the world’s biggest jailer of journalists, with 160 the gates of Europe for a long time. detained. It is characteristic of Turks to conquer nations and usurp their Under Erdogan’s emergency rule, the police do not need any SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: wealth as they have done to the Armenians and the Byzantines. proof to arrest journalists as “terrorists” or “terrorist sympathiz- Edmond Y. Azadian Since Fatih Sultan Muhammed conquered Constantinople in ers.” 1453, the eyes of the Ottoman rulers have been set on Europe. A report by the Venice Commission of the EU found that the CONTRIBUTORS: But the invasion of Suleyman the Magnificent was stopped at constitutional amendments were “a dangerous step backwards” Florence Avakian, Dr. Haroutiun the gates of Vienna in 1529, as the Frankish warrior Charles and “degenerative of Turkey’s constitutional democratic tradi- Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Diana Martel had stopped the Muslim armed expansion to the North at tion.” Der Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, the Battle of Tours in 732 AD. Kevork Keushkerian, Harut Sassounian, Alarmed by those developments, the European parliament Hagop Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian However, the Turks kept the Balkan nations under their rule voted (477 out of 638 members) to suspend accession negotia- for more than four centuries leaving a legacy of death and tions with Turkey, which was a resounding “no” to Erdogan’s CORRESPONDENTS: destruction to this day. dictatorship. Armenia - Hagop Avedikian Thus far, Europe has been saved from the menace of Erdogan has given the EU an ultimatum, that if that body does Boston - Nancy Kalajian Turkification, but no one knows for how long. Turkish leaders not continue the negotiation process, then Turkey will simply New York/New Jersey - Marylynda do not mince their words. Their intentions are crystal clear. walk away. However, in a statement, the European Chief Jean- Bozian-Cruickshank When President Erdogan orders every Turkish family to have at Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach Claude Juncker announced that the EU remained committed to least five children in Europe “who even- Contributing Photographers: tually will decide the destiny of Europe,” Jacob Demirdjian and Jirair Hovsepian then the handwriting is on the wall for everyone to see. He also blackmails European leaders by letting them know that if they don’t give in to his wishes, The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is published weekly, except two weeks in July and the first they will no longer walk safely in their week of the year, by: streets. Yet, European leaders kowtow to Erdogan driven by a civilized code of Baikar Association, Inc. conduct. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-1509 Turkey is polarized demographically. Telephone: 617-924-4420 There is a segment of society that has FAX: 617-924-2887 given the world top notch, world-class lit- www.mirrorspectator.com erature, such as Orhan Pamuk, who E-Mail: [email protected] received the Nobel Prize for Literature, For advertising: [email protected] and then there is another segment of society, jingoists and religious fanatics living in the backwaters. When the Islamic mobs vote for the likes of Erdogan to assume the powers of a dic- tator, the first casualties are those in the SUBSCRIPTION RATES : first segment, with many living in self- imposed exile abroad or languishing in Erdogan’s overfilled jails. U.S.A. $80 a year Of course, there is a third segment in Canada $125 a year between, namely the Kurds, who consti- tute fully one third of the population and who aspire to autono- a dialogue with Turkey and asked Ankara to strengthen its Other Countries $190 a year my or independence. democracy, adding at the end, “If Turkey were to introduce the But Erdogan is riding high in Turkey, projecting his arrogance death penalty, the Turkish government would finally slam the towards Europe. door to EU membership.” Now, it remains to be seen who will blink first. If we remember © 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator In the current state of affairs, Europeans see very clearly that Erdogan’s standoffs with Israeli leader Benyamin Netanyahu and Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA once they open the floodgates in front of the Turks, the likeli- Russian President Vladimir Putin, it will not be hard to guess his and additional mailing offices. hood of European Turkification is more than Turkey’s Europeanization. moves. ISSN 0004-234X On July 15, President Erdogan and his AKP ruling party used Turkey’s relations with its neighbors and faraway nations the anniversary of the botched coup to flex their muscles. undoubtedly affect Armenia. The Russo-Turkish rapproche- ment will certainly make it more conduce for Moscow to tram- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Erdogan needed to demonstrate his bravura to his domestic foes Armenian Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount Auburn as well as his European challengers. Indeed, a few weeks ago, ple Armenia’s interests. Similarly, Turkey’s admission into the St., Watertown, MA 02472 Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, leader of the Republican People’s party and EU will have negative fallout for Armenia. Many pundits and Other than the editorial, views and opinions Erdogan’s main opponent, has called the putsch a “controlled statesmen in Armenia believe that Turkey’s entry into the EU expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily coup.” will enforce Ankara to behave with more civility with its reflect the policies of the publisher. Kiliçdaroglu had walked from Ankara to Istanbul to protest neighbors. They also advocate that with Turkey’s admission the president’s repressive rule. It was a walk longer than that of into the EU, Europe’s borders will extend all the way to Mahatma Gandhi when he protested British rule over India. Armenia, therefore Ankara will no longer be able to blockade Upon arriving in Istanbul, Kiliçdaroglu gave a scathing speech Armenia. Copying for other than personal use or to a crowd of 1.5 million. To outdo this challenge, Erdogan ral- But precedents vigorously discourage such theories. It suffices internal reference is prohibited without lied a crowd 5-million strong at the Istanbul Bridge, which hence- to mention that Turkey and Greece are members of NATO and express permission of the copyright forth has been renamed the July 15 Martyrs Bridge, to give his yet Ankara continuously bullies Athens, has occupied Cyprus owner. Address requests for reprints or fiery speech. and fellow NATO members cannot budge Turkey from its arro- back issues to: He walked through the crowd, protected by a police force of gant position. Therefore, joining the EU can hardly serve 25,000. Then he flew to Ankara to continue the commemoration Armenia’s interests. Turkey will always force its way, it will try to Baikar Association, Inc. in the parliament, which had been bombed during the coup, at eat its cake and have it, while Europe looks the other way. 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472- 1509 S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 19 COMMENTARY

controlling everything from Traveler assistance to ticket sales tens of millions of dollars.” This is surely an underesti- to duty-free stores are all owned by SW Holding,” according mate, given the lack of concrete figures. However, just the to Ismayilova. fact that Aliyev’s three children own property in Dubai SW Holding also owns Silk Way Bank which is owned by worth $75 million, President Aliyev’s wealth could be safe- President Aliyev’s then 21-year old daughter Arzu Aliyeva ly estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars if My Turn and Zarifa Hamzayeva, wife of president of Azerbaijan’s not in the billions of dollars! Contrary to Azerbaijani law, AZAL state airline company, according to RFE’s Azerbaijani neither President Aliyev nor his wife has declared their By Harut Sassounian Service. Silk Way Airlines is also a part owner of the Silk net worth. Way Bank. Under Azerbaijani law, public officials are prohibited from Aliyev Family’s Financial Role In Interestingly, Ismayilova reports that “the rise of SW owning businesses, while family members are exempt from Holding, which has seamlessly absorbed many of AZAL’s for- this restriction, a loophole exploited by the Aliyevs to hide Shipping Weapons to Terrorists mer businesses, has raised questions about dubious privati- their earnings in their children’s holdings. Just Arzu Aliyeva’s zation practices in Aliyev’s Azerbaijan. It also serves to part ownership of the Silk Way Bank is worth over $12 mil- Last week I wrote about the sensational revelations by underscore how the political elite continues to use close lion. According to RFE, “presidential secretary Azer Gasimov Bulgarian investigative journalist Dilyana Gaytandzhieva in friends and family members to preserve its hold on the coun- confirmed that Arzu Aliyeva was one of the owners of the Trud newspaper, who reported on leaked documents that try’s most valuable assets —despite Azerbaijani laws that list Silk Way Bank.” Azerbaijan’s state-run Silk Way Airlines has shipped under nepotism by state officials as an offense punishable by up to Gulu Khalilov, the spokesman for the State Committee on diplomatic cover 350 planeloads of heavy weapons and 12 years in jail.” Privatization of State Property, told RFE that he had no ammunition to terrorist groups around the world during the President Ilham Aliyev is simply continuing the practice information on the privatization of AZAL, the state airline last three years. started by his father Heydar Aliyev, who after ruling company, including its holdings, like AZAL Bank. RFE was A report by Radio Free Europe’s (RFE) Azeri investigative Azerbaijan for two decades passed the Presidential baton to told that none of the legal procedures for privatization were reporter Khadija Ismayilova, who has been jailed for her dis- his son. In a constitutional referendum in 2009, term limits followed. closures of Azerbaijan government’s human rights abuses, on the President were abolished making Ilham Aliyev “In the meantime, SW Holding has slowly but steadily has revealed in a 2010 report on President Aliyev’s daughter, President for Life! Not to take any chances, he recently acquired nearly all of AZAL’s former companies, including Arzu Aliyeva’s part ownership of a company that is linked to appointed his wife, Mehriban Aliyeva, as Vice President, to the insurance firm AZAL Sigorta, which is now co-owned by Silk Way Airlines. This fact explains how the airline managed become his possible successor. SW Holding and the two daughters of Jahangir Asgarov, the to get all the diplomatic clearances to ship such large quan- As I had reported earlier, based on an article in The president of AZAL and the husband of Zarifa Hamzayeva, tities of weapons to terrorists. Washington Post,” President Aliyev’s preteen son, Heydar, the current co-owner of Silk Way Bank,” according to It turns out that Silk Way Airlines belongs to SW Holding, was the legal owner of nine luxury mansions in Dubai pur- Ismayilova. “SW Holding has also been the sole contractor a group of companies that “enjoys a near-complete monopoly chased for $44 million. President’s two daughters, Arzu on a number of high-profile AZAL projects, including airport- of airline service,” including mid-flight meals served by Sky and Leyla, also own property in Dubai. The three children construction deals in Lankaran, Ganja and Zagatala worth a Catering, and taxi service run by Airport Gate, both of which together own property in Dubai worth $75 million. total of $150 million.” are owned by SW Holding. In addition, technical mainte- Obviously this is not money they earned nor did their par- President Aliyev and his family must be held responsible as nance of the national carrier’s planes and helicopters are car- ents! President Aliyev’s annual salary is $230,000. part owners of a state-run airline that ships sophisticated ried out by Silkway Technics, and “multiple other companies Ismayilova estimates President Alyev’s wealth to be “in weapons to terrorists around the world!

Town Hall Forums Why This Administration and Its Can Educate Public on Opponents Need to See Our Movie Armenian Genocide In viewing the dramatic film “The Promise” I can say that finally in my lifetime I’ve seen a By Dr. Eric Esrailian horrors etched on the hearts of every Armenian. False promises by motivating movie that tells the world of the politicians of both political parties have the eroded confidence of forgotten genocide of the Armenian people. The world has been fighting for the recognition of the Armenian not just Armenian Americans, but that of educated observers from The Genocide for years. At a time when some global politicians are once all backgrounds, with respect to the motivations behind people seek- Hollywood again stoking the flames of populist nationalism, as a direct descen- ing elected office. We can start to change that perception by stand- By Mitch Kehetian film did not dent of survivors, my fight to Keep the Promise and never stay silent ing up for decency and the truth. take theater has made me a canary in this coal mine. The horrific treatment of Native Americans and African audiences For the last seven years, thanks to the support and encourage- Americans still has painful effects and repercussions today in our by storm at the box office, but it was first class ment of my late friend and mentor Kirk Kerkorian, I have been country. As Americans, we have a golden opportunity to own up to in acting and in delivering the message that inspired to tell our story of the Armenian Genocide. Our greatest that history, instead of glossing over it, to avoid repeating the same the Ottoman Turkish government in 1915 challenge was how to make this film relevant to my fellow mistakes. As “The Promise” demonstrates, it is through the lens of sought to destroy the Armenians of western Americans. Now, with the effects of the rising nationalism — not just history’s darker periods that we can bear witness to the actions of occupied Armenia. in this country but around the world as well — our story couldn’t be our everyday heroes and the greatest values we espouse. Desmond Within four years more than 1.5 million more timely as it awaits its release. “The Promise” is not just a tale Tutu once said: “We learn from history that we don’t learn from his- Armenians had been massacred by the Turkish of tragedy. It also demonstrates love, hope, the plight of refugees, tory!” The same patterns of genocide have occurred again and government through every means possible to and the kindness of brave individuals helping those in danger. It is again: dehumanize a group of people, rationalize mistreatment erase any trace that Armenians had lived on inspired by the testimonies of those who survived the horrific towards them citing war and matters of security, and eventually, the Anatolian Peninsula since 500 B.C. Genocide of Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. cleanse an entire population. Though “The Promise” had its moments of In fact, the term “genocide” was created by Polish lawyer Raphael In 2017, the perpetrators of human rights violations, and the com- romance, its ending brought tears to Lemkin in 1944, in referencing the Armenian experience and the plicit denialists who fuel and support them, are not using lasers, Armenian audiences. It reflected what they Holocaust. However, denialists and human rights abusers have cre- robots, and instruments out of a science fiction film. They are using had learned in childhood from grandparents ated revisionist arguments to throw up a smokescreen and deny the the same narratives, rationalizations, and sadly, barbaric tactics. who had survived or had families erased from application of the word to the very events that defined it. Let that Nazi Germany. Cambodia. Bosnia. Darfur. Rwanda. And now Syria. the face of the earth. sink in for a moment...or 102 years worth of moments. However, the We will remain silent no longer. We must keep the promise to live But the story mission of ‘The Promise’ - like narrative of the Armenian Genocide is not only about its 1.5 million on, tell their stories, lead by example and to stand up not just for all movies - fades with time. victims or the hundreds of thousands of Greeks and Assyrians who ourselves — but for anyone whose rights are suppressed — until this How do we keep alive the flame of justice? were murdered. Just as important are the Genocide’s nearly half a vicious cycle of fear and inhumanity is broken. How do we explain why did the Turks destroy million survivors, whose cautionary tales of targeted raids, sup- For all of these reasons, I urge the President, his followers, and our nation? Was the genocide a religious jihad pressed rights, mass deportations, starvation, concentration and his opponents to see The Promise. No political party is blameless by Muslim Turks against Christian Armenia? slave labor camps, and mass killings reverberated in places such as here, and everyone needs to look in the mirror. I have seen These and many more may have triggered the Germany, Bosnia, and Rwanda, and continue to echo today within Republicans shout down refugees and journalists, and I have seen government’s order for what is now known as the refugee camps of those now fleeing South Sudan, Myanmar, and Democrats support a show called “The Young Turks” — named after the first genocide of the 20th century, Syria. the murderous masterminds of the Armenian Genocide. I urge them But how many persons of Armenian origin There are currently more than 65 million displaced people world- all to direct any emotions “The Promise” stirs towards healing divi- know the answers to the handful of questions wide. Eleven million of these refugees are Syrian, making the Syrian sions and protecting the marginalized. In this current political cli- we’ve addressed? Civil War the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II. The mate, our film is a warning for how a civilized nation can be driven If we fail to educate ourselves then how do world is now descending into fear of diversity. In many ways, today’s by fear and rhetoric to commit unfathomable acts such as those we teach those who don’t even know where anti-immigrant, anti-refugee rhetoric of extreme nationalist politi- committed against my ancestors by the Ottoman Empire. However, Armenia exists, and why we annually honor cians around the globe recalls the rhetoric utilized by the Ottoman our film is much more than a glimpse into the dark period of the the memory of the April 24, 1915 genocide? Empire against Armenians. In both cases, systematic discrimination Genocide. It is a window into the humanity of our once marginalized When a child asks “why” did they kill the is rationalized within the context of war and the fear for national culture and the spirit that remains in spite of persecution: survival, Armenians” we answer. Well we try. security. Silence, indifference, and denial of past atrocities only resilience, love, family, and charity. While we suffered greatly at the In viewing “The Promise” that same ques- encourages and rewards this behavior. History has taught us that hands of some, we also benefitted from the kindness of others. In tion arises from non-Armenians. Why? security and compassion are not diametrically opposed. In fact, one this way, what “The Promise” ultimately shows, is that despite all Presently several states, including Michigan, cannot exist without the other. odds...the best parts of humanity still find a way to shine through. have embarked on public school education The Genocide is not a matter of historical debate. We all know it lessons focusing on the Jewish Holocaust and happened. The denialists know it as well as anyone else, and they (Dr. Eric Esrailian is a producer, known for the films “The the Armenian genocide. But we need to have carefully wiped the crime scene down for 102 years. Offering Promise” and “Intent to Destroy.” He currently serves as the co-man- expand the concept but first we must educate descendants of victims an “opportunity” to relive their family’s pain ager for production company Survival Pictures, and is a member of our own people. We can’t just claim they through kangaroo courts is insulting and naive. Government recog- the faculty at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. This killed us because we were Christians. The nition will help healing, but it will not bring back the dead or erase commentary originally appeared on The Huffington Post.) see FORUM, page 20 20 S ATURDAY, J ULY 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

Armenia Still Interested in Nuclear Power Town Hall Forums

YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The Armenian gov- Can Educate Public ernment has not abandoned its ambitious plans to build a new nuclear power station in place of On Armenian the aging plant at Metsamor, Deputy Prime Minister Vache Gabrielian said on July 14. Genocide President Serzh Sargsyan pledged to replace Metsamor, which generates roughly a FORUM, from page 19 third of Armenia’s electricity, with a modern Turks are taught Armenians sided with the facility meeting safety standards, shortly Russian forces and both sides suffered in after taking office in 2008. The project never ensuing battles. got off the drawing board as his government We need to be more effective in our failed to attract an estimated $5 million need- debate for justice in a program designed ed for the new plant’s construction. to follow the format of a Town Hall forum The government decided instead to extend to emphasize the kind of viewpoints non- the life of Metsamor’s 420-megawatt reactor Armenians need to digest and grasp on by 10 years, until 2027. Russia is playing a why after 100 years we still seek justice. key role in this endeavor, having provided We can’t forgive modern Turkey Armenia with a $270 million loan and a $30 because Ankara says there was no geno- million grant in 2015. The money is due to be cide. mainly spent on the purchase of Russian When Turkey joined Germany as an ally nuclear equipment and additional safety mea- in World War I, it was still fearful of the sures that will be taken at the Soviet-era facil- Armenians calling for reform and state- ity located 35 kilometers west of Yerevan. hood. If the Turks and Germany lost, the “If we start the new nuclear plant’s con- Armenians could seize the opportunity to struction now it will not be timely,” Metsamor Nuclear Power plant proclaim statehood. But the Ottoman Gabrielian said in an interview. Work on the Turks heeded the direction offered by plant might only get underway in 2022 or Talaat, its minister of state. Rid the east- ern provinces of all existing Armenians. If 2023, he said. “In the coming years, much smaller and Visiting Armenia in April 2016, the first Turkey and Germany lose the war in The government initially planned that the cheaper nuclear plants will start going into deputy head of Russia’s state nuclear energy Europe, historic western Armenia will be a new plant would have a design capacity of service [around the world] in 50-megawatt agency Rosatom, Kirill Komarov, said that barren homeland without its ancient 1,000 megawatts. In Gabrielian’s words, it blocks,” the vice-premier went on. They could the authorities in Yerevan have yet to come inhabitants and no threat to the Turks. now believes that 600 megawatts is a more represent an even cheaper option for up with convincing “economic grounds” for And it worked. Turkey lost, but realistic and cost-effective target. Armenia, he said. implementing the expensive project. remained free of any Armenian claim for statehood even though President Woodrow Wilson had drafted a mandate for “Wilson Armenia” for the then victori- ous League of Nations. At the same time the small republic of Armenia of May 28,1918 was proclaimed in the region of Echmiadzin, Nakhichevan and Yerevan after stopping the Turkish army from absorbing the remaining parcel of Armenia. After 600 years of Turkish rule, Armenia was free again, though just a portion of historic Armenia. It also included the regions of Kars and Ardahan. Led by the Woodrow Wilson administra- tion, the newly born republic was recog- nized by the United States. But in 1920 Kemalist Turkey and Lenin’s Communist legions attacked the infant republic. The Turks seized Kars and Ardahan and were given passage to Azerbaijan through gerrymandering of boundaries. So when modern Turkey is confronted by most world governments that it com- mitted genocide, that it should acknowl- edge it happened . . . Turkey will not. Simply a question dealing with territo- ries it illegally seized. Not only historic western Armenia, but also Kars and Ardahan of the recognized May 28 repub- lic. And finally, we need the academic intel- lectual Armenian community to equate how the Armenian birth rate was aborted through the massacre of more than 1.5 million. Instead of 6 million worldwide, what would our present population be rated today? In addition, we need to offer expanded areas for discussion at Town Hall meetings that can be hosted by religious and social- fraternal organizations. “The Promise” was the beginning. Now it is our turn to keep the promise until justice is achieved. We can by responding accurately when asked why the Turks killed the Armenians. Town Hall sessions will help educate Armenian Americans to effectively explain how the genocide came about and why present-day Turkey refuses to admit it hap- pened. Coincidentally Turkey signed its approval to the genocide convention decree drafted for the United Nations. An admission of guilt opens the chan- nels to reparations and the return of seized territorial lands. (Mitch Kehetian is a retired editor of The Macomb Daily and former governing board trustee at Central Michigan University.)