MAY 12, 2018 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVIII, NO. 42, Issue 4537 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF Russian Base in Armenia Necessary for A Full Revolution Bilateral Relations – President Sarkissian YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Armenia is interested Pashinyan Becomes in the preservation of the Russian military base in the country, President Armen Sarkissian said in an Prime Minister interview with Echo of Moscow radio station. According to him, the presence of the Russian base in Armenia is necessary for Armenia and YEREVAN (Armenpress and RFE/RL) — the Armenian-Russian relations. The President The Armenian parliament voted to elect underlined that the base is necessary for the opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan prime preservation of the border between Armenia and minister on Tuesday, May 8, nearly one Turkey. “The Armenian army is very identical to month after he launched sustained anti- the Russian army. Russia supplies Armenia with government protests that led to resignation technical equipment. Armenia and Russia are of Armenia’s longtime leader, Serzh members of the same security organization,” Sargsyan. (See related story, page 4.) Sarkissian said. Pashinyan was backed by 59 of the 105 According to the President, the future prime members of the National Assembly. They minister must seriously engage in efforts to included 13 lawmakers representing ensure the security of the borders. Sargsyan’s Republican Party of Armenia Speaking about Pashinyan, Sarkissian empha- (HHK). Forty-two other HHK deputies sized that his meetings with the latter were very voted against him. constructive. “He is young and talented. He feels The HHK’s parliamentary leader, Vahram and manages the emotions, thoughts and desires of Baghdasarian, made clear just before the young and non-young people in a genius way. But vote that his party still has serious doubts Pashinyan and his inner circle after he was elected (Armenpress photo) this is one feature, but time will show what kind of about Pashinyan’s ability to govern prime minister he will be,” Sarkissian said. Armenia but will nonetheless help him become prime minister in order to restore “I will serve the people of Armenia and widely anticipated rise to power. “political stability” in the country. the Republic of Armenia,” Pashinyan Addressing the parliament before the Former Prime Minister “Mr. Pashinyan, you will be elected prime declared immediately after the vote which vote, Pashinyan pledged to implement minister … God willing, you will dispel the sparked jubilant scenes in Yerevan’s “very serious reforms” that would democ- Resigns, Congratulates lingering concerns of the HHK faction,” Republic Square where tens of thousands ratize Armenia, strengthen the rule of law said Baghdasarian. of his supporters gathered to celebrate his see PASHINYAN, page 3 Pashinyan YEREVAN (Public Radio of Armenia) — Acting Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan applied to President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Boston Renaissance Sarkissian with the request to terminate his duties as Acting First Deputy Prime Minister of Discusses Events in the Republic of Armenia. Karapetyan also asked to consider as terminated the fulfillment of his Armenia duties of Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. In an earlier Facebook post Karapetyan By Aram Arkun thanked everyone for criticism, for inspiring Mirror-Spectator Staff words and support. He expressed gratitude to the “descent and patriotic” government team, all professional, BELMONT, Mass. — The Armenian “daring and effective” young people that entered Renaissance movement Boston the state governance system during his tenure. chapter organized a discussion on the dra- “I congratulate the new Prime Minister. I sin- matic developments in Armenia on April 30, cerely wish him and all future Prime Ministers a day prior to a first attempt at parliamen- success, good results and tenure void of crises,” tary elections of a new prime minister. Five Karapetyan said. speakers, four living in the Boston area and “Aware of the hard and responsible work of the one from Armenia via Skype, provided their Gov. Charlies Baker, left, with host Raffi Festekjian Prime Minister, which requires lack of careless insights into the situation. days and nights, I offer our compatriots, jour- Martin Haroutunian, the representative nalists, social network users and political forces Boston Armenians Thank Governor Baker, of the Boston chapter of the Renaissance to criticize the Prime Minister without referring movement, which was formed about two Recognize Dr. Diran Apelian’s Achievements to their private life and family, but give advice years ago, welcomed the audience. and encourage him,” Karapetyan noted. WINCHESTER, Mass. — Armenians in the Haroutunian explained that Armenian By Aram Arkun Boston area gathered at the home of Raffi and Renaissance is a diasporan grassroots move- ment supporting the Founding Parliament Mirror-Spectator Staff Nina Festekjian on May 1 to thank Gov. Charles Baker for his support of the Armenian in Armenia and the current movements in community at the annual Armenian Genocide Armenia such as My Step and the INSIDE commemoration at the Massachusetts State House, concerning Armenia, and Revolution of Love and Solidarity, and advo- on many other issues. see BAKER, page 20 cating the release of all political prisoners in Armenia. The Boston chapter is part of a see RENAISSANCE, page 10 Tales of Diocesan Assembly Elects First American-Born Primate Passports WEST HARRISON, N. Y. – Mamigon Kiledjian did the same Page 13 The 116th Assembly of the By Aram Arkun afterwards, leaving only Very Rev. Eastern Diocese of the Mirror-Spectator Staff Oshagan Gulgulian as a candidate Armenian Church of America for the position of Primate, two on May 4 elected Very Rev. new candidates, Archbishop INDEX Daniel Findikyan as its new Primate. The elec- Vicken Aykazian and Findikyan, were proposed. Arts and Living . 13 tion took place at the Renaissance Westchester The assembled clergy endorsed all three candi- Armenia . 2-4 Hotel near White Plains. dates equally. Community News. 6 After Archbishop Khajag Barsamian unex- None of the three candidates were able to Editorial . 17 pectedly withdrew his candidacy a little over a achieve a majority in the first round of voting, International . 5 week ago, and second candidate, Very Rev. see PRIMATE, page 20 2 S ATURDAY, M AY 1 2 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia New Dean of General Education Georgia Sends And Director of EPIC Announced Congratulations YEREVAN — AUA is pleased to Kouchakdjian has joined AUA as its Start-Up/Business Plan competition in announce the appointment of new Director of Entrepreneurship and Armenia, which gave a number of TBILISI (Public Radio of Armenia) — Georgia’s Sharistan Melkonian as AUA’s first Product Innovation Center (EPIC). Armenia’s first startups the opportuni- Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has congratulat- Dean of General Education. “Michael is the ideal person to lead ty to be born soon after independence. ed Armenia’s newly-elected Prime Minister Nikol Born in Massachusetts, Sharistan EPIC. Over the years he has consider- Kouchakdjian earned his MBA from Pashinyam. Melkonian has lived in Los Angeles, able start-up and venture experience in the University of California, Los “Congratulations to the newly elected Prime New York, and Boston, where she was both Armenia and the US. He has an Angeles (UCLA) Anderson School of Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. I wish you all actively involved with a number of impressive track record of successfully Management in 1992 and his PhD in the best in your future endeavors. Georgia firmly sup- organizations, including St. Stephen’s executing the most challenging of pro- biochemistry and molecular biophysics ports and stands by brotherly Armenia. I believe Armenian Elementary School, the jects,” noted AUA President Dr. Armen from Columbia in 1990. He assumed strong ties and friendship between our countries will Armenian National Committee of Der Kiureghian. his position as director of EPIC on further deepen,” Kvirikashvili said in a Twitter post. America, Youth Policy Action Center, Kouchakdjian is a professor in AUA’s March 15. and Campaign for Youth. She spent College of Business and Economics Aurora Cofounders eight years as Legislative Director for teaching management and entrepre- YouthBuild USA, neurship. Congratulate Premier a national non- “Dr. Michael Kouchakdjian, while Pashinyan Aide profit organiza- teaching in the CBE, will be assuming YEREVAN — Aurora Prize co-founders Ruben tion providing the position of director of EPIC. Vardanyan and Noubar Afeyan have Reassures education, coun- Priorities will be to ensure synergies congratulated Nikol Pashinyan on his seling and job between the Center and all Colleges, election as Prime Minister of Armenia. Armenian Tycoons training to unem- engage experts in the public and pri- In a statement released on their website, the two ployed youth. vate sectors in mentoring student wrote, “We congratulate Nikol Pashinyan on his elec- YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — A close asso- Before joining teams, increase the number of external tion to the position of Prime Minister of the Republic ciate of Nikol Pashinyan has insisted the American commercial projects coming into EPIC, of Armenia and share the sense of urgency and deter- that wealthy businesspeople linked to University of and increase mination demonstrated by the