THE ARMENIAN Mirrorc SPECTATOR Since 1932

Volume LXXXXII, NO. 6, Issue 4698 AUGUST 28, 2021 $2.00 Ararat Mirzoyan Appointed Foreign Minister YEREVAN (RFE/RL) – Former Arme- At a May 31 farewell meeting with Pashinyan signed a decree on August 19 nian Parliament Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan the Armenian Foreign Ministry staff, reappointing Grigoryan as secretary of the has been appointed foreign minister by Ayvazyan signaled strong objections to Security Council. a decree signed August 19 by President Pashinyan’s policies relating to the Na- The government has not yet given any Armen Sarkissian upon the proposal of gorno-Karabakh conflict and national se- reasons for the reshuffle. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. curity. Explaining the reason for the delay in The post of Armenia’s foreign minister In mid-July Pashinyan relieved Armen the appointment of the new foreign min- remained vacant since late May when Ara Grigoryan of his duties as secretary of the ister, Ruben Rubinyan, a deputy speak- Ayvazyan resigned over apparent poli- Security Council. Grigoryan was later ap- er of the new Armenian parliament and cy disagreements with Pashinyan. All of pointed first deputy foreign minister act- senior figure in the Pashinyan-led Civil Ayvazyan’s four deputies followed suit. ing as foreign minister. see APPOINTMENT, page 4 Armenian Chess GM Elina Danielian Wins Europe’s Russia Dismisses Aliyev’s Call to Stop Individual Women’s Championship Arming Armenia By Haykaram Nahapetyan MOSCOW (RFE/RL) — Supplying Mirror-Spectator Video Correspondent weapons to other countries is Moscow’s sovereign right, a Russian Foreign Minis- IASHI, Romania — For the first time a wom- try spokeswoman said on August 19 when an grandmaster from Armenia has scored such a asked to comment on Azerbaijani President high-level victory: Elina Danielian became Europe’s Ilham Aliyev’s call to stop arming Arme- top woman chess player, winning the European In- nia. dividual Women’s Championship. The tournament In an interview to CNN Turk television kicked off in Romania’s Iashi (Jassy) on August on August 14 the Azerbaijani leader argued 9, played in 11 rounds, and finished on August 20. that while the Armenian people and their Among 117 players representing nearly 30 European leadership “have put up with the defeat” countries, Danielian came out first with seven victo- in last year’s Nagorno-Karabakh war with ries, four draws, and 0 defeats. Her opponents repre- Azerbaijan, continuing to arm Armenia ap- sented the notable women chess players of Ukraine, pears “illogical.” Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and other nations. Aliyev referred to the August 11 state- Elina was born in 1978 in Baku and left Soviet ment by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Azerbaijan because of anti-Armenian pogroms. Shoigu about the start of military supplies Melik Khachian, the Armenian-American coach to Armenia made during a meeting with his of the US Women’s National Chess Team, shared a Armenian counterpart Arshak Karapetyan similar fate and had to leave Baku in late 1988. He in Moscow. knew Elina from Baku, where she started her chess “We expect that Russia will stop arming career attending the classes of an Armenian coach. Armenia, we don’t see it at the moment,” “The European championship is a hardcore tourna- Aliyev said. ment. This was an awesome result. It’s always hard At a news briefing on August 19, Maria to play against the new generation because they Zakharova, an official representative of the are very motivated. They have stamina. This was Russian Foreign Ministry, said that Russia an unbelievable challenge,” said Khachian during a has supplied weapons not only to Arme- Zoom-based communication. nia, its key military and political ally in the see CHESS, page 4 South Caucasus, but also to Azerbaijan. “It is Russia’s sovereign right, and the Russian side always takes into account the Displaced Women from Artsakh Find Home in need to maintain a balance of military pow- er in the region,” she said. A Small Weaving Studio in Southern Armenia In an apparent reference to Aliyev’s re- By Lilit Shahverdyan GORIS, Armenia — “That’s how we became cent statements Zakharova also said that Special to the Mirror-Spectator refugees for the second time,” sums up Milena bellicose rhetoric does not help settle the Ordiyants, a 39-year-old Armenian woman re- situation, stressing that Moscow’s uncondi- cently displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). tional priority remains the implementation In her four decades, this woman has been forced to move twice, once from Baku of the trilateral agreements of the leaders (Azerbaijan) to Berdzor (Nagorno-Karabakh) and ultimately, finding temporary of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia from residence in Goris (southern Armenia). Due to the skills in carpet-making she November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021. acquired in her younger years, she is now getting back on her feet, supporting her The official representative of the Russian family financially and sharing her know-how with the women of her new commu- Foreign Ministry stressed that high-level nity. It´s a new awakening after a dreadful nightmare. contacts with Yerevan and Baku contin- On the morning of September 27, 2020, Baku launched a major offensive ue on a regular bases. As for the mostly non-public nature of these negotiations, Milena against Nagorno-Karabakh, continuing the longest-running unresolved dispute on Ordiyants the territory of the former Soviet Union. she said: “Simply, [publicity] may real- at work see WEAVING, page 3 ly get in the way of achieving sustainable see DISMISSAL, page 4

GYUMRI YEREVAN CALIFORNIA Ars Musica Brings Sasha Zaitseva: Ani Khodaverdian Grand Concert Harp Armenia in My Empowers, Educates, and to Gyumri Heart Inspires through Telo Jan

Page 3 Page 10 Page 8 2 SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

ARMENIA NEWS from ARMENIA 83 billion Drams in Aid to Removal of Opposition Lawmaker Sparks Artsakh So Far, Pashinyan Says Brawl in Armenian Parliament YEREVAN (Arka) —The gov- YEEVAN (RFE/RL) — Security guards ernment of Armenia has released so removed an opposition lawmaker from the far about 83 billion drams to finance parliament after she challenged Prime Min- various social-oriented programs ister Nikol Pashinyan during his presenta- in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), tion of a five-year government action plan Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Tuesday, August 24, sparking a brawl said on August 24 when presenting in the chamber. his government’s plan of actions Before putting her question to Pashin- designed for 2021-2026. yan, Anna Mkrtchyan, a member of the op- Earlier, the government in Yere- position Pativ Unem faction, criticized the van pledged to allocate more than prime minister for entering the parliament 175 billion drams to Artsakh to chamber with his bodyguards, something finance various social programs. that she said was unprecedented for Arme- The beneficiaries of one of the pro- nia’s National Assembly. grams are about 104,000 residents Mkrtchyan said that the presence of of Artsakh, who have been receiv- whom she described as “okhranniks” ing monthly payments of 68,000 (guards) using a Russian word in the par- drams. liament chamber was now a reality that re- Under another program, the Ar- mained unseen for the public at large. menian government is assisting the Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan in- government in Nagorno-Karabakh terrupted the opposition lawmaker, called to meet its financial obligations and on her to exercise restraint and formally compensate for property losses of reprimanded her. legal entities resulting from last au- During a debate in parliament earlier this Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan tumn’s 44-day. month Simonian had already once repri- The third program includes as- manded Mkrtchyan for speaking impolite- Abrahamyan, inquired from Prime Minis- would say that they even reacted softly,” he sistance to building houses for fam- ly about the prime minister and calling him ter Pashinyan what he thought about the said. ilies who lost their homes during a defeatist, depriving her of the floor and remarks made by his fellow party mem- Mkrtchyan reacted to the prime minis- the war. ordering her removal from the chamber. bers against Mkrtchyan. Pashinyan replied ter’s words from her seat, after which Par- Another Pativ Unem lawmaker, Tigran that his partisans reacted with restraint. “I liament Speaker Simonian ordered security Armenia Reports Record guards to remove the opposition lawmaker Daily Covid-19 Cases from the hall. “I ask the security to escort Ms. Mkrt- YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN. chyan out in accordance with Article 52 of Net) — The number of confirmed the Rules of Procedure,” said Simonian, coronavirus infections in Armenia announcing a 20-minute break. grew by 537 to reach 238,422 on The entry of security guards into the the morning of August 24, accord- chamber sparked a brawl between them ing to the Health Ministry. and representatives of Pativ Unem and the Fresh figures also revealed that other opposition faction, Hayastan. 226 more people recovered, six When the session resumed, Hayastan’s patients died from Covid-19, while lawmaker Artur Ghazinyan accused Pash- one person carrying the virus died inyan of provoking the incident with his from other causes in the past 24 remarks. Pashinyan later dismissed that ac- hours. cusation repeated by another Hayastan fac- So far, 224,719 people have re- tion member Artsvik Minasyan, saying that covered, 4,768 have died from the security guards and the parliament speaker coronavirus in the country, while have been doing their duty. 1,148 others carrying the virus MP Anna Mkrtchyan have died from other causes. Armenia Plans to Attract Armenian Ministry Vows ‘Consequences’ For Officers Responsible For Army Deaths More Women into Military YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The army of- published yet. It is only reported that he is a the proper organization of military service. YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN. ficers responsible for the latest incident in native of Armenia’s Gegharkunik province. “There are issues related to the organi- Net) — The Armenian authorities the ranks in which three conscripts were Out of 44 army deaths reported in Arme- zation of military service. They have been plan to attract more women into allegedly killed by their fellow serviceman nia since the beginning of this year 35 were continuous, and we have continuously the country’s armed forces, Prime will suffer consequences, the Armenian non-combat deaths. raised our concerns. Unfortunately, we Minister Nikol Pashinyan told the Ministry of Defense said on August 20. Human rights activist Artur Sakunts, who haven’t seen necessary actions that would parliament on Tuesday, August 24. It gave no names, but media reports sug- has dealt with the issue of army deaths for have changed the situation and reduced the According to Pashinyan, “certain gested that the commander of the Goris years, described it as an alarming statistics number of non-combat deaths,” Sakunts forces” are trying to present the military unit where the incident happened that reveals a long-standing problem with said. army reform agenda as an attempt and the head of the local military police de- to shift to an aggressive policy, as a partment have already been fired. willingness to start a war. Three 19-year-old conscripts were found “This is not true. Armenia, like dead at the Kornidzor military base in the Ararat Mirzoyan Appointed Foreign Minister any other peaceful country, will southern Syunik province in the early hours APPOINTMENT, from page 1 boost the armed forces not for ag- of August 19, triggering suspicions about a Contract party, in an interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian Service earlier this gression, but for the protection of possible Azerbaijani commando raid. month dismissed media reports that the prime minister was having second thoughts its sovereignty. Armenia is not go- The Ministry of Defense, however, al- about Grigoryan’s appointment because it is opposed by Russia. “There are and ing to fight and seize territories,” he most immediately dismissed such a version there can be no differences [with Moscow,]” he said. said. of events, saying that based on the prelim- Grigoryan for years worked for a Western-funded Armenian civic group and crit- Pashinyan noted that Armenia inary information there was no indication icized Russia prior to joining Pashinyan’s political team in 2018. will gradually switch to a profes- that the incident was connected with any Like Grigoryan, the new foreign minister, Mirzoyan, was also one of the leaders sional army, while the structure of attack by the Azerbaijani military. of Armenia’s 2018 street protests that brought Pashinyan to power. conscription will change signifi- Later on August 19, the Investigative The 41-year-old politician has no experience in diplomatic service. He served as cantly. In a professional army, he Committee said another conscript from the speaker of the parliament of the previous convocation that was dissolved in May said, soldiers remain on duty 24 same military unit had been arrested on paving the way for snap parliamentary elections amid a political crisis triggered by hours a day, but instead of the bor- suspicion of killing the three soldiers. Armenia’s defeat in last year’s war against Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. der they are sent to places of per- No motives for the killings have been In the early hours on November 10, 2020, shortly after the announcement of a manent deployment. The author- reported yet. Investigators continue to Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement with Azerbaijan requiring significant con- ities believe that the protection of look into the case as part of a criminal case cessions from Armenia, Mirzoyan was attacked by an angry mob as protesters op- the border should be carried out by launched on an article dealing with the posing the deal seized the parliament building. Mirzoyan then was hospitalized with border troops. murder of two or more persons. serious injuries. The full name of the suspect has not been SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 3

ARMENIA Ars Musica Brings Grand Concert Harp to Gyumri

By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach Concert Harp. This was a gift from the Special to the Mirror-Spectator chorus, together with the Mirak-Weissbach Foundation and the Halle Rotary Club. The GYMRI —Sunday, August 22. Gyum- conservatory in Gyumri, a branch of the ri, in the Black Fortress. About 300 guests Yerevan State Conservatory after Komi- gathered for a very special event. Ars Mu- tas, had been eager to offer instruction in sica, a renowned men’s chorus from Ger- the classical harp, and needed an appro- many, was on a concert tour in Armenia, priate instrument. Ars Musica raised funds having already performed in Tatev, Yere- through benefit concerts in Germany and van and at the Geghard monastery. After the other partners contributed donations. Gyumri, they would continue with perfor- The German male chorus presented mances in Gavar, the Sevanavank monas- a magnificent program with works by tery, Litschk and Echmiadzin. Germans, including Mendelssohn and Coming at the middle of their tour, Schubert, as well as Armenian composers, Gyumri actually represented a high point. all in the original language. Attending the The city has been officially designated as Gyumri concert were representatives of a sister city to Halle, in Saxon Anhalt, the the municipality and conservatory. German first Armenian city to establish such a part- Ambassador to Armenia Dr. Michael Ban- nership with a German counterpart. And, zhaf and Cultural Attaché Jakob Ziegler to celebrate the historic event, the Gyum- were among the honored guests. Alexan ri conservatory received a Venera Grand Ter-Minasyan, Honorary German Consul, Members of Ars Musica perform in Gyumri.

appeared on stage at the end of the concert together with Thorsten Weiss, Chairman of Ars Musica, to officially present the harp. Conservatory director Hasmik Harutyu- nyan delivered a certificate of authenticity to choir conductor Maik Gruchenberg and a medal, created from a bullet by Gyumri artist Artak Tadevosyan. The gathering had an opportunity to hear from the new arrival — the magnificent in- strument — as it made its Armenian debut at the conclusion of the festivities. To view clips of the concert, go to: https://fb.watch/7zEIjbt4Tp/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?ap- p=desktop&v=1Us8kEtIiFc&feature=you- tu.be&fbclid=IwAR0smgIgug7Uz2JFM- From left,Hasmik Harutyunyan (conservatory director), Alexan Ter-Minasyan, jfi6Sku6iLjnX-xZ2pRikujC0BpBLS6jJt- Performing on the new harp Thorsten Weiss, Maik Gruchenberg Vj_dd1Yc

Displaced Women from Artsakh Find Home in a Small Weaving Studio in Southern Armenia WEAVING, from oage 1 opened by the Goris Women’s Resource the displaced. your own child is in the hot spot,” says “Like hundreds of thousands of Arme- Development Center, a local NGO, right “The International Committee of the Red Heriqnaz, with a distraught, unsettled gaze. nians, we moved to Armenia from Baku in after the recent war, providing women with Cross (ICRC) donated weaving machines Heriqnaz made her new home in Berdzor 1988, when the Nagorno-Karabakh con- work and tranquil ambience while helping and looms to our educational center in Ver- 17 years ago, and has put all her efforts into flict first ignited,” says the woman. Later, them recover from shock. ishen. With the support of the women from building a house for her family. She says she got married and resettled in Berdzor, a New Opportunities Artsakh, we managed to prepare more than material losses mean nothing for her, that small town that bridges Armenia and Na- The estimated Armenian population of 700 beddings, around 80 pregnancy kits and she only feels despair for losing her youth gorno-Karabakh. That’s where she learned Nagorno-Karabakh was 147,000 before the 300 hygiene kits,” added the official. The and energy in Berdzor. the techniques of carpet-weaving and sew- war. According to a report by international center has received funding from the Near “We saw no luxury in Berdzor, never ing. When the war started last September, agencies released in December 2020 which East Foundation (an international NGO travelled abroad, were never well-dressed, Milena says she didn’t even think of leav- relies on estimates of the Artsakh authori- based in the US which has a branch in Ar- but we had a roof over our head, and it kept ing the town despite the constant bombard- ties, the conflict forced more than 90,000 menia), due to which the women were able us on our feet,” adds Heriqnaz. “Now we ments by the Azerbaijani armed forces. from Karabakh to relocate to the Republic to satisfy their basic material needs. They left our best years there, and there’s no guar- “I wasn’t scared because all my relatives of Armenia. However, circumstances have also made socks and hats for Armenian sol- antee of safety anywhere else. I don’t want and beloved ones were there with me. The changed since then. Mane Tandilyan, the diers in winter. to start from scratch again.” government encouraged women and chil- minister of labor of the Artsakh Republic, “What inspires me most is the women’s She received a phone call from the Goris dren to evacuate, but how could I when my indicates on her Facebook account that willingness to work. When they visit our municipality, offering material support. In- father, my husband, and brothers were at the the return of the displaced was carried out center, they do not ask for material sup- stead, she insisted in finding a job. “I needed frontline,” she recalls. very quickly, and over 120,000 Armenians port; they ask for a job. It is due to the unity work to calm down my inner world and find After the war, the status of this little town live today in Artsakh. However, many, like and interpersonal connection that our com- peace within myself, not to earn money,” was left uncertain. The mayor, Narek Alex- Milena, have chosen to stay in Armenia un- munity is gradually recovering,” stressed she said. anyan, announced in December 2020 that til the dust settles. Torozyan. Repopulating Berdzor is a policy issue only around one hundred people currently “I saw on Facebook that children were Around 40 of those women have partic- which hasn’t been resolved so far. There- inhabit Berdzor, whereas the population learning handwork in the center. Since I am ipated in courses on hairstyling, makeup, fore, Heriqnaz and many others are unable reached 2,000 before September 2020. The experienced in sewing and carpet weaving, cooking and handicrafts. Those skills have to determine their future at the moment. The presence of Russian peacekeepers doesn’t I decided to join them,” remembers Mile- enabled many of the members to earn a liv- woman is the breadwinner of her family inspire hope in the local population, as na. “I didn’t expect to earn money in the ing. and partly meets her needs due to the job Azerbaijani armed forces are deployed too studio. I only needed it for peace of mind.” An Uncertain Future she found at the Women’s Resource Center. close to the border. Apparently, their work has attracted many Heriqnaz Hakobyan, 42, is another dis- She is comfortable with weaving since she Like many other displaced families, the customers from abroad. placed woman from Berdzor as well as the mastered the skills from her childhood, and Ordiyants settled in Goris (southern Arme- “Our center immediately responded to mother of a soldier in the recent war. She now is sharing her experience with local nia) in November 2020 due to its proxim- the war, collaborating with the municipality was born in the Vayk region of Armenia but children. ity to Nagorno Karabakh. Milena and her of Goris,” says the NGO executive director found herself in Berdzor after getting mar- Since the destiny or Berdzor is still un- husband worked for the Ministry of Emer- Ruzanna Torozyan. “Our goal was to ar- ried. An important factor creates a bond be- clear, it´s impossible for both women to de- gency Situations in Artsakh. Their branch range responsibilities and support the mu- tween her and Milena: they were among the cide on their own fates. Heriqnaz says she´s in Berdzor was moved to Lisagor village nicipality. We provided the displaced wom- very few women who took the risk of stay- happy to stay if she can make ends meet. in Artsakh after the war, so that employees en with first aid and psychological support ing in their hometown throughout the war. Milena, however, sees it from another an- would not be deprived of income. Her hus- in cooperation with international NGOs.” “My son was on the frontline during the gle, stating: “If I accept compensation for band now commutes to Lisagor to work, Torozyan also emphasized the significant war, so I had no moral right to move out. I a house from the government, it will mean while she has found peace in a little stu- contribution of such organizations when it was there praying for my son, for all the sol- that I will ultimately hand the keys of my dio in Verishen village, near Goris. It was comes to finding jobs and opportunities for diers. But the pressure is more intense when house to the enemy.” 4 SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Pashinyan to Visit Georgia Pashinyan Advocates Opening Up Transport On September 8 YEREVAN (Arka) — Armenian Links, Rejects ‘Corridor’ for Azerbaijan Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The unblock- over Nagorno-Karabakh mostly on Baku’s risks for Armenia’s interests. will pay an official visit to Georgia ing of transport links in the region should terms commits the sides to unblocking all “That is why we have mentioned in the on September 8 he announced this be one of the priorities of Armenia’s for- economic and transport links in the region. government’s program that while this un- week. eign policy, but should not come at the The document specifically refers to a link blocking should be one of the priorities “I would like to emphasize Geor- expense of the security and vital interests between mainland Azerbaijan and its west- of Armenia’s foreign policy, the process gian Prime Minister Irakli Garib- of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, Prime ern exclave of Nakhichevan. should not take place at the expense of ashvili’s efforts to intensify the Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on August Azerbaijan has interpreted this provision the security and vital interests of Arme- Armenian-Georgian economic co- 24. as an opportunity to get a corridor via Ar- nia and Artsakh (the Armenian name for operation, as well as his personal In presenting his government’s action menia’s southern Syunik region to Nakh- Nagorno-Karabakh),” Pashinyan said. “If contribution to the organization of plan for 2021-2026 in the National Assem- ichevan and farther to Turkey. Armenia has we want to create a favorable regional en- the return of 15 Armenian prisoners bly, Pashinyan spoke about opportunities insisted, however, that no transport link vironment around Armenia, we ought to of war from Azerbaijani captivity of ending Armenia’s transport blockade should have the status of a corridor. make Armenia a favorable environment for on June 12,” he said. that has lasted for three decades due to a “This is a serious opportunity to break the region, but on the principle of reciproc- protracted conflict with Azerbaijan over the blockade of the Republic of Armenia ity -- no more, no less. This is our strategic Nagorno-Karabakh. that has been going on for about 30 years. security challenge.” Report: Turkey Abused One of the provisions of the November This is not a simple process; it is aggra- The Armenian premier said that stabili- Interpol for Transnational 9, 2020 trilateral statement of the leaders vated by the provocative statements of the ty and peace in the region are his govern- of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia that Azerbaijani side about corridors,” Pashin- ment’s long-term strategy, while the deep- Repression put an end to six weeks of deadly fighting yan said in parliament, again emphasizing ening and normalization of relations with STOCKHOLM (PanArmenian. that neither the November 9, 2020 nor the neighboring countries will be one of the Net) — The Stockholm Center for January 11, 2021 trilateral statements con- major directions of its foreign policy. Freedom has published a report it tain any expression, reference or wording “The deepening of hostility is a threat released on August 24 that focus- Russia Dismisses about a corridor through the territory of to the stability and security of the region. es on how the Turkish government, Armenia. Overcoming hostility can become an axis under President Recep Tayyip Er- Aliyev’s Call To Stop “It is about something else. Just as Arme- of the regional foreign policy agenda,” doğan, has abused Interpol in a nia should get a road through Azerbaijan to Pashinyan said. number of ways. Arming Armenia be linked with Russia and Iran, so Azerbai- Pashinyan also said that it is necessary to The Erdoğan government has DISMISSAL, from page 1 jan should get a road through Armenia as a start the process of border delimitation and used the International Notice Sys- results. And in this regard, I would like transport link between its western regions demarcation with Azerbaijan as soon as tem, such as Red Notices and diffu- to note the absolute counter-productive- and Nakhichevan,” the Armenian prime possible, for which purpose he again called sions, to target political opponents ness of confrontational rhetoric, let alone minister said. for a mutual withdrawal of Armenian and who have done nothing more than bellicose rhetoric, which political leaders Pashinyan acknowledged that opening Azerbaijani forces from areas near the criticize the government. Similarly, in the South Caucasus sometimes resort up regional transport links contains certain Sotk-Khoznavar section of the border. it has also abused Interpol’s Stolen to. It strikes directly at one point and, un- and Lost Travel Documents Data- fortunately, damages the main thing – the base (SLTD) by filing tens of thou- achievement of a sustainable result.” sands of notifications for critics and Zakharova noted with satisfaction that Armenian Chess GM Elina Danielian Wins opponents who, in many instanc- the tripartite working group on unblocking Europe’s Individual Women’s Championship es, were not even aware that their regional transport links resumed its work passports had been invalidated. In in Moscow on August 17, getting down to CHESS, from page 1 my European titles,” and enumerated her several cases some of these peo- practical discussions. After gaining her notable win, Elina previous gains earned at European tourna- ple were stranded at international She once again called on Armenia and wrote on her Facebook page that she was ments: 2001: First European Rapid Cham- airports or put in detention before Azerbaijan to start work on the delimi- “so happy to win the European individu- pion; 2003 – European Team Champion they were released or, in the worst tation and demarcation of their border as al women’s champion title.” She contin- and 2006 European Club Cup Champion. cases, were handed over to Turkish soon as possible. ued, “It was a long path to gain it, but my A video interview of Coach Khachian operatives and ended up in Turkish “The situation on the Armenian-Azerbai- dream has come true. Finally, I fulfilled all can be found at mirrorspectator.com prisons. jani border has worsened due to an acute “The Turkish government must lack of trust between the two sides, and a be held responsible for abusing the long-term solution is to launch negotiations Interpol system to commit human on the delimitation of the border with its rights violations,” said Dr. Merve subsequent demarcation,” she said, reiter- R. Kayıkcı, research director at the ating Russia’s readiness to provide neces- Stockholm Center for Freedom. sary consultative assistance to this process. The official representative of the Russian US State Department Urged Foreign Ministry stressed that the situation To Designate Grey Wolves in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone re- mains relatively calm “due to effective ser- Terrorist Organization vice of Russian peacekeepers” deployed in WASHINGTON (Public Ra- the region. dio of Armenia) — The American Russian President Vladimir Putin also Friends of Kurdistan (AFK), the spoke about an “overall stable situation” Hellenic American Leadership in the Nagorno-Karabakh region as he dis- Council (HALC), In Defense of cussed this and other international issues in Christians (IDC), the Middle East a telephone conversation with French Pres- Forum (MEF), and the Armenian ident Emmanuel Macron on August 19. National Committee of Ameri- “Steps are being taken to restore eco- ca (ANCA) joined together this nomic and transport links in the South Cau- week to call upon the Department casus and to meet the humanitarian needs of State to formally designate Tur- of the population,” Putin said, according to key’s violently racist Grey Wolves the Kremlin. Elina Danielian and the players placying second and third. as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The Grey Wolves (Bozkurtlar) currently operate in Turkey, Azer- baijan, and internationally as a For- Syrian-Armenian photographer George eign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Urfalyan awarded by SANA news agency If/when the Grey Wolves group ALEPPO (Panorama.am) — Aleppo-based photographer is designated as an FTO, it will George Urfalyan, who has covered the most dramatic moments become unlawful for any person of the Syrian war, has been named the winner of the photo com- in the US or subject to U.S. juris- petition organised by the Syrian state news agency SANA for diction to knowingly provide them the coverage of the fire that had erupted at Sheikh Najjar Indus- with “material support or resourc- trial City in Aleppo. es.” In addition, any Grey Wolves Urfalyan was born in 1986 in Aleppo. He is well known funds identified in the US will be for the series of photos depicting different districts of Aleppo frozen. during the war. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 5 Community News Armenian Sisters’ Taleen Postian Academy of LA Concludes ASA Continues Mission Journalism To Educate Internship at By Rita Boyadjian LOS ANGELES — The school is Mirror-Spectator an essential institution in any commu- WATERTOWN — The Armenian nity and education plays an important Mirror-Spectator is very pleased to role in this fast-paced world. Educa- have worked with Taleen Postian, a tion has the power to make the world talented intern from New York, this a better place. Schools continue to summer. As in previous years, the fi- “liberate” students from the prison of nancial support of the Armenian Stu- darkness by giving them a beacon of dents Association Journalism Intern- light to follow, empowers their imag- ship Program, making this position ination, and brings them to a free and possible, is greatly appreciated. luminous horizon of the intellectual Postian is an Armenian-American and spiritual world. writer from New York who current- The Armenian school, in particu- ly is attending Villanova Universi- lar, has a significant role. Along with ty, where she providing knowledge, the Arme- writes for her nian school remains the fortress of college news- our identity and power, because it is paper, the Villa- through the Armenian school that the novan. She has Armenian individual is formed. published poet- The current state of education ry in Hyebred throughout the world makes it evident magazine as Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian, left, with Ambassador well as Moon- Armen Baibourtian stone Art Cen- ter’s New Voic- Armenia Consul General Presents es anthology. In addition to journalism and poet- ry, she has published scientific litera- Medal of Gratitude to LA City ture through the International Young Researchers’ Conference. Councilmember Krekorian Postian has been involved in var- ious aspects of the Armenian com- LOS ANGELES — On August 19, Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles munity, including her local Armenian Ambassador Armen Baibourtian presented Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Church Youth Organization of Amer- Krekorian with the Medal of Gratitude, one of the highest official awards of Armenia. ica and Armenian Youth Federation It was awarded by the president of Armenia upon the recommendation of the prime chapters, and summer camp at St. minister. Nersess Seminary. She also wrote The awarding ceremony took place in the Council Chambers of the Los Angeles some articles on the 2020 Artsakh City Hall. war for her campus newspaper. Rita Boyadjian “For his years-long Armenian-focused activities and significant contribution to- She said, “That taste of being pub- wards strengthening and enhancing the Armenian-American friendly relations, the lished as a journalist led me to take that schools need to have a compet- Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian is hereby awarded with the Medal the internship with the Mirror-Spec- itive edge, lest both the school and of Gratitude of the Republic of Armenia,” is noted in the presidential decree. tator. And I am very happy I did. As the students digress. Armenian Sis- During the award presentation ceremony, Baibourtian underscored Krekorian is the summer intern for 2021, I learned ters’ Academy of Los Angeles (ASA) awarded with this prestigious medal for his boundless and unwavering devotion to- how to write and work within a pro- adheres to the Western Association wards the welfare of the Homeland and praised his work in both capacities of an fessional and historic newspaper en- of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Assemblymember of the California State Assembly and a Councilmember of the Los vironment. Through this internship I standards to achieve high-quality Angeles City Council. He emphasized the valuable contributions of Krekorian to the conducted my first sit down interview education and improving student strengthening of Armenia-California bonds and his input in addressing issues facing as a correspondent, an experience I achievement. As the world prepared the Armenian community, as well as his efforts in supporting Armenia and Artsakh. learned a lot from in terms of prepa- to transition to distance learning plat- Due to Krekorian’s efforts, the Los Angeles City Council adopted the Los Ange- ration, writing questions, scheduling, form at the beginning of the pandem- les-Shushi Friendship City agreement back in 2012. The Los Angeles City Council communication, conversation, and ic, ASA shifted to online teaching see MEDAL, page 6 then of course actually turning that quickly and efficiently so as not to interview into an article.” interrupt the learning process. ASA She also worked on the Instagram in California worked tirelessly to pro- and Twitter accounts of the Mir- vide a safe learning environment for ror-Spectator, and said, “This was in-person instruction during the pan- my first experience running the social demic with spacious classrooms and media of an organization and I was playgrounds, sanitizing stations, desk excited to bring new tools and advan- shields, and social distancing regula- tages to such a worthy cause.” tions. This allowed the students to be She concluded, “My dedication and safe while at the same time developed interest in the Armenian community their intellect and athletic abilities. and cause were further solidified by The Armenian Sisters’ Academy taking part in this internship and I am remains committed to the legacy of excited for where I can next employ the Congregation of the Immaculate what I learned at the Mirror-Specta- Conception established over 175 tor, hopefully for another worthy Ar- years ago. This legacy deeply em- menian organization.” braces the importance of educating The Mirror-Spectator looks for- the Armenian youth not only with ward to future articles from Postian knowledge but also a strong sense of whenever feasible, and encourages Armenian patriotism. Understand- potential candidates for this intern- ing the Armenian identity, the school ship to apply in advance (aram@mir- provides instruction of the mother rorspectator.com or alin.gregorian@ language, Western and Eastern Ar- gmail.com). We also are interested in menian, and Armenian literature. interns or volunteers during the year Moreover, the school propagates the Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian and Ambassador Baibourtian with marketing and social media ex- see SISTERS, page 6 with their families perience. 6 SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

COMMUNITY NEWS Armenia Consul General Presents Medal of Gratitude to LA City Councilmember Krekorian MEDAL, from page 5 Council, the American lobbying company tian also stressed that Krekorian had orga- him today,” said Baibourtian. recognized the independence of the Repub- “Mercury” stopped its cooperation with nized a very warm reception at the Los An- Krekorian, in his turn, expressed gratitude lic of Artsakh as a sovereign state in 2013 by Turkey. Baibourtian also noted that Krekori- geles City Hall extended hospitality to the for receiving the high award of the Republic adoption of a special resolution. Baibourtian an was instrumental in addressing certain is- Prime Minister of Armenia at Grand Park of Armenia. He noted that he just fulfilled stressed the importance of the Los Angeles sues of the Armenian community of Amer- in September 2019. “All these facts testify his duty as an Armenian and expressed his City Council’s condemnation of the war un- ica. For instance, thanks to Krekorian, the towards a very important contribution to the readiness to always stand by Armenia and leashed by Azerbaijan with the assistance Armenian language was also included in the Armenia-United States relations, for which Artsakh. “We should always be with our of Turkey in 2020 and the City’s demand list of printed electoral materials. Baibour- we express our profound appreciation to Homeland and cherish it.” to stop the aggression against the Armenian people through several resolutions. “With- in the first days of the Artsakh War in the fall of 2020, Paul Krekorian began to unite and consolidate California American polit- Armenian Sisters’ Academy of LA Continues Mission to Educate ical and state leaders in pursuit of ending SISTERS, from page 5 ing, we welcome you to the Armenian of the new Mekhitarist School in the the Azerbaijani unleashed war against Art- spiritual growth of the students by pro- Sisters’ Academy. Rawda region. This included overseeing sakh. As a result, on October 5, 2020, U.S. moting Christian values, strengthening About the Author its construction, establishing the admin- Congressmen, California Assembly leaders their faith in God. Boyajian is the newly appointed istration, and developing the education and members, and Los Angeles City Coun- ASA welcomes the beginning of the vice-principal of Armenian Sisters’ and the newly founded school. Upon cil leaders and elected officials spoke at a new scholastic year along with welcom- Academy of Los Angeles. Born in Bei- completion of the school’s construction, joint press conference at the LA City Hall. ing new and returning students, as well rut, Lebanon, Boyajdian received her she became the founding principal and During the 44-day war and in its aftermath, as all children of California’s Armenian primary education at the schools run by remained there for the first year. thanks to Paul Krekorian, the Los Angeles community under its roof. It is ready to the Congregation of Armenian Sisters of Before moving to the US, she was City Council unanimously adopted a reso- prepare the new generations with edu- the Immaculate Conception and her sec- the director of the trilingual department lution confirming the support of the City of cational excellence, creativity, a consci- ondary education at the Armenian Cath- at Antonine Sisters School Jamhour for Los Angeles to the people of the Republic of entious perspective of diversity, and life olic Patriarchate’s Mesrobian College. two years. At the same time, she was the Artsakh. At Paul Krekorian’s initiative, the skills which will enrich and strengthen She received her Bachelor of Science co-founder of the D.I.R. Educational and Los Angeles City Council unanimously ad- the Armenian-American Community. Degree in Business Administration and Cultural Center. opted yet another resolution, in which it de- We reaffirm our determination to Masters’ Degree in School Administra- Boyadjian has been awarded a Letter manded Azerbaijan to immediately release make Armenian Sisters’ Academy of Los tion from the Saint Joseph University of of Blessing of Nerses-Bedros XIX the the Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) and Angeles more successful, more prosper- Beirut. Late Catholicos Patriarch of the House captured civilians. Moreover, November 9th ous, more purposeful in academics, cul- Throughout 2007-2017 she was the of Cilicia, and Republic of Armenia was declared as a Day of Remembrance and ture, sports, and faith and be a modern head of school of the Armenian Catho- Ministry of Diaspora’s Mother Tongue Commemoration of the victims of Azerbai- Armenian school for the next generation. lic Patriarchate’s Holy Cross-Harboyan Defender Award. jan’s aggression against Artsakh. We will be back to school soon and thus, High School. She is married to Dr. Levon Boyadjian Baibourtian also stated that during the whether it is in-person or distance learn- In 2018, she undertook the foundation and has two daughters. days of the Artsakh war, mainly due to the efforts of Krekorian and the entire City

OBITUARY Lucy (Markarian) Torosian Founded Two Heating Oil Companies BELMONT, Mass. — Lucy (Markarian) Armenouhi Torosian; mother of Susan To- Torosian, Lucy (Markarian) of Belmont, rosian and Kaspar Torosian and his late died on August 14, 2021. wife Grace; grandmother, affectionately She was the daughter of the late Manoog known as “Maymay” to Gregory, Haig, and and Siranoush (Zeytoonjian) Markarian. Markar Torosian and his wife Mengting; She was the wife of Himayak Torosian great-grandmother for 64 years; daughter-in-law to the late of Marie Grace. She was the sister of the late Markar Mark- arian, Toros Mark- Louise Najarian arian and Elizabeth WALTHAM, Mass. — Najarian, Louise Danieli. She also of Waltham, died on August 19, 2021. leaves many loving She was the mother of Linda Mar- godchildren, niec- soubian and her late husband Masrob Mi- es, nephews and chael Marsoubian; grandmother of Chantal cousins. Marsoubian Kelly and her husband Brian She was born in South Boston where she and Paul Marsoubian and his wife Chris- attended school and lived in a vibrant, close- tina; and great grandmother of Liam. She knit Armenian community. She founded M&T Oil with her father, Manoog, where she was the bookkeeper and secretary; she was later joined by her brothers. Along with her mother, Siranoush, she enjoyed hosting the South Boston coffee/tea socials with the family and neighbors. She helped her brothers, sister and in-laws by lovingly car- ing for her nephews and nieces. She helped family members, friends and any Armenian wanting to migrate to America and become citizens. She married Himayak (Mike) and lat- er moved to Belmont. She helped found L&M Oil and Hi Energy Oil Companies. She supported the churches and was the was the sister of the late Hagop Nadjarian secretary for the Holy Trinity Armenian and Asadour Nadjarian. School for many years. She will continue Funeral services were at Saint James Ar- to be loved and missed by all. menian Church, on Wednesday, August 25. Funeral service was at Holy Trinity Ar- ADVERTISE Interment followed at Mount Auburn Cem- menian Church, Cambridge, on Friday, etery, Cambridge. August 20. Arrangements were by the Aram Bedro- Arrangements were by the Aram Bedro- IN THE MIRROR sian Funeral Home. sian Funeral Home. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 7

COMMUNITY NEWS Senators Portantino and Wilk Hail CalPERS Historic Action to Restrict Investments in Turkey SACRAMENTO — State Senator its holdings in the Republic of Turkey and Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada began the necessary steps to move towards Flintridge) and Senator Scott Wilk (R – completing divestment. Santa Clarita) announced the decision “In line with US policy rejecting Tur- by the California Public Employees’ key’s ongoing Armenian Genocide denial Retirement System (CalPERS) to restrict campaign, CalPERS’ decision to divest the number of investments and holdings from Turkish government investments is a they have in the Republic of Turkey. bold and principled one for which we have CalPERS is the largest defined-benefit long advocated,” stated Armenian National public pension in the United States. Committee of America – Western Region “California continues to take signifi- Chairwoman Nora Hovsepian. “We are cant and historic steps to end the practice grateful to Senator Anthony Portantino for of divestment from countries that violate spearheading this effort and look forward principles of human rights,” stated Senator to further similar successes as the walls of Portantino. “This week CalPERS took im- denial continue to crumble.” portant, proactive action and did the right The State of California has a long histo- thing by initiating the process of eliminat- ry of divesting from countries that violate ing their holdings in Turkey. I am grateful human rights. In 1986, Governor George to the community and all the activists for State Sen. Anthony Portantino, State Sen. Scott Wilk Deukmejian condemned South Africa’s their tireless efforts and tenacity to push apartheid policy by signing California’s forward on divestment and to the CalP- Senator Portantino challenged CalPERS ber Ardy Kassakhian who recognized the divestiture law, aimed at pressuring the ERS Board for responding to our collective to follow CalSTRS and do the right thing. injustice of Glendale’s significant public government to end its system of racial plea.” Today’s announcement underscores the ac- workforce having its hard-earned wages segregation. In 2008, Governor Arnold The CalPERS action followed a similar tion by CalPERS to do just that. invested in Turkey. Schwarzenegger signed a Sudan divest- path taken by the State Teachers’ Retire- At the outset of the legislative session, SB 457 received unanimous support in ment bill due to the ongoing genocide in ment System (CalSTRS). Senator Portan- Senators Portantino and Wilk introduced the Senate and has helped push forward the Darfur. Students from the University of tino and representatives from Glendale SB 457 to require the CalPERS and Turkish divestment efforts by encourag- California successfully lobbied the UC to Community College, Glendale Unified CalSTRS Boards of Administration to al- ing CalPERS and CalSTRS to take bold divest from Turkey in 2017. School District and the Armenian Ameri- low school districts and cities to opt out of steps. Since the introduction of the bill, the “We are pleased that CalPERS leader- can community announced the CalSTRS investment vehicles issued or owned by the question of Turkish divestment became a ship has made this decision to be more so- action on June 16, 2021 at a press confer- Republic of Turkey. The idea for the bill priority for CalPERS and CalSTRS. This cially responsible and take a stand against ence on Artsakh Avenue. During the event, came from Glendale City Councilmem- week CalPERS answered the call to restrict governments who abuse human rights,” stated AGBU Community Affairs Rep- resentative Talin Yacoubian. “The action taken by CalPERS, and earlier this year by CalSTRS, to eliminate their investments in Turkey is a strong stance against the geno- cidal government of Turkey. We thank the Senator for his steadfast commitment to what is right.” In May, CalSTRS announced it was tak- ing several steps to restrict its holdings in Turkey. They placed restrictions on three Turkish state-owned banks, which pre- vented them from being included in the CalSTRS portfolio. In addition, they di- rected external managers who have Turk- ish state-owned entities in their portfolios to re-evaluate each of these investments to assess their compliance with CalSTRS’ Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) policy – a risk assessment that de- fines 25 risk factors that managers must consider when investing assets on behalf of CalSTRS. Finally, CalSTRS announced it was conducting additional risk evaluation of a Turkish-issued treasury that is current- ly the only investment issued or controlled by the Government of Turkey that they hold internally. CalPERS announced that it has made an active investment strategy decision to narrow its overall investment exposure. The policy shift includes removing sever- al countries considered immaterial and the most operationally challenging. The result is a substantial reduction in currency and equity exposure to Turkish issued securi- ties between March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021. CalPERS anticipates this number will continue to go down and that their holdings in Turkey will be entirely elimi- nated in the very near future. “This is a historic and important action by CalPERS. Turkey should not be ben- efiting from the wages of the Armenian American public employees in California,” stated Senator Wilk. “I am grateful to both CalSTRS and CalPERS for responding to our effort and the Armenian-American community that joined us in this successful effort.” CalSTRS and CalPERS are the two pri- mary California pension funds that have had portfolio interest with Turkey. Estab- lished in 1913, CalSTRS is the largest ed- ucator-only pension fund in the world, and the second largest pension fund in the U.S., with 975,000 members and beneficiaries. 8 SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR Arts & Culture Books Brokers of Faith, Serge Brokers of Empire Challenges Rouben Assumptions The Man and the About Armenian Creator Nationalism, By Tamara Hovhannisyan “The content of thought is the seed Ottoman History of the artist. Dreams form the bris- tles of the artist’s brush.” – Arshile By Harry Kezelian Gorky Mirror-Spectator Staff Armenia, a nation whose cultural LOS ANGELES — Richard An- heritage runs deep in time, has played taramian’s 2020 book, Brokers of a pivotal role in the shift of many Faith, Brokers of Empire, breaks new movements in art and literature. This ground in the historical analysis of is a nation whose existential journey the Armenian world of the late Ot- is based on art and language with no- toman Empire. In so doing, the book table representatives of this ancient challenges assumptions long held in culture participating in transforming the Armenian community as well as periods such as twentieth century art in academia in regard to the develop- movements, bridging Surrealism and ment of Armenian nationalism and Artwork by Ani Khodaverdian (Photos from telojan.com & @telojan on Instagram) Abstract Expressionism by experi- ultimately the interaction between menting with inner feelings and his- Armenians and the Turkish state lead- torical ruins together. ing up to the Genocide of 1915. If one considers that suffering is Antaramian, who is a native of Artist Ani Khodaverdian universal, then, the ability to dream Wisconsin, did his graduate work and create is also universal. This at the University of Michigan–Ann Empowers, Educates, and Inspires through Telo Jan By Michelle Mkhlian LOS ANGELES — Artist, attorney, and candidate for Special to the Mirror-Spectator a master’s degree in clinical psychology, 31-year-old Ani Khodaverdian founded her brand, Telo Jan, in 2019. Since then, Ani’s artwork has empowered, educated, and connected Armenians all over the world with each other and to the homeland. With nearly 7,000 followers, Telo Jan’s Instagram account is a space where Ani shares her artwork and creative process, mental health resources and information, and social justice and social aware- ness-centered content. Between Cultures Ani’s parents immigrated to Sweden from Iran, and Ani was raised in Sweden until she was nine years old. Although Ani only spent her early childhood in Sweden, she universality bridges generations and Dr. Richard Antaramian explained just how greatly that period of her life impacted her: “Attending Swedish forges the uniqueness of a nation- public school really shaped my thinking because they are extremely progressive and al creative identity. Such is the case Arbor, where he received his PhD in environmentalist there. I grew up seeing women in politics and female priests, and with Armenia, where many gener- history in 2014. Under the tutelage of even that at school, boys and girls would always play together. There was never a ations of this undeniably creative scholars such as Gerard Libaridian, separation of ‘boys do this and girls do that.’ My parents also never put those sort of nation have come together to form Ronald Suny, Fatma Muge Goçek, ideas in my head about what I can and can’t do. They are both dentists who studied a type of kinship that unifies them and Kevork Bardakjian, Antaramian and worked together, so equality was present in my own life and home growing up.” emotionally and creatively. benefitted from the strong Armenian Ani inherited Armenian culture and language from her proud Armenian-Iranian par- The Armenian-born Serge Rouben Studies program at Michigan. He is ents, but she hardly encountered Armenians outside of her own household. is one of those artists that has man- currently teaching at the University Things took an exciting turn for her, when at 9-years old, Ani and her family moved aged to choreograph those feelings of Southern California, where he is to Burbank, a city with over 8,000 Armenian residents. Her Armenian identity became into shapes and colors. In his works an Assistant Professor of History. especially salient in Burbank, and at the age of 10, she began utilizing the public one can touch forgotten lands, stolen The book’s title is a reference to the library system to learn more about Armenian culture and history, particularly the Ar- valleys, and butchered innocence of powerful Armenian clergy whose role menian Genocide. the nation that became a victim of in the 19th-century Ottoman Empire Ani shared: “When I was 11, I had a philosophical crisis. I wondered, how is it pos- human brutality in the early 1900s. was not only religious, but also politi- sible that genocide happens? I read The Black Dog of Fate by Peter Balakian which Rouben’s art carries a profusion cal, economic, and social. Students of went into the details of the genocide quite graphically. I remember my childhood of colors leaving touchable shapes Middle Eastern and Armenian history continued on next page where the dreams of forgotten times, are familiar with the idea that the Ot- crying hopes for survival, and spark- toman Empire operated on the “mil- ing illusions of happiness materi- let system,” whereby Christians and alize. When he paints, his brush Jews were partially exempted from follows the dance of his own spirit the Islamic laws of the Empire and and that spirit has an open wing that allowed to operate under their own brushes to stay and be part of its own socio-political systems headed by existential time allowance. their own clerical hierarchies. Eastern By understanding that all things Orthodox believers were part of the are delicately interconnected, Rou- “Rum Millet” (Byzantine “Roman” ben is bringing the remainder of Old nation) under their patriarch while to remind the New that they are in- Armenians as the “Ermeni Millet” deed the renaissance of the Old. (Armenian Nation) were answerable If we consider that every success- to the Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul, ful artist has his or her own magic who was answerable to the Sultan. tricks, then, Serge Rouben’s mas- Jews had their own structures and as terful hands manage to make these see BOOKS, page 13 Ani Khodaverdian and her artwork (Photos from arpikrikorian.com ) see ROUBEN, page 12 SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 9

ARTS & CULTURE Artist Ani Khodaverdian Empowers, Educates, and Inspires through Telo Jan from previous page Telo Jan became especially concerned with the vir- me that we were all starving for work like ending during certain lines of that book. I It is during this period in June 2019 that ulence of sexism in Armenia and through- this. There is a need for it- a gap that no went into my TV room and started sobbing Ani officially launched Telo Jan. out the Armenian community. So, while in one’s filling. That’s where Telo Jan’s vibe about it all to my parents. My dad sat with Ani has been drawing since she could law school, she began creating Armenian came from.” me for four or five hours and he explained hold a pencil and she has used art as a way feminist art which quickly gained a lot of “Telo Jan” is named after Ani’s paternal that, yes those things happen, yes it’s un- to express herself and deal with difficult traction on Facebook because she candid- grandmother whom Ani was never able to fair and that’s why it’s so important to be emotions. Her creative process is one that’s ly highlighted topics and issues that are meet but to whom she feels deeply connect- a good person and fight for justice so this constantly evolving and defined by her sub- considered to be taboo. After receiving an ed. doesn’t happen to anyone else. I read 20 ject, her mood, and the equipment she has outpour of supportive messages and videos Ani shared, “Apparently I resemble her more books about the Genocide and it be- a lot and I’ve heard many stories about her came my cause at that time.” and the kind of person she was and from At 15 years old, Ani coordinated a Geno- what I’ve heard, she was very kind, and cide Awareness Assembly at her school, straightforward. While the name Telo Jan is Burbank High School, something which very Armenian, it’s also easy to pronounce had never been done before in the school’s in English. I decided from the beginning history. Six hundred people attended the that the tone of Telo Jan was going to be assembly, which featured performances very kind, tolerant and patient, which is all by Armenian rock bands, and speeches by the things my grandma represents to me. notable Armenians like Los Angeles City I wanted to move forward with her same Councilmember Paul Krekorian and docu- grace- to be nurturing, mothering, and in- mentarian and talk show host Stepan Par- clusive. This reminds me how to maneuver tamian. this venture.” After graduating from Burbank High Philosophy of Kindness and Tolerance School, Ani went on to study at UCLA Khodaverdian noted, “I mostly create where she earned her B.A. in philoso- things that I wish already existed; art that phy. She then earned her law degree from I wish I could have been exposed to grow- Southwestern Law School. After graduat- ing up; especially as an Armenian woman ing from law school in 2017, she took a life and for my Armenian LGBTQ+ friends. changing trip to Armenia. Art makes people feel seen and understood, Returning to Los Angeles after her trip and in Armenian culture — women and was an emotional experience for Ani: “I LGBTQ+ are often ignored, minimized, was crying because I was thinking ‘why and left in the dark. So, I try to bring wom- am I here?’, ‘why are we not living in Ar- en’s issues and LGBTQ+ issues to light and menia?’ Armenia felt so much like home create a space for those marginalized in our to me. I had never experienced that feeling community to feel heard and seen in a way before. In Sweden I was too Armenian and that is positive, aesthetically pleasing, and in LA I was too Swedish. I was always be- thought provoking.” tween cultures.” Ani is an unapologetically authentic pow- Inspired by the sense of home she felt erhouse who shares powerful affirmations in Armenia, Ani applied to Birthright Ar- and messages about mental health, fiercely menia and stayed there for eight months Artwork by Ani Khodaverdian (Photos from telojan.com & @telojan on Instagram) advocates for marginalized groups, informs in 2018. During that time, she connected people about current events, and educates with law firms, and film studios where people about the Armenian language and she began to volunteer and work. When at her disposal. Once exclusively employ- from Armenian women thanking her for her culture through Telo Jan. she completed the program she returned ing traditional artistic mediums like pen, brave work, Ani started the hashtag #arme- She explained, “My work centers around to LA where she began working as a liti- pencil, and paint, she now experiments with nianfeministrevolution. undoing the damage that our society and gation lawyer. This role was unfulfilling digital art. Ani loves mixing mediums and She explained, “I realized I wanted to culture has done to us, psychologically, and and unhealthy for Ani, and led her to playing with different processes to create start making propaganda and pieces with showing people that it’s okay to be yourself depression; she stepped away to explore her pieces. strong messages because change is driven and to feel all your feelings and to express other options. Prior to officially launching Telo Jan, Ani by media, art, movies etc. It became clear to yourself exactly the way that YOU want to (even if it’s not the norm/if your community isn’t used to it). With every piece I create, I know there’s someone watching that I hope receives the message: “I love you just the way you are” ...so that they can begin to love themselves, too.” The Armenian alphabet, language, and culture all provide inspiration for Ani’s art- work. She noted the importance of having Armenian artwork and letters present in the home as a diasporan Armenian: “I feel that it’s so important to have things in your home that let you engage with your heri- tage. I wanted to make Armenian letters and Armenian words more common in diaspo- ran homes because language is the key that lets you access your culture in an authentic way. That’s why I teach people Armenian using baby steps, and helping them to not be scared or intimidated by the letters.” Khodaverdian’s already significant im- pact on the Armenian community only con- tinues to grow. Her most recent project is called The Telo Jan Podcast with Ani Kho- daverdian. As a proponent of curiosity and exploration, she aims to continue educating folks about different subjects like sex, gen- der, materialism, mental health, religion, etc. through engaging conversations with various guests. In her most popular episode, Ani does a deep dive on the Armenian al- phabet in the Eastern Armenian dialect. You can watch that episode and more, here: Ani Khodaverdian. Stay updated with Ani’s art- work and projects by following Telo Jan on Instagram! You can find and purchase Ani’s powerful artwork and merchandise includ- ing mugs, clothing, swimwear, keychains and much more by visiting telojan.com. 10 SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

ARTS & CULTURE a Conversation with... Sasha Zaitseva Armenia in My Heart By Artsvi Bakhchinyan Special to the Mirror-Spectator

YEREVAN/NOVOSIBIRSK — Sasha Zaitseva is a modern Russian poet, art activist and editor. She is the au- thor of the collection of poems titled The Snow That Was Not, published in Germany, laureate of several interna- tional literary competitions, a participant in art projects in Siberia, St. Petersburg and Moscow, and a senior lecturer at Novosibirsk State University. Sasha was born near Krasnodar, raised in Kazakhstan, and now lives between two cities, Novosibirsk and St. Pe- tersburg. She has traveled to 20 countries, and two years ago she spent almost six months in Armenia in a spiritual and creative retreat. After that, she released the album of Sasha Zaitseva in Armenia melodies, “Calluna,” dedicated to Armenia, and partici- pated in the first ArmArtFest-2021 at the Armenian Em- Brodsky said: Mankind, probably, can no longer be understand why you are using it. I have been writing po- bassy in Moscow. saved, but for the individual man there always remains a etry since I was 12, and at least until I was 20, I basically Migration and the path as a lifestyle and creativity de- chance. Poetry is the most intimate of the arts, what teach- just practiced versification. I trained to weave a wreath fine Sasha Zaitseva. My conversation with her is focused es us to think, feel, speak and hear first of all, ourselves. of sonnets, I calculated syllables in iambic and amphi- on how Ariadne’s thread led her to the Ararat valley. Once I happened to hold in my hands an amazing hand- brachial, and refined in rhymes. Then there were no such Sasha, it is written about you that you, as a poet, mix written collection of poems that belonged to Elena Vyalo- programs; you had to find words just ... by reading dic- poetry with other types of art. Such an experiment is va, the widow of the Russian poet Pavel Vasiliev, who tionaries! And only having learned to write quite well “as not new: someone painted on sculptures, someone ex- was tortured and shot in 1937. Elena, as an “enemy of Pushkin and the classics,” I began to “break” my poems hibited texts in frames, etc. How justified are such ex- the people,” was sent to a Kazakh camp for 19 years. The in order to find my own handwriting, my voice, my style. periments? entire “active phase” of her life — from 26 to 45 years If today someone wants to practice versification, it will Yes, indeed, the intersection of various arts is my pas- old — took place in the camps. She had no children, she be more convenient for him to do it. However, this does sion. I have done projects that combine word and music, never married again. But she saved herself with poetry; in not mean that a poem written by machine will immediate- word and modern exhibition facilities, word and perfor- her notebook there are lines from Tsvetaeva, Akhmatova, ly become great - and at the same time it does not mean mance, etc. For example, once I launched a campaign her husband. “For though I should walk in the midst of the that it will not become great. The tool is just a tool. where I pasted my poems on message boards in different shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. You can learn to draw from paper manuals, or you can cities where I was, among “garage sale” and “manicure Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me” — these learn from videos on YouTube. The question is what hap- at home.” Recently I have created a series of abstract are the words from the 22nd Psalm of David, also a kind pens at the end, what exactly is the person who has em- paintings, where my lines “flourish” through the color- of verse. From my point of view, now all of humanity is barked on the path of the creator “gives out” to us. istic substance. As mountains appear at the junction of passing through the valley of the shadow of death — a What is the main thing in poetry? So that it is in tune lithospheric plates, so for me the most powerful creative pandemic, military conflicts, environmental tension, so- with the human soul. When I am in despair, I read to my- energy is born at the junction of the arts. Yes, this is not cial inequality, totalitarianism, violence, hunger. We have self Alexander Blok and Pavel Vasiliev. When I doubt new; “there is nothing new under the sun,” and “I stand on produced so many weapons that we can easily destroy myself, I read Arseny Tarkovsky and Bulat Okudzhava. When I am happy, Vysotsky. If a new poet, using an on- line rhyme maker, was able to find the right words to ex- press his thrill towards life, I am sure that these lines will be memorized by people to repeat them to themselves at an important moment in their lives. But if the author does not make a spiritual labor for himself to live, to feel the painfully beautiful aroma of life but only connects one word with another, there will be no poetry in his poems. Even if the rhymes and rhythm are followed. One poet I know said that she writes poetry every day. This is not graphomania, but a way of life, some- thing necessary, without which it is impossible. What does writing poetry mean to you? This is a kind of result of life. My best poems have been written for more than one or two years - there is a poem, the image of which first came to me twenty years ago. Sometimes I carry a line for years, repeat to myself, roll it with my tongue in my mouth like candy, taste it. So sometimes two or three words in my poems are behind two or three years of my life. You wrote: to love is to walk on water Sasha Zaitseva in a gallery What fates and how long do you walk on “Armenian water”? the shoulders of giants.” How it is justified? I don’t know, ourselves and all living things. And even those who live I first flew to Yerevan for four days at the end of Oc- it’s not for me to judge. I just follow my Muse — almost well today, who have a home, food, health — at some tober 2017 - and almost by accident: that year turned out by touch, because I can’t imagine any other way to live point (and this is a completely natural growth factor) — to be very difficult for me, I had to go through quite a my life. feel spiritual devastation. Poetry probably won’t save us, lot, rethink a lot, and I wanted to make myself a birth- In the life of a 21st-century person, what place does but it will help a person to find a human in himself. day present - to find something new that will fill me. I poetry have? chose Yerevan on the recommendation of my friend, poet I suppose a huge place. Maybe poetry and poetic Today on the Internet you can find various pro- and director Pavel Kruzenshtern from St. Petersburg. He thought — in the broad sense of the word, where you can grams for writing poems, some online tools to help loves Sergei Paradjanov very much and literally “sent” include music, painting, and theater — are generally the you choose a rhyme, etc. How do you feel about such me to his museum. My seat was by the window, and when only thing that can somehow comprehend, explain our programs? the plane flew up to Yerevan on the evening of Friday life, reconcile us with our own existence. I treat them like any tool; if you use it consciously and continued on next page SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 11

ARTS & CULTURE

is “held captive” after a 44-day war. Armenia in My Heart In general, I feel the strongest connec- from previous page tion with Armenian churches. Once I spent October 20, 2017, I saw the bulk of Ara- the whole night under the starry sky near rat above the setting clouds - and felt as if the Amberd fortress and met the dawn in my heart had been taken out and reinserted. its temple. These spiritual experiences can Mandelstam wrote: “they come to life in hardly be compared with anything. Armenia”. So it was with me. The golden October road to the Haghart- I could no longer forget either Yerevan sin monastery still stands before our eyes. Tekeyan Cultural Association, Inc. or Armenia. In the spring of 2018, I re- And every time I come to Armenia, I go turned to Yerevan for two weeks. The first to the walls of Haghpat to just sit with my day I was happy, on the second - I sobbed back against them. without stopping from melancholy, that in Dadivank “penetrated” my heart too. I Dr. Nubar 12 days is my return plane. On the third was lucky to be there once with an excur- day I went and rented an apartment for six sion. When I entered the temple and felt months. Just to live in Yerevan, read books that I was standing on something soft, I was Berberian 2021 in parks, buy bundles of roses for myself, stunned: the carpet that lay there was blos- choose greens and vegetables, swim in out- soming under my feet, like life itself and door pools, drink wine in the In Vino bar the Universe itself. It was the most beauti- Annual Awards on Saryan Street, sit for hours in ascetic ful carpet in my life - and the phrase “Let’s Dr. Nubar Berberian, intel- Armenian churches, listening to the silence go, I’ll show you the carpet in Dadivank of a stone, wander through exhibitions and Monastery” first became part of my instal- lectual, journalist, activist streets - it was the greatest happiness in my lation “Personal Place,” which I did for a life. During these six months, I met many “48 hours Novosibirsk” major art event and editor of many ADL wonderful people who inspired me and in 2019 (this festival is held Goethe Insti- daily newspapers for more taught me something new. But the most im- tute as in tune with the Berlin Festival “48 portant thing is that it was in Yerevan that I hours Neukölln”). Then a poem was born than 50 years passed away met my real myself - I realized who I am, I from this line and, finally, it became the at the age of 94 in Novem- heard my breath, I realized what I live for basis of one of my abstract paintings. The and how I should live this life. Sometimes carpet from Dadivank for me is a symbol of ber 23, 2016. In his will, Dr. I didn’t talk to a single person in person for tradition, spirituality, aesthetics, sensuality. weeks, except for “Barev Dzez” (hello) and By the way, one jazz singer from Germa- Berberian directed his Trust “Shat Merci” (Many thanks) in supermar- ny, Valeria Maurer, made a song in English Fund managers to appro- kets. I just watched Armenia and myself. to my poems about Haghpat and Dadivank. This is how one of my dear poems was born There is already a concert recording on You- priate awards every year to - “The Season of Peonies.” And yes, there, Tube and the album is due to be released college students of Arme- in Yerevan, I was born for the second time. soon. You can listen this song at https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSWADKx- nian descent worldwide who major in either Interna- You call Armenia your spiritual home- ZReU&feature=youtu.be tional Law or Political Science. land. Can a creative person have several spiritual homelands? Sasha, you recently took part in the In my case, yes. This is, of course, Rus- Armenian festival in Moscow. It would sia and specifically Siberia and the Far be interesting to know in detail about East, because I feel a very strong connec- this event and about your participation. ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS tion with this land. This is Europe, and for The ArmArtFest festival was held by 1) Eligible recipients are college students of Armenian descent the most part — France, Italy, Holland, the cultural center at the Armenian Embas- who major in either International Law or Political Science. Germany and Switzerland — I understand sy in Russia, under the leadership of the that my “cultural code” would be incom- Honored Art Worker of the Russian Fed- 2) Applicant must be enrolled in a full-time graduate program plete without these countries. This is Ka- eration Vladimir Gabbe. My participation in a fully accredited college or university in the world. zakhstan, because my first spiritual point in the festival was rather modest: together of support was literature and it was taught with the pianist and improviser Artur Fili- 3) Applicant must provide all of the information requested on to me by Yulia Mikhailovna Osinskaya in monyuk, we held a concert of melodecla- the application form. an ordinary secondary school in the city of mations — that is, poems to music. I made Pavlodar. And finally, this is Armenia. An- the program in such a way as to show how 4) Applicant must submit a copy of his or her most recent ticipating the question of the origin, I can strong the intergrowth of Russian and Ar- college transcript. menian poetry is. I read my poems and say: I have no Armenian blood for seven 5) Applicant is to include a small head and shoulders self- generations in any direction, but one of poems by Paruyr Sevak, Osip Mandels- my main muses was definitely born some- tam, Valery Bryusov, Eduard Asadov and portrait. where in the Ararat valley. At the same others. I have also prepared an exhibition 6) Application could be received by requesting from of my abstract paintings, in which, liter- time, it does not mean that, calling this [email protected]. or that country my spiritual homeland, in ally and figuratively, quotations from my every poem I will write something like “I Armenian cycle “shine through.” We got a 7) Applicants should submit applications electronically (via love you, my Siberia” or “Yerevan, I am lot of kind, sincere feedback from the audi- email) to: [email protected]. nowhere without you.” Many things in my ence, so I guess Arthur and I worked well. art sprout allegorically. In general, I have 8) The deadline of receiving the applications is September 15, always loved abstraction more than figura- There are Armenian communities in 2021. tiveness — in music, in painting, in theater, the two cities in which you live. Are you and in literature. Therefore, I do not have in touch with them? 9) The administrators and managers of the fund will vote the many poems where Armenian toponyms or No, I’m a rather closed person, some- qualified winners in October, 2021 based on the merits of concepts are directly mentioned. But there what of an introvert. One can say that my each applicant. are metaphors and images that refer to Ar- inner creative “computer” works as fol- menia very clearly. For example, “the pink lows: I walk, notice something, it amazes 10) The winner or winners will receive their awards in November, bowl of empty mountains.” In general, I me and I “go into myself for processing,” 2021 joke that everything that has been written “hang around” with this thought for a long after Armenia is written about Armenia. time. For two years I thought about a single 11) Winning applicants are not eligible to apply again. This culture is so powerful that the echo of carpet in the monastery - can you imagine 12) This announcement is published in Armenian, English, what will happen to me if I actively “ab- its influence will spread in one way or an- French and Spanish. other throughout my life. sorb” the events of entire cultural centers? But if I talk seriously, the usual “adult It would be interesting to know if you, life” is pretty commonplace: I need to pay as an artist and poet, have any favorite a mortgage, earn money for food, buy some Watertown, MA, July 15, 2021 names in Armenian painting and litera- things, support my family, do my home. A ture? lot of energy is spent on the elementary I won’t be original. In childhood, it was “reproduction” of my life. I quote Brodsky Aivazovsky and the cartoons of “Armen- again: “Not only do you have to live, you film.” In adolescence, Charles Aznavour. also have to pay for it.” But in any case, if Now in Russia there are very few poetic tradition is one of the strongest in Later, Paruyr Sevak and Sergey Paradjan- one day I am invited to the Armenian cul- translators from Armenian into Rus- the world. I am sure that tens, hundreds of ov, his films, collages and letters. tural center and I can be useful in the dia- sian. Do you intend to be engaged in the creative people around the world will fall logue between the cultures of Russia and translation of Armenian poetry in the into the net of its captivating beauty and In one poem you mentioned the ancient Armenia, I will consider the proposal with future? sonority, as long as Mankind is alive. And Armenian temple Dadivank, which, alas, interest. Time will tell. In any case, the Armenian talented translators will appear. 12 SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

ARTS & CULTURE Serge Rouben: The Man and the Creator

RUBEN, from page 8 ographical details of the artist’s life, we also tricks visible but never conjurable. He is admit that the influence of Soviet times’ unique with his fantastical deception of strict educational offerings and losses had a forms and colors that carry his creative per- critical role on the artist’s professional ma- sonality, making the viewer understand that turity, teaching him what to abandon, what beauty has a spiritual drive and without that to treasure. drive creativity is a fruitless struggle. After the fading Avant-Garde art of six- Serge Rouben moved to Moscow at the ties and seventies, towards the start of the time when Armenia was struggling to re- Soviet art of eighties, Armenia was in the gain its independence and while many of its turmoil of political and economic crisis that sons and daughters were trying to be part led many gifted sons and daughters of the of the struggle, some from home and some nation to seek a refuge elsewhere in the from abroad. world to be able to survive. Many of them In his compositions, Rouben is not only lost their creative identity. focusing on gestural appreciation of paint, Serge Rouben survived. His creative pe- but he dictates lead figures by making them riod in Moscow was a time for hard-earned relate to one another, creating genuine spir- victories and many unexpected disappoint- itual motions on canvas that are nothing but ments. The cultural atmosphere of Moscow fragments of life itself. praised and reminded the artist about his In the divide between imagination and status of being a cultural step-son, leading reality lies a fruitful heaven of creativity. him to start dreaming of a journey to the Serge Rouben surrounds himself with a Free World. Knowing that it is not easy to harmonious dance of the two, reality and create, especially when you are an unsup- the dream. He intuitively knows that none ported, inexperienced visitor struggling to of the active harvesters and explorers of the establish your professional presence in a blessings of creativity can have it forever. new environment, Rouben managed to con- So he experiments, searches and tries to find vert his third encore of professional journey his own visible path. fragments of the artworks contain moments of memories and fresh impressions that can with utmost professional dignity and cour- Despite the diversity of styles and motiva- of innocent surprises, shining bursts of joy perfectly match with those memories and age. tions, Serge has a near-mythical communi- and kindness, making the viewer feel clos- marries the Old and New on the same can- Today, Serge Rouben is one of the most cation of symbols, colors and visual effects, er to the artist’s ethnic maturity and painful vas. With that, the artist manages to keep his notable names of Armenian art, who is also making these the players of his creative struggles to survive in this very conflictive identity by also avoiding being a stranger in part of the artistic circle of this continent universe. And he orchestrates all of them and cynical time of ours. the new environment. and whose professional future is ready for with love, care, and deep admiration. His We all know that creativity starts from Serge is an Armenian literatus-artist, al- unstoppable flights here in his new home in canvases burst with energetic brushstrokes, the embryonic seeds of suddenly discov- ways surrounded by a large entourage of Southern California. suggestive shapes, and a fresh color pal- ered thoughts unifying their arrows of ec- friends, collectors, and students and lav- Sharing the generational duality of the ette. By bringing all of them together with stasy of living and creating. Their aim is to ishly sharing knowledge, love, and experi- destiny of emigrated intellectuals makes undeniable creative honesty, he makes his merge together the wonderful world of hu- ence. The world is his field for harvesting Rouben have a double task; to overcome artworks reflections of his unique personal- manity as an input of the creative process. emotions. Under his creative browsers, East the shadows of the past as a professional in ity. One can think that he aims to paint the Process that begins with splendid colors meets West, putting their best cultural offer- a new environment and be always ready to indescribable, making his loving brush cap- that somehow find their way to orchestrate ings peacefully, next to another, without any adapt artistic offerings to his new home. His ture the moments of life, immortal beauty of forms, ideas, messages. The content of all sharp edges, conflicts, or complexions. dignified brush does not permit traditional nature, always making human struggle such fountaining colors of creative energy, full of Rouben finds in art a space for liberation, art critics to undervalue his presence in the as pleasure, pain, and conflictive reality part life, and full of dreams that are capable to where he explores the edges of realism by contemporary art of this continent, carrying of his own personal feelings. By doing that, flourish in the virgin fields of a white can- gradually landing them into abstraction; the pride of a survival of this multicultural, vas, making all of us in the end to and just like great clouds, Serge Rouben’s brave and experienced professional. understand that creativity is you abstract paintings invite us to see what we Examining almost four decades of the art- without you. want to see. ist’s career, comparing the old and new, one Strategic balancing of shapes Parsing an artist’s biography or his ideol- can be shocked by Rouben’s diverse oeuvre. and colors takes huge profes- ogy can be a framework where the image, A wide range of oil paintings, water colors, sionalism and an emotionally with all its complexity, can talk about the figurative studies, still lives and collages overactive personality. The fruits person who creates it. Self-awareness that are material coverage of numerous exhibits of unifying shapes and colors sometimes is being covered with intention- despite a huge archive of the brightest of establish the personality of the ally murky confusion, creates shadows that artistic varieties, constant technical experi- artist, putting him/her in the path tell a lot about the individual whose magic mentation and captured impressions. of international recognition and hand rendered them into being. Now, when the majority of us are Serge Rouben is an avid traveler Using erotic swatches of colors Rouben e-dreamers, when valleys of love and beau- of that path. softly lands them into each other’s territory ty changed their existential touchability by Good artists act somewhat like and captures the perfect world of impossi- becoming floating images in a virtual world, photographers of their own inner ble dreams far away from his roots and be- we are all somewhat universally crazy and mind who are experiencing uni- ginnings by using the leftovers of overused loneliness itself inhabits in us, making us versal perception of their time nostalgias. understand that we have everyone and at the and environment with the off Generational impact from strict Soviet same time no one. That is when art becomes context, lines, shapes, and colors. school blended intensity of the various ar- our faithful companion and emotional and Yet, everything can be visible in tistic practices makes a challenging task for spiritual necessity. that somewhat distorted reality. any art observant or art professional makes For some, creativity blossoms when there “The Silence of Starry Nights,” it difficult to categorize Rouben’s style un- is proper space and harmony around us, “The Scent of Fresh Baskets of der a certain movement. making us search for novelties to have a Wild Berries,” and “The Sleep- Between the conflict of his mastery of second chance of professional visibility. less Nights of Dreamers and realism and cognitive dissonance that man- To be professionally notable is never an Creators,” are exhausted bodies ifests in his abstract and representational easy task, and Serge Rouben understands of searchers for love that carry works, one can definitely feel the substan- that. He also knows that the search for it can he manages to always remain soulfully con- the heavy loads of harvested mixed impres- tiality of Rouben’s visible ritualistic, some- sometimes lead to a total deterioration of nected to his own artworks. sions, converting them into a deeply person- what eternal atmosphere of his works. They one’s creative honesty, separating your own His abstractions drive the viewer to be al mixture of shapes and colors somewhat capture and create fragments of unusual life shadow from you. in creative unity with the artist, giving a forming fluctuated panoramic views that are performances that happen between very Rouben is maintaining his own identity calming sense of existential harmony that being lit with their own inner lights. sophisticated and sensual places when the and his new environment seems to be re- is departing from the artist and slowly be- Serge Rouben is a master of showing his reality meets the dream. specting that. The proof of it is in a forth- comes part of the collector’s emotional and inner light. The sensual spiral lead takes the When the colors hide definite fire in them, coming catalogue bearing the artist’s name, aesthetical universe. viewer deeper and closer to the fruits of art- characters are eager to intervene, making from the Moscow publisher Prestige Book Serge Rouben’s art can be representation- ists creativity by giving suddenly generated the viewer lose and after losing, rediscover LLC, which intertwines nostalgia with im- al at times, capturing the moments of per- surprises and serendipity at the same time. them in the deformed woods of an existen- pressions and improvisations of the magi- plexities that can lead the eye of the art lover By using the old school masters’ techniques, tial symphony of abstraction. cal roots of Armenian art, making the artist to dynamic exchanges of moods and feel- Serge painlessly optimizes the creative pro- Even though we want to assure the reader proudly call himself an Armenian-Ameri- ings. In the same canvas, representational cess of art from variations of sudden flashes that it was not our intention to share the bi- can artist. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 13 ARTS & CULTURE Brokers of Faith, Brokers of Empire Challenges Assumptions About Armenian Nationalism, Ottoman History BOOKS, from page 8 stantinople, were simultaneously pushing in theory. In this he sets himself apart from the phrase “networked world of imperial Armenian Catholics and Protestants became for Armenian ecclesiastical authority to be some of the less helpful trends in academia governance” is used, nor does one need to separate denominations, so did they. more closely vested in the Patriarchate of today. His book is well-researched and cites be reminded at every mention of the lay Ar- Armenian nationalist thought has gen- the same city. All of this would increase the both historical events, and documents from menian reformers that they were “Porte-em- erally referred to this system with phrases Armenian people’s say in their community the Armenian Constitution to Ottoman law. ployed” (employed by the Sublime Porte, like “in the absence of political sovereignty, administration, and give the elected Patri- The book concludes with explaining the i.e. the Ottoman Government). Antaramian the Church kept the Nation united,” and has arch the power to root out corrupt clergy, creation of the Hamidiye regiments that seems to have forgotten to relate to us the considered that the Armenian perpetrated the Hamidian story of Patriarch Nerses Varjabedian in intellectual renaissance of the massacres of 1894-1896. more detail — he is mentioned in scenes second half of the 19th cen- With the old-school networks from the early National Assembly meet- tury included a reawakening destroyed, Antaramian ar- ings in the beginning, and then his tenure of national sentiment among gues, Sultan Abdulhamid II as patriarch is mentioned at the end in an this far-flung group united coopted the Kurdish tribes oblique manner, with the implication that only by their church and lan- in the Eastern Provinces to the reader is supposed to know the details guage. Meanwhile, non-Ar- maintain control on the Per- of his administration. As previously stated, menian modern historians sian and Russian border. As the book would also profit from a more ex- have seen the Armenians some of the Kurds had re- tensive look at the 1890s – in fact, the entire as an ethno-religious group belled in the 1880s and tried Abdul Hamid period, which started in 1876, who developed a concept to set up their own state, the is rapidly skimmed over. of nationalism in the 19th Sultan chose to curb this ten- These small issues aside, Antaramian’s century in rebellion against dency by arming them and book is well-documented and offers a pro- the Ottoman and Russian making them part of his mili- voking and important thesis. The Armenian Empires, just as the Greeks tary. The new order of things community is often blinded in its histori- and other Balkan peoples was Muslim versus Chris- cal understanding by the hindsight of liv- did. This follows the modern tian, rather than centralizing ing after the Genocide — those Armenians doctrine, originated in Ben- reformers versus regional that promoted revolutionary activity are edict Anderson’s 1983 work leaders. Antaramian’s im- lauded for opposing the Ottoman regime, Imagined Communities, that plication is to question why as if they could have known what would the idea of a “nation” was students of history blame the happen; Armenians who promoted their a social construct that was separatism of the Armenian people’s well-being or ethnic sentiment largely an outgrowth of the revolutionary parties for the are assumed to have had the same outlook, French Revolution. What all massacres of the 1890s when even if, like Khrimian, they actually helped historians seem to agree on a much more pronounced centralize the Ottoman state. Non-Arme- is that leading Armenians and nearly successful sepa- nian historians take these views seriously, dedicated to reform in 19th ratist rebellion by Kurds at and then apply the deconstructionist view century Ottoman Turkey, the same time was answered of nationalism to them, assuming that Ar- including Mgrdich Khrimi- with incorporation into the menians invented a national tradition for an (Khrimian Hayrig) and apparatus of governance themselves in the mid-19th century and others, were early Armenian rather than punishment by rebelled against the Ottoman government. nationalists and possibly massacre. This section of the Antaramian makes an effort to show what pushing for Armenian in- book is not very well fleshed was really going on, without the national- dependence. Antaramian’s out, which is unfortunate be- ist hopefulness of an Armenian bias or the research counters that seem- cause the claim it makes is skepticism of the modern Western acade- ingly obvious narrative. It both controversial and im- my. He is to be lauded for trying to shine also serves as a corrective portant. a light on a little-understood period of his- to those who continue to intimate that the who in general would no longer benefit The book has some minor flaws. An- tory which was ultimately decisive for the Armenians “got what was coming to them” from their illicit methods if “networked” taramian’s prose is occasionally repetitive Armenian identity and the fate of the Ar- in the slaughters of 1895 and 1915 because power structures were rendered useless. It — one cannot count the amount of times menian people. of their rebellion against the Ottoman State. would also allow everyday Armenians the The main thrust of Antaramian’s argu- ability to appeal to either the Patriarchate ment is that Armenian reformers in the 19th or the government for justice, rather than century, including clergy like Khrimian and to be at the mercy of power-hungry clerics laymen like Krikor Odian and other leading or local Kurdish and Turkish aghas. The Armenians who framed the Armenian Na- culmination of these efforts was the dem- tional Constitution, were actually pro-gov- ocratic election of the godfather of reform ernment. Antaramian challenges the cen- himself, Khrimian Hayrig, as Patriarch of ter-periphery paradigm of much of Ottoman Constantinople in 1869. Khrimian and his CALENDAR historiography by arguing that Ottoman allies, rather than being Armenian revolu- OF EVENTS & PROGRAMS Turkey prior to the Tanzimat (“Reorganiza- tionary secessionists and proto-nationalists, tion,” 1839-1876) period was a country that worked hand in hand with the centraliza- MASSACHUSETTS operated under “networked governance.” In tion effort of the Turkish government. The simplified terms: backroom deals, violence goal of modernizers and reformers, Turkish SEPTEMBER 25 — Amaras will hold its annual Walkathon in support of the Ar- by Kurdish tribal chiefs, bribes from Arme- and Armenian alike, was to have a more menian Bone Marrow Donor Registry. Registration and Check In:10:30 am nian moneylenders, and the relationships organized and orderly administration in – 11:00 am. Walk: Starts at 11:00 am. Start Location: Armenian Cultural and forged by power brokers like the Armenian Constantinople, with more power over the Educational Center (ACEC) 47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown. End Location: clergy of the title were more influential than provinces – and that applied to the Ottoman Saltonstall Park at Watertown Square. Registration Fee: $25 for Adults; $10 the rule of law. The Ottoman government government as well as the Armenian Na- for Students and Children (Children need to register to participate in the attempted to break down this world and tional Administration. Walk). Online Registration is highly recommended. For more information: bring the empire more closely under the Antaramian gives a wealth of color- call 617-331-0426 or email [email protected] control of the central government in Con- ful historical detail, like the murder of NEW JERSEY stantinople. Armenian reformers aided in Aghtamar’s Catholicos Bedros Bulbul, the that effort, argues Antaramian. activities of Khrimian and his student Kare- SEPTEMBER 25 — The TCA Mher Megerdchian Theatrical Group Presents an Educated young Armenians, many of kin Srvantzdiants, local politics in Van and open air concert with Huyser Music Ensemble. Saturday. Save the date. De- whom worked in government posts, pushed the crimes of the notorious prelate Boghos tails to follow. for the creation of an Armenian National Melikian, and other examples from the his- NOVEMBER 13 — Save the Date: Saturday. 12 Vocations, Fulfilling the Promise Constitution that was promulgated in 1860 tory of Armenians in the mid-19th centu- of St. Nersess Seminary. Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of St. Nersess and fully ratified in 1863. This put the elec- ry. Antaramian sees all these events in the Armenian Seminary and the vocations of the first 12 priests who graduated tion of the Patriarch of Constantinople on a context of a struggle between the partisans from St. Nersess and St. Vladimir’s Seminaries and were ordained. This is more democratic basis rather than be sub- of “reform” and those loyal to the old- the first in a series of events to recognize the alumni of St. Nersess, both ject to the whims of the amiras (elite Arme- school “world of networked governance.” ordained and lay, who are in service to the Armenian Church, in any capacity. nian financiers and bureaucrats). Further- He lays the theoretical groundwork for his The celebratory dinner will be held at the Old Tappan Manor in Old Tappan, more, the reformers, who as employees of argument in the first part of the book, and N.J. For more info, go to www.stnersess.edu. the government were pursuing the Tanzimat continuously refers to it. But Antaramian goal of centralizing Ottoman power in Con- is, thankfully, more interested in facts than 14 SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

ARTS & CULTURE

INGREDIENTS: For the soup: 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, to taste 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup) Recipe 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed q 2 tablespoons minced garlic (from about 5 cloves) by Christine 2 teaspoons paprika 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper Vartanian 2 tablespoons tomato paste Corner 1 1/2 cups diced tomato (fresh or from a 14-15 oz can) 1/2 cup coarse bulgur, #3 grade 1/2 cup red lentils, sorted, rinsed and drained 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth 3 cups water Juice of 1 lemon Several grinds black pepper

For the mint oil: 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons Garlic Mint Salt, or crushed dried mint Pinch cayenne pepper 1 clove garlic, minced

PREPARATION For the soup: In a large pot over medium heat, heat the oil until it shimmers. Add the onion and salt, cooking until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, paprika, cayenne and tomato paste. Cook for about a minute to release the aroma and flavor. Add the diced tomatoes, increase the heat and bring to a boil for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the bulgur, lentils, bulgur, broth, water, and bring back to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to medium low, and cook for about 25 minutes, or until the lentils and bulgur are cooked through but not mushy. Stir in the lemon juice and pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Maureen Abood’s Lentil Bulgur For the mint oil: Soup with Mint Olive Oil Heat the oil in a small sauté pan over low heat. Add the garlic and cook just until aromatic, about 1 minute. Stir in the mint salt and cayenne. Remove from the heat. This original recipe was posted on January 15, 2021 by Maureen Abood at her Serve the soup with a generous drizzle of mint oil on top. popular Middle Eastern food blog: https://www.maureenabood.com/lentil-bulgur- Serves 6. soup-with-mint-olive-oil/ Maureen Abood is a second-generation Lebanese American, and an expert in Shop MaureenAboodMarket.com for the best-selling Fattoush Salad Kit, Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine. She publishes recipes at her award-win- Smooth Hummus Kit, olive oils, spices, and gifts. ning website, Maureen- Follow Maureen on Social Media: Abood.com, and cook- https://www.facebook.com/maureen.abood book, Rose Water & https://www.pinterest.com/maureenabood/ Orange Blossoms: Fresh https://www.instagram.com/maureenabood/ & Classic Recipes from https://www.youtube.com/user/maureenabood My Lebanese Kitchen. Discover outstanding ingredients, kits, skills, Rose Water & Orange Blossoms Cookbook, Signed $30.00 and tools to make home Maureen Abood’s ac- cooking even more ap- claimed Lebanese cook- pealing and enjoyable at book, Rose Water & Orange MaureenAboodMarket. Blossoms, is a treasure trove com. of “Fresh and Classic Leb- Maureen’s childhood anese Recipes,” and the and upbringing as a reviews have been superb Lebanese-American in across the country, includ- Michigan inspired her to ing in the New York Times. launch her website and Beautifully written and pho- online shop, and write tographed, with great tips her cookbook. Her work to help you cook and enjoy explores her heritage Lebanese cuisine, this book through its most-beloved Trained chef, food writer, photographer and makes a special gift any foods. Her creative culi- author Maureen Abood time of year. nary guides, from grand- parents to parents, cousins, and aunts, come alive in her stories. “Not nearly well known A long-time writer and cook, her work has been published extensively, includ- enough in this country, the ing the New York Times, the Washington Post, Saveur, and the Huffington Post. rich and fragrant Lebanese She furthered her passion for food at Tante Marie’s Cooking School in San Fran- cuisine finally gets this worthy representation both in the range of dishes present- cisco, from which she graduated in 2010. Taking an ingredient-focused approach ed and the gorgeous, mouth-watering illustrations of them.” – Mimi Sheraton, that makes the most of every season’s bounty, Maureen presents more than 100 longtime food critic of The New York Times and author of 1,000 Foods to Eat irresistible recipes in her cookbook that will delight readers with their evocative Before You Die flavors: Spiced Lamb Kofta Burgers, Avocado Tabbouleh in Little Gems, and Pomegranate Rose Sorbet. Throughout the cookbook there are the touching sto- “A terrific and important book!” – Anthony Bourdain, host of Anthony Bour- ries of Maureen’s Lebanese-American upbringing, the path that led her to culinary dain: Parts Unknown and author of Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Cu- school and to launch her blog, and life in Harbor Springs, her lakeside Michigan linary Underbelly town. Maureen is a major proponent of the Mediterranean Diet, working a component “Maureen is a special kind of cookbook author – insightful, mindful of tra- of it into every meal or snack of the day. The Mediterranean Diet blends the basics dition, always appreciative. Rose Water and Orange Blossoms celebrates life, of healthy eating with the traditional flavors and cooking methods of the Mediter- family, beautiful recipes, and Lebanese (culinary) food ways. She uniquely uses ranean featured in Lebanon, Greece, Italy and other cultures along Mediterranean charm, experience, warmth, and evocative storytelling to invite us into the se- Sea. “After all, this is the healthiest of ways to eat and live,” says Maureen. This ductive realm of her Lebanese table – rose water, orange blossom, pomegranate, appetizing vegetarian/vegan soup is tops on the healthy-delicious list for includ- sumac, dates, and all.” – Heidi Swanson, author of Super Natural Every Day ing grains, legumes, herbs and olive oil. Maureen says her recipe was inspired by To order a signed copy of Rose Water & Orange Blossoms Cookbook, go to: a recipe that was originally featured in the Washington Post. She suggests serving https://maureenaboodmarket.com/collections/cookbook-gifts this soup as a main course with a tossed salad and garlic toast or pita chips. This Recipes: MaureenAbood.com soup is also great as a starter or a sustaining lunch mid-day. Shop: MaureenAboodMarket.com SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 15

COMMENTARY THE ARMENIAN Mirror SPECTATOR Editorial Since 1932 Tide May Be Turning Against Azerbaijan With Renewed OSCE Efforts An ADL Publication The second Karabakh war came to an end tion, by engaging in border shootings with Armenia. with the signing of the trilateral declaration Although these statements demonstrate a favorable tilt in The First English Language on November 9, 2020, but the war of attri- Moscow’s relations with Armenia, critics in Yerevan interpret- Armenian Weekly in the tion continues with Azerbaijani incursions ed these statements with a grain of salt. For example, politi- within Armenia’s sovereign territory. cal analyst Hakob Badalyan wrote in a column sarcastically United States No matter how those skirmishes are por- that Russia, holding the military balance in the Caucasus, has trayed by the participants of the conflict or armed Azerbaijan sufficiently to win the war and armed Ar- EDITOR By Edmond Y. by the international community, the inten- menia commensurately to lose the war. His conclusion was Alin K. Gregorian Azadian tion is very clear: Presidents Recep Tayy- that since Azerbaijan acquired Turkish and Israeli weapons, MANAGING EDITOR ip Erdogan of Turkey and Ilham Aliyev of in addition to the Russian military supplies, Armenia similarly Aram Arkun Azerbaijan have referred, on many occasions, to Armenia’s has to look elsewhere, particularly to the West, to balance its dwindling population, which may eventually make the take- foreign policy. ART DIRECTOR over easier, even without a war. In defense of this comment, we should remember how Rus- Mark (Mgrditchian) McKertich Unfortunately, there is a sad logic behind that argument. sia has refused Prime Minister Pashinyan’s request to station Many Armenians leave their homeland because they see no Russian border guards between Armenian and Azerbaijani SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST future for their children there. No matter how patriotic Arme- forces. Edmond Y. Azadian nia’s citizens may be, thinking objectively, they may conclude These balancing acts do not offer convincing evidence that STAFF WRITER that they cannot build a solid family life in their homeland and Russia truly is concerned with Armenia’s security. They sim- Harry Kezelian III they seek life elsewhere. After all, they think, they will have ply demonstrate Moscow’s disillusionment with Azerbaijan, one life to live and they cannot afford to lose that life in a per- which, after receiving Russian blessing for its victory over Ar- CONTRIBUTORS petual hot zone which might break out into war at any given menia, surrendered completely to Turkey politically. Christopher Atamian, Florence Avakian, time. That fulfills the ultimate goal of the country’s enemies. Although Aliyev is concerned with Moscow’s actions, Taleen Babayan, Artsvi Bakhchinyan, Within this perspective, all political deals, discussions and which he believes are favoring Armenia, he is more concerned Raffi Bedrosyan, Christine Vartanian counteraccusations are rendered meaning- Datian, Dr. Arshavir Gundjian, Philippe less. The alternative must be to build the Raffi Kalfayan, Ken Martin, Gerald armed forces and to decide to live in an armed Papasian, Harut Sassounian, Hagop garrison to have peace and stability. That un- Vartivarian fortunately does not seem an achievable goal REGIONAL with Armenia’s limited resources and its de- CORRESPONDENTS pendence on its allies and friends for arms LOS ANGELES: Ani Duzdabanyan- supplies. Manoukian, Kevork Keushkerian, The continued harassment and aggression Michelle Mkhlian by Azerbaijan is intended to convince Arme- YEREVAN: Raffi Elliott nia to give up Karabakh and worry instead for BERLIN: Muriel Mirak-Weissbach its own security. That was the conclusion of PARIS: Jean Eckian Thomas de Waal, an expert on the Caucasus SAN FRANCISCO: Kim Bardakian with Carnegie Europe, which he explained in CAIRO: Maydaa Nadar an interview with Radio Free Europe. A segment of the population of Arme- PHOTOGRAPHERS nia quietly resented the Karabakh war and Jirair Hovsepian, Ken Martin blamed it for Armenia’s problems; more and

VIDEO CORRESPONDENT more of that population has become vocal: Haykaram Nahapetyan “Let’s get rid of Karabakh and live a peaceful life,” they say. At one point, a similar senti- ment was entertained by Baku Armenians, The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is who believed that Karabakh’s demand for published weekly, except two weeks in independence or unity with Armenia caused July and the first week of the year, by: the Baku and Sumgait pogroms and led to the Baikar Association, Inc. expulsion of the 400,000-strong Armenian 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA population in Azerbaijan. 02472-1509 However, historic developments come to prove that those with the statements coming from the West. First, US Ambas- Telephone: 617-924-4420 resentments were misplaced. Azerbaijan’s mentor, Turkey, sador Lynne Tracy stated that the Karabakh war has left many FAX: 617-924-2887 had all along planned to uproot the Armenians from the Cau- problems unsettled and negotiations have to resume under the www.mirrorspectator.com casus to serve its pan-Turanic goals, as it did in historic Arme- auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in E-Mail: [email protected] nia, leading to a homogeneous Muslim population (except that Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group for a final peaceful settlement. For advertising: [email protected] there they had not taken into account Kurdish irredentism). Bolstering that call for backing the OSCE effort was French At the present time, President Aliyev is in a rush to beat President Emmanuel Macron’s phone discussions with Pash- the odds and forestall the developing political situation in the inyan and President Putin, about the need to resume negotia- SUBSCRIPTION RATES Caucasus. His remarks on CNN-Turk on August 14 created tions. U.S.A. $80 one year some waves in the media. He reiterated his demand for the These statements will be amplified with Macron’s upcom- Canada $125 one year Zangezur Corridor and his claims on Yerevan and Sevan, but ing personal visit to the region. Although the US and French Other Countries $200 one year above all, he complained about Russia’s rearming Armenia. co-chairs of the Minsk Group have stated the need for fur- He cynically stated that Armenians have come to accept their ther negotiations, until now Moscow was dragging its feet. It © 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator situation as a defeated people and as proof, he cited the reelec- seems Macron’s call to President Putin has promised interna- Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, tion of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. tional legitimacy to Russian peacekeeping forces, if enhanced MA and additional mailing offices. The Russian side did not wait too long to respond to Ali- with some European soldiers from Scandinavia. yev’s statements. In fact, on August 19, Maria Zakharova, the These developments have been worrying President Aliyev ISSN 0004-234X official spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said: and that is why he is trying to extract a peace treaty with Ar- “It is in Russia’s sovereign right and the Russian side always menia, legitimizing the takeover of Karabakh, before the co- takes into account maintaining a balance of military power in chairs begin to discuss the future status of the enclave. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Armenian the region.” Also, the resumption of those negotiations will sideline Tur- Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount She added, “In this regard, I would like to note the absolute key, which in Aliyev’s conviction, has already occupied a per- Auburn St., counter-productiveness of confrontational rhetoric, let alone manent place in the Caucasus. Watertown, MA 02472 bellicose rhetoric, which political leaders in the South Cauca- As Aliyev races for a quick settlement to legitimize his con- sus sometimes resort to.” quest, Armenia is pinning its hopes on the Minsk Group ac- Other than the Editorial, views This was a direct reference to President Aliyev’s warlike tions, now that the US and France have convinced Russia to and opinions expressed in this statements. join the tandem. newspaper do not necessarily Zakharova’s remarks were amplified with a statement from Now comes the next crucial question: If and when Kara- reflect the policies of the the Russian Ministry of Defense for the first time, blaming bakh’s self-determination is finalized, would that be within publisher. Azerbaijan for violating the spirit of the November 9 declara- Azerbaijan or a different status? 16 SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR COMMENTARY

Such Armenians were considered in Turkey as a resource to be actuated whenever the Armenian Cause was touched upon. Thus, Tansu Çiler, Turkey’s prime minister Denial of the Armenian at the time, as well as her political successors, have many times threatened to deport the Armenians that have settled in Turkey if Armenia continues “abusing” Turkey or blaming it for the pursuance of Armenian Genocide. During the past 20 years, Turk- Genocide in Turkey as an ish officials have always overestimated the number of such people, declaring that the number of Armenians in Turkey exceeds 100 thousand. An interesting detail here is that in the course of their gross propaganda the Turkish leaders confuse 50 thousand Obstacle for Normalizing Turkish Armenians residing in Istanbul and the mainly labor migrants entering Turkey from Armenia. And finally, the Sevres syndrome, alongside a great desire not to concede the Turkish Relations with Armenia fatherland at any cost to any one during the past century, have always been grave rea- By Davit Safaryan sons for a strictly negative attitude towards Armenians. Fifteen years ago, an American organization had initiated a public opinion poll in Turkey for the purpose of clarifying Special to the Mirror-Spectator which peoples are mostly disliked in Turkey. And the response was not unexpected: the most disliked were Armenians, the second were the Jews and the third, Americans. After the Armenian parliamentary elections of June 20, the issue of establishing offi- Our sociologists following the development of this problem say that no such poll was cial relations firstly with Azerbaijan and then with Turkey has risen again. Consequent- held recently simply because there was no need. ly, the specialists and those dealing with this problem are trying to understand whether We have to understand that the expenses incurred by the Turkish authorities for the the contacts between Armenia and Azerbaijan under Russian auspices could lead to denial and hushing the question of the Armenian Genocide are far more modest than some tangible prospective. Russian President Vladimir Putin is obviously consistent the means required for possible reparations that may logically arise if Turkey recog- in his efforts to re-launch routes of communication and international transportation nizes the Armenian Genocide. That is why although the official recognition of the through the South Caucasus for the sake of economic development. We have already Armenian catastrophe as Genocide pronounced by the US President Joe Biden on this stated in our previous article in the Mirror-Spectator in early August that re-opening of April 24 was a strong blow for Turkey still it lacked enough pressure that might disarm communications between Armenia and Azerbaijan may be followed by the re-opening and compel it to look otherwise at this painful question. of the border and re-launching of rail- and motor ways with Turkey. Therefore after 2009-2011 the package of issues connected with the settlement of Armenia’s relations Turk-Azerbaijani Cooperation in Denying the Armenian Genocide with Turkey, establishment of diplomatic relations and re-opening of the communica- As we know, Turkey and Azerbaijan are closely cooperating within the ideological tion ways actualizes anew. In this analysis we’ll try to see what hinders solving this frames of “One nation, two states.” Long-term monitoring of the Turkish and Azerbai- problem from the end of the 44-days war up to the present. jani press led us to believe in the existence of confidential arrangements and comple- mentary activities in the field of the Armenian Genocide denial. Turkey has eradicated Where are the ‘Anadolu’ Armenians? not only the concept of Western Armenia but also the Armenians from there. Yet the The denial of the Armenian Genocide, supported on the state level in Turkey since concept of Eastern Armenia or Russian Armenia, part of which is occupied by the cur- 1923, is intended to disallow any remedy against Armenian claims for their infringed rent Republic of Armenia, is still preserved. Azerbaijan’s demand to return the Azer- rights as a result of international pressure. It is well known that official Turkish propa- baijani regions that passed under Nagorno-Karabakh control after the first Artsakh war ganda denies the reality of Armenian Genocide and does not even permit discussing was supported by many in the world because modern international relations are based that question on an official level. on the standoffish idea of territorial integrity. All of this became obvious during the 44 Of what are the Turkish authorities afraid? They have an inner fear that as a result days war. However, during the past 20 years it was not the only goal of Azerbaijan. of international (Western) pressure, provisions of the Sevres Treaty concerning ter- Official Baku has never concealed that it considers the area of the former Yerevan ritorial concessions to Armenians, their deportation in 1915-1923, recovery of their Khanate (along with Yerevan and eastern part of Gegharkunik and Zangezur) as a destroyed or confiscated wealth (or some monetary reparations in its stead) may arise territory belonging to historical Azerbaijan and has many times asserted its claims for again sometime in the future. And though currently, at the beginning of the 21st cen- this region. Let us try to get at what is concealed behind this bellicose and expansionist tury, over a century after the Armenian Genocide, the present Republic of Armenia rhetoric. has no way to compete with the Republic of Turkey, whether by might or potential, or We insist that it is based on a mutually agreed-upon Turkish-Azerbaijani line that Armenians must be compelled to renounce any claims for historical Armenia. Actually, it appears that Western Armenia is just a part of the Turkish fatherland as the Turkish “To this day, Turkey cannot leaders of the past 300 years had been claiming while Eastern Armenia is a territory held by the Shia khans. After getting back its seven districts, Azerbaijan did not stop its animosity and hatred towards Armenia. It seemed that we could already reach some answer the question of the arrangements about peace and establishing normal relations. None of it! A state built on violence and Armenophobia continues displaying the same work civilized West that if there is no style, waiting for some signals from somewhere to have the best ever positions in peace negotiations. All of this could be a game if it were not accompanied by human Armenian Genocide, then where contingencies, destruction, and tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani borders. Thus, in this situation there are several processes going in parallel with each other that are are the 2 million Anatolian passing like red threads but not related out loud, while efforts for a sustainable peace are still applied. Evidently Turkey and Azerbaijan aim at working out some adaptation (historical West Armenia and mechanisms for the US and other European countries against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. adjacent areas) Armenians.” Azerbaijan has accepted the thankless task of justifying Turkey at any cost, aiming to provide a service for its elder brother suffering from moral and psychological dis- comfort in the international process of Genocide recognition. At the same time, the Turks working from the position of Realpolitik and the Azerbaijanis that have become fight against it, the process of official recognition and international condemnation of strengthened during the past 10 years cannot understand in their activities why the the Armenian Genocide pursued by Armenia is perceived in Turkey as a subconscious great states are able to reach their goals through the exercise of violence, force, pres- threat to its fundamental territorial integrity and security. sure and arms, while Turkey and Azerbaijan cannot. Because in the process of satis- To this day, Turkey cannot answer the question of the civilized West that if there is fying their appetite with respect to Armenia (interrupted by the Soviet interlude) they no Armenian Genocide, then where are the 2 million Anatolian (historical West Arme- meet a complication formulated as follows: the recognition and condemnation of the nia and adjacent areas) Armenians. Turks say that there have been 1 million, not 2 and Armenian Genocide is one of the priorities of Armenian foreign policy aimed at pro- the number of deported to the Syrian desert did not exceed 300 thousand. Well then, hibiting the repetition of that tragedy in respect of Armenians and ensuring their safe where are the others? life in the super-complicated region of the South Caucasus. That is why Turkey and For the first time, in 2009 Turkish propaganda admitted in official media that about Azerbaijan will do whatever possible to remove this obstacle, so that this complication half a million Muslims inhabiting in eastern Turkey have an Armenian background. cannot hinder their expansion throughout the entire South Caucasus and turn this re- They are called now “covert” Armenians in Turkey. According to non-official data gion into an efficient and fail-safe bridge between Turkey and Central Asia. their number is more than a million. In a Muslim state governed by a party sharing the It seems Armenia should seriously consider an internal political consensus about the ideas of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamization of those Armenians cannot be per- questions to be negotiated with Turkey when the time comes and the problem ripens. ceived negatively. But there is an insurmountable contradiction between the Turkish The collective political and national thinking of Armenia and its diaspora does not Muslim worldview and one of the qualifications of the genocide: namely that forced have much time to ruminate and discuss this seemingly insolvable tangle of questions, conversion is also a form of genocide. This claim will never be admitted in a Muslim but we cannot simply sit and look at the development of processes in our region. Our country. political thought is in demand today and the state should encourage such discussions The Turks try to answer the question where and why the Armenians went, deserting ensuring the participation of the representatives of the diaspora. the land that was their home for 4.5 thousand years by a counterargument — Turkey’s tacit approval given to Armenians from Armenia and settling there. There are many interesting and notable approaches in this respect, which should be understood. There Davit Safaryan, PhD in History, was born in 1989 in Yerevan, Armenia. Graduate are no official data about the Armenian citizens leaving for Turkey. Ten years ago, they of the Department of Turkic Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies of the Yerevan State through that the number varied between at least 20,000 to maximum 40,000 people. University (bachelor and master degrees), post-graduate of the Institute of Oriental The official agencies of Armenia had neither the possibility nor the desire to deal with Studies, NAS RA, co-author of one monograph and author of a number of articles, the issues of legal protection for Armenian citizens settling in Turkey. Never in pres- and participant of international conferences, he worked at the National Assembly of ent-day Armenian reality has the question of the infringement of the Armenians’ rights Armenia, Ministry of Diaspora, Noravank Scientific-Educational Foundation and at in Turkey ever been brought up. the provost administration of Yerevan State University. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 17

COMMENTARY

My Turn national scrutiny for alleged human rights abuses. The firm was criticized by Candidate for Governor of name in a report called ‘The Torturers’ Lobby’ published in 1992 by the Center for Public Integrity. The McAuliffe campaign [during his failed bid for Gover- Virginia, A Turkish Lobbyist, nor in 2009] said the company’s work for Turkey had to do with a longstanding dispute between Armenia and Turkey over a period of history after World War Should be Defeated I when the Ottoman Empire killed, by some estimates, more than 1 million by Harut Sassounian The Washington Free Beacon online newspaper pub- Armenians. Every year, Armenia [more correctly, Armenian-Americans] seeks lished on August 20, 2021 an article by Chuck Ross, ti- legislation in Congress characterizing this period as the Armenian Genocide, tled: “Turkey Paid McAuliffe’s Firm to Lobby US Against Recognition of Ar- and every year, the Turkish government opposes the legislation.” menian Genocide.” “McAuliffe was implicated in the 1996 Democratic National Committee Terry McAuliffe is the Democratic Party candidate for governor of the State campaign finance scandal, in which he arranged overnight stays at the White of Virginia. He won the Democratic Primary election on June 8, 2021 and will House for Democratic Party donors. Before his first stint as governor of Vir- face Republican Party nominee Glenn Youngkin in the state’s general election ginia, McAuliffe directly lobbied the Obama administration to help his electric in November. The polls indicate that it is a very close race. McAuliffe previous- car company, GreenTech Automotive, gain access to a federal visa program for ly served as Virginia governor from 2014 to 2018. potential Chinese investors. The Justice Department also investigated whether Armenian-Americans should help defeat McAuliffe to send a signal that they McAuliffe took illegal donations from a Chinese billionaire during his 2013 will not tolerate anyone who lies about the Armenian Genocide and gets paid for it. gubernatorial campaign,” revealed The Washington Free Beacon. The government of Turkey paid McAuliffe’s consulting firm cofounded by “McAuliffe’s [current] campaign did not respond to a request for comment him, McAuliffe, Kelly, & Raffaelli, nearly $1.3 million from 1990 to 1994 to do about his firm’s contract with Turkey or his position on the 2019 recognition of “a variety of lobbying and public relations services,” including hindering the the Armenian genocide,” The Washington Free Beacon reported. U.S. Congress from acknowledging the Armenian Genocide, The Washington Many years have passed since McAuliffe firm’s lobbying activities on behalf Free Beacon reported. of Turkey. In 2019, the House overwhelmingly, the Senate unanimously, and in McAuliffe was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee and a 2021, Pres. Joe Biden acknowledged the Armenian Genocide. However, Arme- longtime friend of President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary. Even though nian-Americans should never forget the names of those who sold their souls for McAuliffe has said that he did not engage in day-to-day lobbying activities of the almighty dollar. This is a disgrace that such lobbyists should carry to their his firm, his former partner Richard Spees told Politico Magazine that“he graves. Furthermore, McAuliffe has never apologized for his firm’s deceitful was the glue that held the place together.” According to Foreign Agent Reg- actions and has not asked for forgiveness. This is more of a reason why no Ar- istration Act (FARA) disclosures that I have reviewed, McAuliffe’s lobbying menian should ever consider forgetting his despicable action. It does not matter company contributed tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations to at all what political party such denialists belong to. dozens of House and Senate members, arranged private meetings for the Turk- This is a timely matter since President Biden recently nominated former ish Ambassador in Washington with members of Congress, and regularly met Senator Jeff Flake (Republican of Arizona) to serve as U.S. Ambassador to with multiple members of Congress and high-level White House officials in the Turkey. As a House of Representatives member, he voted in 2005, 2007, and course of its lobbying activities. 2010 against the Armenian Genocide resolution in the International Relations According to FARA disclosures, “McAuliffe’s firm received $1,287,500 from Committee. In 2014, Flake was also one of only five US Senators to oppose the the Turkish government to arrange meetings with American policymakers for Armenian Genocide resolution in the Committee on Foreign Relations. Turkey’s ambassador and diplomats. Turkey’s contract called on the firm to Flake has not apologized for the series of shameful votes he cast in the House lobby Congress on bilateral trade and to ‘counter any efforts detrimental to and Senate denying the truth of the Armenian Genocide. It remains to be seen the Turkish-U.S. relationship,’” which included blocking congressional efforts how he will explain his negative votes on the Armenian Genocide to the Senate to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, according to The Washington Free Committee on Foreign Relations that will consider his nomination. Beacon. The last thing Armenian-Americans need is having a denialist U.S. Ambas- In an article published on March 26, 2009, the Washington Post noted: “Per- sador in Ankara who will reinforce the Turkish government’s lies on the Arme- haps most controversial was the company’s [McAuliffe, Kelly, & Raffaelli] rep- nian Genocide. Senators should ask some tough questions to Sen. Flake, and if resentation of Turkey at a time when that government was the subject of inter- not satisfied with his answers, they should block his nomination.

Flake’s nomination, which is of course political, sug- Author’s Background gest that Biden’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide I am a psychotherapist specializing in working with had political strings attached? That seems very unlike- traumatized people as well as in conflict resolution ef- Why Senator ly, since it’s on the Congressional record that Biden has forts with Armenians and Turks, and Israelis and Pales- supported Armenian Genocide recognition since 1990 tinians. Partly that background, and partly the historical (Arm. Mir-Spec., 6/24/21). record of too much compromise and corruption (both material and moral) I was compelled me to write my Flake as US What seems more likely is that in Biden’s mind, his book, Collective Trauma and the Armenian Genocide: 2021 recognition settled the U.S. stance on the reality Armenian, Turkish and Azerbaijani Relations Since of the Genocide, freeing him to choose someone able to 1839, published earlier this year. The book is addressed oversee the US’s other important concerns, interests, and to Armenians, Turks, and Azerbaijanis who are seriously Ambassador complex relations with Turkey. If so, the issue of his an- engaged in trying to improve their relationships, and to ti-Genocide recognition vote will nonetheless be raised. others interested, as citizens and concerned people, in Of the greatest importance and perhaps even more un- conflict resolution efforts affecting their countries. known is how the U.S. will deal with possible further Beginning with my awareness of how important my To Turkey? threats and aggressive actions to Armenia and Karabakh great-grandfather, Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, was by the Turkish-Azerbaijani alliance. to Armenians, my book reports on my long journey in By Pamela Steiner Since his election as president, President Biden has such “conflict resolution” work and on my learning. This not, in spite of all those other American concerns and in- includes my take on a history of these relationships from N APRIL 2021, President Biden be- terests, been soft on Turkey regarding human rights. As 1839 from the perspective of the role of collective trau- came the second US president to ac- well as recognizing the Armenian Genocide, earlier this ma in that history. Writing the history from this perspec- knowledge the Armenian Genocide. In year, he criticized Turkey’s withdrawal from a European tive enabled me to see opportunities for better relations this context, President Biden’s recent convention on violence against women. Going forward, at different times, ones not usually discussed. I like to nomination of former US Senator Jeff and now after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, it think that demonstrating that the history was not pre-or- Flake as ambassador to Turkey raises remains unknown whether Biden and an Ambassador dained or inevitable is essential to inspiring people to difficult questions. Flake is certainly Flake will speak out for free speech in Turkey and the feel that they can make a difference and thus help ensure able, thoughtful, and a Republican who release from jail of numerous journalists. Even if they a better future. did not support Trump and did support do, the effect of such advocacy remains to be seen. My study of the history and my experiences as a trau- ma psychotherapist and in the conflict resolution field Biden’s presidential candidacy. But why Will the U.S. protest those individuals similarly con- have all taught me of the need for major expansion in nominate him for the position in Turkey strained in Azerbaijan, Turkey’s self-proclaimed “broth- the conception and practice of “conflict resolution.” In when, as a member of the House and Senate, he repeat- er” nation and ally in the recent war over Karabakh? A the book’s last chapter, I propose fresh possibilities for edly voted against Armenian Genocide resolutions? few years ago, Azerbaijan notoriously placed its own conflict resolution work. The proposals arise out of the IAlthough I do not know the answer, I offer some pos- long-celebrated writer, 84-year-old (Azerbaijani) Akram book’s main argument that, until the presence and effects sible reasons why Flake voted as he did on the resolu- Aylisli, under house arrest after he spoke out in favor of collective trauma on peace-building are recognized, tions. One is that it was to conform with the position of of Armenian-Azerbaijani reconciliation, banned and people’s thinking will continue to evade certain realities some members of his party. Another possibility is that he burned his books, and stripped him of his officially when evaluating the present, enabling history to rhyme had accepted meaningful financial support for his con- awarded title, People’s Writer and other medals. gressional campaigns from the substantial Turkish lobby if not repeat. In light of today’s precarious situations of and felt he owed them. Another is that he did not believe For now, I conclude that the principled politician both Armenia and Karabakh, not much could be more there was a genocide. Flake generally presents gives some reason to hope important for citizens at all levels than to turn serious at- Whatever the actual reason(s), would Flake, as am- that he may be a responsible ambassador. The concerns tention to examining the effects of so much unprocessed bassador, be convincingly able to help restore trust in and questions I raised will be asked and answered soon collective trauma on their internal politics and decision the United States as supportive of human rights? Does enough. making. 18 SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

COMMENTARY The Borderization of Armenia and Artsakh By Madlen Avetyan and Avedis Hadjian outside world through Iran, if we exclude Georgia, unre- consisted of Palestinian residents under Israeli jurisdiction. Special to the Mirror-Spectator liable in the best of cases and increasingly drawn into the The Oslo Accords in the 1990s were an attempt to bro- Turkish sphere of influence by way of trade and defense ker peace between Palestine and Israel, but the negotiations The predicament Armenia finds itself in invites compari- agreements. went nowhere as Israel either receded on its earlier agree- sons with the fate of Palestine. Encroachments by Azerbai- Let us now examine the case of Palestine and its similar- ments or refused to implement new agreements. While jani soldiers into Armenian territory proper since May 12 ities and differences with Armenia. portrayed as a move for peace, Israel was driving a hard have followed catastrophic defeat in the 44-day war over bargain with harsh requirements from Palestinians that es- the enclave of the Republic of Artsakh. More importantly, The Break-up of Palestine sentially were cutting their country up into four separated the war has brought Azerbaijani positions to within feet of After Ottoman rule, the Balfour declaration placed Pal- entities with no territorial contiguity. Palestine was cut up the Armenian border and within a couple of hours, at most, estine under British mandate in 1917. This status only from East to West and from North to South, turning Pal- from Yerevan and other targets of major strategic signifi- changed with the birth of the state of Israel in 1948. While estine into groups of islands surrounded by Israeli settlers cance. Israel became a sovereign member of the international and soldiers. Armenia is not Palestine, but threats to its territorial in- community, Palestine never gained statehood. While the Oslo Accords negotiations were taking place tegrity present similarities with the Palestinian case. Arme- nia is a recognized member of the community of nations, yet the war has crippled the country’s capacity to defend it- self, increasing its dependence on Russia. While nominally the guarantor of its territorial integrity, Russia has respond- ed with passivity to the acts of aggression by Azerbaijan and Turkey against Armenia. The current process of gradual disintegration of Ar- menia’s sovereignty may be seen as a classic example of “borderization,” a term coined after the Georgian defeat in the war against Russian-backed Ossetia in 2008. A pro- cess of delimitation and demarcation ensued, during which Russian forces set up barbed wire, dug trenches and mili- tary checkpoints well inside Georgian territory, much like Azerbaijan is trying to do now in Armenia. Georgia has labeled these hostile demarcation activities as “creeping annexation,” which is apparently under way in the Arme- nian border areas with Azerbaijan as well. The precarious status of the borders of its sovereign ter- ritory, violated by enemy forces that walked into it without firing a single shot, and the shrinking of Artsakh into an Armenian-populated pocket encircled by Azerbaijani-oc- cupied territory and linked to Armenia through a corridor that at its narrowest is a two-lane road in Shushi, represent a sharp deterioration compared to the status quo ante. The war left more than 3,700 Armenian soldiers dead and the loss of approximately 80 percent of the territory of the en- Evening traffic in the center of Stepanakert. The building of the National Assembly is in the background clave. (right) (photo Avedis Hadjian, January 2021) The strategic value of Artsakh has been an article of faith for Armenians. So has been the notion that the loss of Art- sakh would compromise Syunik, therefore threatening the In 1948, Jews legally owned slightly more than 6 per- the number of Jewish settlements in occupied Palestin- territorial integrity of Armenia. The current border viola- cent of the land of Palestine. Lands legally and illegally ian territories doubled. In the meantime, Palestinians’ tions by Azerbaijan and pressure by both Azerbaijan and owned by Jews were incorporated within the borders of the freedom of movement was becoming even more restrict- Turkey (with tacit Russian support?) to open a transport Jewish state in 1948 when Israel gained statehood. Laws ed. In 1993, a massive new highway network was built corridor across Syunik uniting Turkey and the Azerbaijani were then passed to prevent Palestinians from reclaiming by Israel on occupied Palestinian territories that isolated Nakhichevan exclave with Azerbaijan only confirm -Ar the lands they lost under illegal purchases. Palestinian towns from each other and from Jerusalem. menian concerns, best expressed by a phrase attributed to After the Six Day War in 1967, Israel seized 52 percent Israeli military checkpoints were established to hinder Monte Melkonian: “If we lose Karabakh, then we will turn of the West Bank and 30 percent of the Gaza Strip in vio- Palestinian movement from one town to another. Pales- the final page in the Armenian history.” lation of international law. The confiscated land was used tinians have been living in an open-air prison for decades This is not only a matter of psychological perception. by the Israeli military and Jewish settlements after over through a growing number of restricted areas, countless History justifies Armenians’ suspicions. Syunik was de- 300,000 Palestinians were displaced. Israel also gained military checkpoints, and bypass roads built for Jews only fended against all odds in the final months of the First more control over water resources, restricting water usage that are designed to restrict the movement of Palestinians. Republic (1918-1920) by General Garegin Nzhdeh who in Palestinian areas. Jewish illegal settlements increased in fought Soviet and Azerbaijani troops and disobeyed the the newly captured territories, even though they were in vi- Artsakh after the 44-day War orders of his own Armenian government in Yerevan or- olation of the Geneva Conventions. New boundaries were The Armenian Republic of Artsakh has now been re- dering him to withdraw from Syunik and hand it over to also drawn in Jerusalem, placing several sections of East duced to an Armenian-populated pocket centered around Azerbaijan. That tongue of land today links Armenia to the Jerusalem and a number of adjacent villages that mostly its capital of Stepanakert, surrounded by territory now under enemy control. The final say rests with the Russian peacekeeping forces that have a five-year mandate that can be renewed after the five-year period is up or rescinded, if either the Armenian or Azerbaijani side withdraws its agreement, according to the November 10 Armenian-Rus- sian-Azerbaijani declaration that put an end to the war (the validity of which is open to question). There is now no territorial contiguity between Armenia and Artsakh except for a corridor under the Russian peace- keepers’ protection. In Shushi, now under Azerbaijani oc- cupation, this corridor narrows down to a two-lane road with two Russian military checkpoints that control traffic into Stepanakert and out of it. In the Shushi stretch, this road is flanked by Azerbaijani forces just behind low fenc- es, which leaves Armenian passengers extremely exposed. Even if there is a lack of concrete evidence, the way the war unfolded suggests it may have been planned well be- fore the beginning of hostilities: as soon as November 9/10 capitulation was signed, heavy Russian military equipment rolled into Stepanakert. The city escaped the war mostly unharmed: a visitor in January did not notice any sign of war in the city center. Had lines already been drawn when the war started? Why would otherwise Azerbaijan make no attempt to capture the capital of Artsakh that was defended by a force of no more than 250-300 men? This state of limbo is certainly a catastrophic defeat Stepanakert Bus Station (photo Avedis Hadjian, January 2021) for Armenia and Artsakh, yet it is not as certainly a vic- SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 19 COMMENTARY tory for Azerbaijan. For the first time since the collapse It is also disingenuous to believe that after the 44-day creasing apathy in Armenia to make gradual advances into of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russian forces have returned war any civilian population of either side will agree to re- Armenian sovereign territories. As a result of the recent to Azerbaijani territory. Or as a Radio Yerevan joke would settle in either exclave. If such exchange did happen, they war, Azerbaijan has gained control of most of Artsakh’s tell it, when a listener called to ask whose side was Russia would most likely become military outposts. Hence, any water resources used for irrigation and consumption by the on in the Armenian-Turkish conflict, Radio Yerevan an- exchange of Soviet-era enclaves would further compro- Armenian population. This includes loss of Karvajar’s wa- swered: “The conflict.” mise Armenia’s security interests. ter resources and Azerbaijan making territorial claims in Again, the multiple acts of provocation by Azerbai- Armenia proper near Sev Lij to gain full control of the lake Enclaves and Exclaves inside Armenia jan after the war that go unanswered by Armenia: the arson that provides water to several border villages and towns in Along with a rump enclave of Artsakh that is now de attacks against Armenian villages in Artsakh and border re- Armenia. Loss of control of water resources is extreme- facto a Russian protectorate, the precariousness of Arme- gions of Armenia; the rustling and destruction of cattle and ly dangerous, especially with the ramifications of global nia’s border security exposes the country to the risk of ter- flocks of Armenian peasants; and, most especially, the un- warming that is making water scarce in many areas, in- ritorial breakdown into unconnected pockets of Armenian disturbed deployment of Azerbaijani forces on Armenian cluding landlocked Armenia. enclaves fully encircled by enemy territory, perhaps con- sovereign territory, create the risk of normalization. The human rights violations of Israel and Azerbaijan nected with each other through highways under Russian or are almost identical, with similar results. Amnesty Interna- collective monitoring. Another point of friction may devel- Not Quite the Same tional has recorded many human rights violations commit- op if a corridor is created connecting Turkey to the Azer- While there are several differences between the Arme- ted by Israel against Palestinians, while the UN has ruled baijani exclave of Nakhichevan, as both enemy nations de- nian and Palestinian cases, there are a number of important against Israel for violating the Geneva Conventions for the mand. This may eventually degenerate into fresh clashes or similarities that need to be considered by Armenians. illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territories. The conflict, cutting off Armenia from Iran, its most reliable Palestine never became a state, which made it defenseless UN has urged Israel to stop expanding settlements for de- neighbor. against many Jewish and later Israeli incursions due to lack cades, but Israel has ignored these calls and has continued In other words, Armenia would become a collection of international legal protections. While Israel achieved its illegal expansion into occupied territories. of three or four Bantustans with no territorial contiguity, statehood in 1948 on Palestinian lands, Palestinians have Like the Israeli case, Amnesty International has recorded much like Palestine today, following decades of Israeli col- remained stateless with diminishing civil liberties. Despite human rights violations committed by Azerbaijan against onization and military subjugation. Palestine declaring itself an independent state in 1988 at Armenians during the recent war. Many countries have On May 20, dozens of Azerbaijani soldiers crossed into the United Nations, Palestinians are still considered mem- condemned the actions of Azerbaijan, including the illegal the territory of the Republic of Armenia without firing a bers of a stateless nation, lacking legal protections that are captivity of Armenian POWs and Azerbaijani military in- single shot. Armenia did not repel this violation of its sov- available to sovereign nation states. This has allowed the cursion into sovereign Armenian territory, but Azerbaijan ereignty, instead appealing to Russia to deploy additional gradual partition of Palestinian lands by Israel. In addition has ignored these condemnations and is proceeding as it troops in the southern region of Syunik. The Collective Se- to its lack of statehood, the current political leadership of pleases. Despite the purpose of these international orga- curity Treaty Organization limited itself to a perfunctory Palestinians, Hamas, is considered a terrorist group by Is- nizations to protect human rights, Armenia cannot rely on response to Armenia’s calls for the invocation of Article 2 rael and several other UN member states. them to ensure Armenian security against a fascist enemy’s of the treaty that commits the alliance to the defense of its In contrast to Palestine, Armenia has been recognized regime. members in case of major threats. by the international community as a sovereign state since The number of Azerbaijani soldiers camping unmolest- 1991 with a legitimate political leadership. This provides a The Road Ahead There is increasing post-war fatigue and apathy among Armenians, which is a normal reaction to high levels of stress during and after a war. However, Armenians in the homeland and the diaspora can’t afford apathy. While being a sovereign state provides some legal pro- tections, Armenia is already in the process of being ful- ly colonized again by Russia, while Artsakh has already been colonized. There is a difference between alliance and colonization — the current state is colonization. The pres- ence of Azerbaijani soldiers on Armenian territory without any real response by the Armenian government, Russia or any other international bodies illustrates how the gradual Azerbaijani incursions can become normalized for people in Armenia. To address the grave dangers associated with the apa- thy described above among Armenians, the Network State initiative seeks to build political agency by creating a de- centralized, nationwide system to attend to the needs of the Armenian state and people. With an Armenia-centric con- ception — meaning its goal is to serve the homeland — the Network State offers a mechanism by which its constituent parts and citizens work towards the development of Arme- nia in different fields of strategic importance, everything An Armenian conscript in Khor Virap with Mt. Ararat in the background (photo Avedis Hadjian, January 2021) from healthcare to finance and defense. In response to the devastating loss of the recent war, Vah- ram Ayvazyan, an International Relations and Genocide scholar founded the Network State. “The Network State ed in Armenia’s territory hovers around 1,000 according to number of legal protections to Armenia that can possibly is a pan-Armenian movement to bring Armenians from all recent estimates. They occupy an area of approximately 40 deter land grabs by Azerbaijan. However, legal protections over the world together, with the aim of building a free, square kilometers in Gegharkunik and Syunik. are not always a guarantee since Azerbaijan has violat- united, sovereign and prosperous Armenia, as well as to The focus of Armenian concern has been the strategic ed countless international laws during and after the recent ensure the security and protection of the rights of the Ar- value of Syunik — a tongue of land that connects the coun- war without facing any real consequences. menians everywhere by consolidating intellectual and fi- try to Iran and as importantly, if not more, prevents it from The similarities between the two people generally re- nancial resources,” says Ayvazyan. being encircled by Turkey and Azerbaijan on the East, volve around ambiguous legal status of land. According to Ayvazyan, the Network State’s Arme- West and South, with only Georgia as the only non-Turkic, The ambiguous status of Palestine has resulted in limit- nia-centric policy provides a viable cooperation platform to yet unreliable, neighbor to the North. ed international legal protections against Israeli incursions. orient resources for building up a strong state. It pursues Yet there is more than meets the eye, literally. Much wor- The thirty-year ambiguous legal status of Artsakh has the establishment of a pan-Armenian military-political thy of attention is the proximity of both regions to water made it possible for Azerbaijan to claim its legal owner- elite to defend the national interest of Armenia, while also sources, especially Gegharkunik, which includes Lake Se- ship of the area and occupy a large portion of the region carrying out the protection and development of the Arme- van. While it exceeds the scope of this article, the Artsakh after the recent war based on Soviet boundaries, despite nian statehood and Armenian civilization through its citi- conflict can also arguably be seen as one of the water wars Artsakh’s independence referendum in 1991 and the fact zens, structures and mechanisms. that are expected to multiply as global warming intensifies. that, according to its own constitution, Azerbaijan con- As Armenia learned last year, it cannot rely on foreign There is also a push by Azerbaijan to exchange its three siders itself the continuation of the first republic of 1918- powers or alliances for its defense. War can only be pre- exclaves inside Armenian territory that date back to Sovi- 20 and crucially not of the Socialist Soviet Republic of vented with full military and political readiness to respond et times: Dikranashen, Voskepar, and Barkhudarly, for the Azerbaijan. This ambiguity has led to seizure of land in to enemy aggressions. Armenian exclave inside Azerbaijani territory of Artsvash- Artsakh after the recent war since legal borders between The tides of history change all the time. This current tide en. These exclaves are now populated by Armenians and Armenia and Artsakh were never established after the first has been disastrous for Armenians, but it does not mean Azerbaijanis following the first Karabakh war. Yet there is Artsakh war by Armenian authorities. And this has resulted that this needs to be our permanent state. Armenia’s current a difference in their strategic value, for while the Azerbai- in Azerbaijani army’s incursions into Armenian sovereign goal should be to become a country with agency, to ensure jani exclaves are by roads that connect Armenia to Geor- territory in border areas, claiming Armenian lands based that the tides of history in the future work out in its favor. gia and Iran, Artsvashen has no similar strategic value for on Soviet era maps. Armenia. Israel has used post-war chaos and fatigue in the peo- (Avedis Hadjian is a journalist and writer. He is the au- Armenia’s major interstate road to Syunik, Art- ple of Palestine to gradually take over Palestinian areas thor of Secret Nation: The Hidden Armenians of Turkey. sakh, and Iran passes through Tigranashen. Armenia’s through illegal settlements. As a result, Israel controls most Madlen Avetyan teaches anthropology at Los Angeles other main interstate road, which goes to Georgia, passes of the water resources in Palestinian territories through Valley College and at Pierce College. She is the author of through Voskepar, another Soviet Azerbaijani enclave in- strategic seizures of land. Ethnodoxy in the Diaspora: Armenian-American Religious side Armenia. Similarly, Azerbaijan has been using war fatigue and in- and Ethnic Identity Construction in Los Angeles.) 20 SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR

Armenia Criminalizes Minsk Group Gears Up for Lasting Peace in Karabakh Using Foul Language PARIS (Combined Sources) — economic and transport links in the province, Armenpress reports. Against Public Figures French and Russian Presidents Emman- South Caucasus and meet the humani- Commenting on security issues and By Mania Israyelyan uel Macron and Vladimir Putin have re- tarian needs of the population. border incidents, the Ambassador said affirmed their common desire to see the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol she has already spoken on these issues, Organization for Security and Cooper- Pashinyan, Russian and Azerbaijani the State Department has also spoken YEREVAN (IWPR) — Freedom of ation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham from Washington on these issues on speech advocates have condemned a new co-chairmanship play an increased role Aliyev on November 9 signed a state- several occasions. law that criminalizes “severe insults” to in reaching a lasting solution to the ment to end the war in Karabakh after “I think you may also know that in public figures, warning that the legislation Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and help- almost 45 days. Under the deal, the Ar- July I visited Gegharkunik and one of is not only impractical but could be used to ing settle disputes between Armenia menian side has returned all the seven these border areas where there have political ends. and Azerbaijan, according to statement regions surrounding Nagorno-Kara- been tensions and violence. Let me The law, sponsored by the ruling My from the Élysée Palace. bakh, having lost a part of Karabakh just make very clear: we are calling for Step faction, stipulates that inflicting se- Macron and Putin discussed the mat- itself in hostilities. de-escalation and a separation of forces vere insults, using foul language or hurting ter over the phone on Thursday, August US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne to try to bring down the violence,” the the dignity of a person in public office — 19, with the former expressing concern Tracy said this week the consequences of Ambassador said. which could include officials, politicians, over the resurgence of tensions between the recent war in Nagorno Karabakh have The US Ambassador noted that the civil society activists and others — carries Armenia and Azerbaijan. not been overcome, the conflict has not solution of these issues is very import- a maximum penalty of 100,000-500,0000 The Kremlin said in a separate state- been resolved because the status of Na- ant because civilians appear in the mid- drams ($200-$1,000). ment that Putin briefed Macron on the gorno Karabakh remains to be decided, dle of the conflict and are being affected One of the bill’s co-authors, My Step’s progress in the implementation of the “We will continue to work through in terms of their safety and security in Vladimir Vardanyan, said that “foul lan- trilateral statements on Nagorno-Kara- our position as an OSCE Minsk Group their own homes. “This is why there guage in our society, a phenomenon that bakh, signed on November 9, 2020 and Co-Chair to work towards that goal of is such urgency in addressing these is- causes the most serious damage to human January 11, 2021. bringing down violence, of de-escala- sues,” she added. dignity, must be eliminated.” According to the Russian side, the tion so that we can get to some of the (PanARMENIAN.Net and Public However, critics note that the term “of- situation in the region is “generally sta- other very critical issues that need to be radio of Armenia contributed to this re- fensive” as used in the legislation is vague. ble,” with steps being taken to restore discussed,” she told reporters in Syunik port.) Ashot Melikyan, chairman of the Com- mittee to Protect Freedom of Expression said the criminal code mandated the pun- ishment without defining the foul language that constituted the offence. The law is not “practical and leaves a broad spectrum of subjective perceptions and arbitrariness,” he concluded. Sofya Hovsepyan, a former My Step lawmaker who left the faction to sit as an independent, said that it could lead to legal action, “when there is no apparent criminal element but certain words or phrases car- rying insulting connotations towards high officials…A human being should be pro- tected in all situations, not by the positions they hold,” she said. “When they punish their allies, who use foul language and exercise physical vio- lence, then they will have the right to de- mand [that others obey]. Otherwise they have no moral right to demand anything, no matter how well they package and pres- ent it as a law,” Karapetyants agreed. Information security expert Samvel Mar- tirosyan said that it was ludicrous to think the legislation, which was voted into effect on July 30, could eliminate abuse on online platforms. “Half of the users are not physically in Armenia and the law will not affect them,” he said, noting that it was very easy to open a fake account. “How are police and courts going to track thousands of offenders?” Former My Step lawmaker Taguhi Tovmasyan, who now represents the I Have Honor opposition faction, noted that the Armenian constitution laid out that foul language was a violation of the human right to dignity. “But the question arises whether the rel- evant amendment to the law will provide effective protection mechanisms. I think it will not,” she said. There was no consultation on the bill, and experts warned that this combined with its hasty adoption was a marker of its poor quality. Tovmasyan said that education was an essential tool for the solution of the prob- lem of the abuse of public figures, arguing that this was the best way to help people value respect over obscenity. “But the respective state bodies must demonstrate a real desire and will — and the process must be strictly under supervi- sion,” she concluded (This article appeared on the website of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting on August 17.)