FEBRUARY 17, 2018 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVIII, NO. 30, Issue 4525 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF Russian Army Official Armen Sarkissian and ADL Central Arrives in Armenia on Working Visit Committee Meet in Yerevan YEREVAN (News.am) – Aleksandr Dvornikov, Commander of the Southern Military District (SMD) troops of the Russian Armed Forces, has YEREVAN — Armen Sarkissian, the can- arrived in the Russian military base in Armenia, didate for president of Armenia proposed on a working visit. by the current president, Serzh Sargsyan, Vadim Astafyev, head of the SMD press ser- met on February 11 with members of the vice, told about the aforementioned to reporters, Central Committee of the Armenian according to RIA Novosti news agency of Russia. Democratic Liberal Party (ADL) and Vartan Dvornikov inspected the combat duty of the Nazerian, president of the ADL Supreme Russian pilots at Erebuni military airport in the Council. at the ADL headquarters in capital city of Yerevan. He inspected the military Yerevan. infrastructure at this airport as well as that in Hagop Avedikian, ADL Central Yerevan, where the Russian servicemen and Committee chairman, introduced their family members are accommodated. Sarkissian and noted that his candidacy for Astafyev added that the SMD commander will president encouraged the party, noting that also inspect the Russian military base in Gyumri, and take part in the events by the joint staff of the Russian and Armenian armed forces. Bulgarian President From left, Eduard Manukyan, Hagop Avedikian, Levon Avagyan, Suren Visits Armenia, Talks Sargsyan, Armen Sarkissian, Seyran Gharibyan, Vartan Nazerian, Armen Manvelian, Karen Kakoyan and Nelly Gourzadyan Business A business delegation from Bulgaria has visited ADL members are well aware of political culture in Armenia. Armenia and discussed the development of busi- From left, Vartan Nazerian, Armen Sarkissian and his activity in both Armenia Sarkissian declared that he first wished ness ties between the two countries. The delega- Hagop Avedikian and the diaspora, and thus they to hear the expectations and approaches of tion included the Bulgarian president’s secretary expect the creation of a new see ADL, page 20 for economic growth and investment affairs, the CEO of an agency for SMEs, representatives of the association of industrial capital and chambers of trade and industry. Armenia was represented Government Cancels by deputy prime minister Hovannes Azizyan, who hosted the event at the ministry of economic Patriarchal Election development and investments. During the meeting, the stakeholders discussed In Istanbul increased economic and investment cooperation. “Trade turnover has been developing between our ISTANBUL (Combined Sources) — two countries and exports should be diversified,” Archbishop Aram Atesyan will continue said Mr Azizyan. serving as the patriarchal vicar for the Amongst the main areas which have perked Armenian community of Istanbul, the patri- interest are pharmaceuticals, mineral water and archate’s religious council decided on alcoholic beverage production. The Bulgarian Monday, February 5, according to team also scrutinized Armenia’s tourism poten- Ermenihaber.am. tial, and the scope for future cooperation given The Istanbul Governor’s Office sent a let- Bulgaria’s expertise in attracting large numbers ter to the Armenian Patriarchate of of visitors. Constantinople on February 5, noting that it The trade delegation is part of the Bulgarian does not recognize Archbishop Karekin President Rumen Radev’s official visit to Armenia. Bekjian, who had been Besides business, the two countries discussed and serving as Locum signed agreements relating to the regulation of Tenens, but recognizes labour migration, as well as cooperation in fields Aram Atesyan as Vicar of technology, communication and culture. Metropolitan Museum to Host General, Agos reported. “Our peoples expect closer and more effective The letter signed by cooperation from us,” the Bulgarian president Major Exhibit on Armenian Istanbul’s Deputy said. Governor Ismail Peltek According to official Armenian data, exports also noted that there from Armenia to Bulgaria totalled 286.2 million History, Manuscripts are no conditions for Archbishop Aram Atesyan US dollars in 2017 (an increase of 87.8 per cent). holding new patriar- NEW YORK —For the first time in the history of the Metropolitan Museum of chal elections, consid- Art, a large-scale exhibition dedicated solely to the Armenian history and culture ering that Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan is in the medieval period will take place in the alive. It is mentioned that health issues are fall. Curated by Dr. Helen C. Evans, INSIDE not enough to consider the patriarchal seat “Armenia!” will cover the 4th to 17th cen- By Taleen Babayan vacant and that Aram Atesyan keeps his tury and portray the significance of Special to the Mirror-Spectator position as General Vicar. Armenian art to the world during the The letter indicates that all actions that Middle Ages. led to the election of Karekin Bekjian as Armenia’s Opening on the 27th anniversary of the Republic of Locum Tenens are invalid. Armenia’s independence, the exhibition will be on view from The Patriarchal seat was declared vacant September 21, until January 13, 2019 and will feature some in 2016 due to the health of Patriarch Trade Show 140 Armenian works of art from around the globe. Mutafyan. Mutafyan, who suffers from The Mary and Michael Jaharis Curator for Byzantine dementia and has been incapacitated for Page 6 Art at the Met, Evans has curated many significant exhi- years, continues to be recognized by the bitions during her tenure, including “The Glory of Turkish state as the leader of the Byzantium (843-1261)” in 1997 and “Byzantium: Faith Patriarchate, as the Istanbul Governor’s and Power (1261-1557)” in 2004, that included major office says his illness does not meet the INDEX works of Armenian art. She also co-curated the Morgan state’s criteria for electing a new patriarch. Arts and Living . 13 Library and Museum’s 1994 exhibition, “Treasures in The Istanbul Governor’s office said the Armenia . 2,3 Heaven: Armenian Illuminated Manuscripts.” Thanks to Helen C. Evans only criteria for a patriarchal election are Community News. 6 Dr. Evans’s efforts, Armenian art is also now installed in the death of the sitting patriarch, his resig- Editorial . 17 the Met’s permanent galleries of medieval art. nation or the vacancy of the position for International . .. 4,5 see MET, page 12 other reasons. see PARTRIARCH, page 5 2 S ATURDAY, F EBRUARY 1 7 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia US Mission Alarmed By Death Threats Against Armenian Editor YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The US Embassy in Yerevan expressed concern on Sunday, February 4, at death threats made against the editor of an Armenian media outlet critical of the government. “Attacks on the media, such as those advocating harm to the director of MediaLab recently, are anathe- ma to a free press that is vital to democracy,” the embassy wrote on its Twitter page. The editor, Marianna Grigorian, received the threats on Facebook after her MediaLab.am publication post- ed on January 28 a cartoon that mocked Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan in connection with a recent The Angels Network members large-scale purchase of flowers for the Armenian Defense Ministry. “Don’t you think that you’ve gone over the top?” a Facebook user commented on Grigorian’s page before warning the MediaLab staff to avoid the fate of the Science and Technology Angels French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo that was attacked by Islamist gunmen in January 2015. The ter- rorist attack left 12 people dead and 11 others wound- Network (STAN), Launched ed. According to Grigorian, the user using the name “Hayk Berman Ohanyan” continued to threaten her YEREVAN — At a press conference The ‘business angels’ invest in compa- “It is extremely important that these with private messages sent in the following days. In of on February 5, a new initiative, the nies in the early stages, when the entre- businesses come from science, so that those messages, he hinted that her young daughter’s Science and Technology Angels preneur has realized the idea and the invested money goes to science, safety is also at risk. Grigorian stopped sending the girl Network (STAN), launched by the needs additional funding. We focus on and a scientist, who makes a discovery, to school as a result. Foundation for Armenian Science and quality and not quantity, so we will pri- gets a chance to commercialize it and The editor was summoned and questioned by the Technologies (FAST) was announced. oritize startups with scientific and takes it to the global market. We aim to Yerevan police on Friday after lodging a complaint The speakers at the press confer- technical base that contribute to the build connections between business with Armenia’s Office of the Prosecutor-General. A ence were FAST founder Artur police spokesman said on Monday, February 5, that Alaverdyan, FAST Founding CEO law-enforcement authorities are conducting an investi- Armen Orujyan, and co-chairs of the gation but refused to give any details. It was not clear Angels Network Ruben Arutyunyan whether they have identified the person who made the and Igor Khalatian. death threats. The purpose of the Angels Network Grigorian insisted, meanwhile, that “Ohanyan” is not is to facilitate joint investments in sci- a fake user and that the police should be able to track ence and technology startups in him down. She said she has managed to find the man’s Armenia, as well as to share and phone number. engrave the best international practice in the country. The initiative has united 18 investors and entrepreneurs of Armenian Most Dairy Companies in descent from Armenia and abroad, that Armenia Produce Shoddy in addition to financing, offer advice and mentorship to Armenian startups, Sour Milk as well as introductions and connec- tions for their development.