MAY 20, 2017 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVII, NO. 44, Issue 4488 $ 2.00 NEWS The First Armenian Weekly in the Since 1932 INBRIEF Catholicos of All Azeris Fire Missile into Artsakh Armenians Congratulates New STEPANAKERT (RFE/RL) — One unit of tem’s deployment “military defense equipment” of the near the line of con- President of Karabakh defense army was partially dam- tact was a “provoca- ECHMIADZIN — On May 10, Karekin II, aged during a guided missile strike launched tion” and a threat to Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All by Azerbaijani armed forces on Monday, May Azerbaijani aircraft. Armenians; sent a congratulatory message to Mr. 15, according to Defense Ministry officials in Both Hovannisian Emanuel Macron, newly elected President of the and Stepanakert. and his Karabakh Republic of France. In a Facebook post Artsrun Hovannisian, counterpart Senor “France has been and continues to be, one of a spokesman for the Armenian Defense Hasratian denied that the powerful and foremost countries of the Ministry, said the incident happened in the there had been casual- European family, that today makes important afternoon as Azerbaijani armed forces ties on the Armenian contributions in spreading universal values and opened fire at one of the Armenian defense side as a result of the establishment of peace in the world. For the facilities located in the eastern direction of Azerbaijani strike. coming years, the French people believing in The Shant TV car attacked on May 10. the heavily militarized line of contact. In an identical your abilities, avowed values and experience, The official did not specify what kind of message posted on have entrusted you with the responsible mission military hardware was hit by the their Facebook of leading the nation. The previous week, on Wednesday, May Azerbaijani fire. accounts both officials said: “We state that “We are confident that during your term, the 10, a cameraman for an Armenian televi- Earlier, ’s Trend news agency the provocation of the Azerbaijani armed relations between and France will con- sion station was wounded when a car car- quoted the country’s Defense Ministry as forces will not remain unanswered, while tinue to develop. The solid basis of which is the rying him came under fire near the saying that an Armenian Osa air defense the entire responsibility for the conse- centuries-old friendship of our peoples, and the Armenian-Azerbaijani “line of contact” in system, a supply vehicle and its crew were quences will lie with the military-political active involvement of the Armenian community Nagorno-Karabakh. destroyed. The Ministry added that the sys- leadership of Azerbaijan.” living and engaging in the social, political and Davit Atoyan was part of a Shant TV cultural life of France,” wrote the Catholicos. crew that was visiting Karabakh Defense army positions in the north of the territory on assignment. He was reportedly shot in the leg and underwent surgery in a military Bans German hospital in Stepanakert. Parliamentarians from “The car was shot at from a long-range sniper rifle,” Vitali Balasanian, a senior Visiting Incirlik Karabakh security official said. see ATTACK, page 2 (Public Radio of Armenia) — Turkey has prohibited several German members of parliament from visiting German soldiers sta- tioned at Turkey’s Incirlik air base, people famil- Nercessian Presents iar with the matter told DPA on Monday, May 15. As a result, the German federal government is City of Orphans at considering removing its soldiers from the base, according to information given to members of Daughters of Vartan the Bundestag defense committee by the Defense Ministry. Event at Holy Last year a delegation of lawmakers, including members of a parliamentary defense committee, Trinity Church were initially denied access to Incirlik, but were later allowed to carry out the trip. has about 260 soldiers stationed at Incirlik as part of the anti-Islamic State military By Aram Arkun coalition. The dispute first arose after the German par- CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Dr. Nora Nercessian liament voted to recognize the mass killing of gave a talk illustrated with slides about her the Armenians at the hands of the Ottomans as Lilit Sargsyan in Gyumri book, The City of Orphans, at an event orga- a genocide. nized by Arpie Lodge of the Daughters of The sources said the latest decision from Vartan on May 4. Cosponsors included the Turkish authorities had been taken in part as a Armenia’s Heart hosting Holy Trinity Armenian Church, the response to Germany’s decision to grant political Armenian International Women’s asylum to members of the Turkish army. Association (AIWA), National Association for The Defense Ministry has already vetted alter- Poems … and Nothing More Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), native military bases for its soldiers in Tekeyan Cultural Association, and the Jordan, Cyprus and Kuwait and a decision is GYUMRI — Anyone who knows anything about Armenians is aware of the spe- Armenian Mirror-Spectator. expected in the coming weeks. cial role their language plays in their history and culture, and nowhere is this Anahid Mardiros, Dirouhie of Arpie more obvious than in their rich poetical tradition. In Germany, this tradition is Lodge, welcomed guests and praised not unknown; in the 1970s and Nercessian’s efforts at making the voice of 1980s, through cooperation the orphan survivors of the Armenian By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach between literary associations in Genocide, silent for so many years, heard INSIDE Special to the Mirror-Spectator the then-Communist East once more, and shedding light on the Germany (GDR) and Soviet efforts of the Near East Relief organization Armenia, translations of works in aiding the orphans. She recognized and appeared by Hovhannes Tumanyan, Avetik Issahakyan and Paruyr Sevak as well see ORPHANS, page 12 Comedy as an anthology of medieval verse. At the same time, literary journals in West Germany featured some translations. Now, in the wake of the recognition of the genocide last June by the German Bundestag (Parliament), a wave of interest in Tour Armenian literature has swept across the intellectual landscape. In 2015, a new translation of 24 poems by Paruyr Sevak was issued by Schiller Page 10 Verlag in Berlin, the result of a joint effort by prize-winning German author Heide Rieck and Agapi Mkrtchian, an Armenian author honored in Yerevan by the Armenian Writers Union with the Vasdakovor order, as an author of outstanding merit. Now, an anthology has appeared in Grössenwahn Verlag, translated by INDEX Mkrtchian and Helmuth R. Malonek, a German translator and university profes- Arts and Living ...... 10 sor who studied in Yerevan and teaches in Portugal. The volume is entitled Armenia ...... 2 Armenia’s Heart: Poems … and Nothing More, and includes works by twenty-five Community News...... 5 contemporary Armenian poets. Editorial ...... 14 Anahid Mardiros, Dirouhie of Arpie Lodge, see POETRY, page 4 International ...... 3,4 gives Dr. Nora Nercessian a gift of One by Hrair Church, One Nation Khatcherian. 2 S ATURDAY, M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia PM Briefed on Educational Reforms, Programs YEREVAN — Prime Minister Karen noted that the existence of urban problems,” Karapetyan said. Karapetyan visited the Ministry of schools with less than 300 students The Prime Minister also stressed the Ambassador Education and Science to get acquaint- will be ruled out in the future. The min- need to clearly define the student- ed with the ongoing reform programs imum number of students in a single teacher ratio and other standards in Receives MFA Medal and discuss current problems with min- school will be 450. the school system. istry officials. Welcoming the digitization of the YEREVAN — On May 11, Foreign Minister Edward It is planned to create a network of He was told that a school staff work- school system, Karapetyan said it will Nalbandian received Archbishop Marek Solczynski, schools with an emphasis on physics load study had been carried out over facilitate the activities considerably. Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Armenia (resi- and mathematics starting 2018, which the past few months and an optimiza- “But if we consider that 450 is the dence in Tbilisi) upon the completion of his mission. will provide training in four main sub- tion program was submitted to the gov- optimal number of pupils, why are we Nalbandian noted that relations between Armenia jects. The schools will be included in ernment. During the meeting the offi- switching over gradually? In individual and Vatican, the Armenian Apostolic Church and the the network of labs and engineering cials said Armenia has 1385 schools cases, the number of pupils shall be Roman Catholic Church are at the highest level, and projects. The meeting was also and 36807 teachers, while pupils are reconsidered firstly in cities. We need the last year historic visit of to Armenia informed on the introduction of finan- 52,357 students. to solve the following problem: we are under the “Pilgrimage to the first Christian country” cial education and entrepreneurship- Studies have shown that urban spending money on education; we motto was a vivid evidence of that. related subjects in secondary schools. schools are either underused or know that it is not too much, but still Expressing gratitude for the comprehensive sup- Vocational and technical education overused: 33.7 percent is underused, we have instances of bad spending on port provided throughout his tenure, Solczynski programs are also envisaged, in par- 35.8 percent are filled to more than distribution, fixed costs etc. In this expressed confidence that the cooperation between ticular, the will sup- capacity. The number of schools with a respect, we should have a national pro- the Holy See and Armenia will further strengthen port the establishment of 8 modern normal load is 16.3 percent. In this con- gram, according to its vision and move and expand. agricultural colleges in Armenia. The text, it was emphasized that schools . Optimization is an imperative. In acknowledgement of his contribution to the project will have total cost of 13 mil- need leveling, load sharing and optimal It will enable us to provide bonuses in development of relations between Armenia and the lion euros. Optimization programs management of unused areas. order to increase teachers’ salaries and Vatican, Nalbandian awarded Solczynski with the are being implemented in this system Optimization programs have been raise wage rates in border settlements Medal of Honor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. to result in AMD 42 million in overall developed for 20 schools. The speakers and, in general, cope with different savings. Armenian, Irish Aviation Authorities Negotiating Direct Flights President YEREVAN (AKA) — Arsen Poghosyan, deputy head of the General Department of Civil Aviation of Sargsyan Armenia, received on May 16 a delegation headed by Ireland’s aviation head Eamonn Brennan. Visits Qatar The press office of Armenia’s civil aviation depart- ment the parties discussed cooperation prospects DOHA, Qatar — On an official visit and the possibility to establish direct flights. to the State of Qatar, President On October 23, 2013, the Armenian government had a meeting with adopted an open-sky policy to liberalize the air mar- Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- ket in the country. Thani. After that, new air companies came to Armenia’s Noting that the Middle Eastern market and the companies which have operated in region is of great significance for Armenia before returned — Aegean Airways, Armenia’s foreign policy and Georgian Airways, Iraqi Airways, Al Naser, Mahan Armenia enjoys special relations with President Serzh Sargsyan with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani Air, airways, S7 Airlines, Czech, LOT. the Arab world based on centuries- In a few recent months Russia’s Saratov Airlines, old friendship, President Sargsyan Ural Airlines and Pobeda launched flights to said “Armenia is interested in intensi- Armenia, the parties discussed the multilateral format were also dis- Armenia. fying the high-level political dialogue opportunities of visa liberalization cussed. with the State of Qatar and deepen- between the two countries, as well as Sargsyan and bin Hamad al-Thani Defense Minister ing of cooperation in all spheres.” the perspectives of development of also referred to the process of settle- The two voiced hope that the first- cooperation with the Qatar Airways. ment of the Karabakh conflict. In Introduces Project for ever visit of the Armenian President Reference was made to the per- this context, the emir attached impor- would have a serious impact on the spective of using Armenia as a transit tance to the establishment of stabili- Army Transparency further development of bilateral ties. route to the Eurasian Economic ty and peace in the region, stressing YEREVAN (Armenpress) — While on a working Hailing the increased number of Union. The opportunities of develop- that there is no alternative to a visit in the , President of tourists from the Gulf states visiting ment of cooperation in peaceful negotiated solution. Armenia, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Serzh Sargsyan on May 8 held a meeting with a group of servicemen, both active and discharged, the Defense Ministry of Armenia told Armenpress. Azeris Fire Missile The meeting was attended by Defense Minister Into Artsakh Vigen Sargsyan, as well as legendary military offi- cials, Lieutenant-General Norat Ter-Grigoryan and ATTACK, from page 1 Major General Arkadi Ter-Tadevosyan, whose passed Another official in Stepanakert, path is an example for the current servicemen. Davit Babayan, said Azerbaijani At the meeting, the president suggested the ser- troops stationed nearby deliber- vicemen to frankly speak about their concerns, about ately targeted the civilian vehicle. their visions on the further strengthening and devel- “They knew that it was carrying opment of Armenia and Artsakh and modernization journalists,” he claimed. and reforms of the defense sector, and make propos- According to the APA news als. agency, the Azerbaijani Defense During the meeting, Defense Minister Vigen Ministry claimed that its frontline Sargsyan briefed those present on a project called troops shot at a “camouflaged Outlook through which all discharged servicemen vehicle of the armed forces of will take part in a multilayer and thorough survey to Armenia” in response to gunfire assess the service conditions. The survey results will coming from it. serve a base for the targeted reforms. “On the way to Ceasefire violations at this and modernize and develop the Army, we need to be other sections of “the line of con- courageous in terms of bringing this strategically tact” intensified in the first two important sector to a transparency and accountabili- months of this year. They appear ty field, at the same time making the defense field a to have been less frequent since platform to form new approaches of public adminis- the end of March. tration,” Vigen Sargsyan said. “Eventually, every Still, daily reports by Armenian not only is obliged to, but also must have a Karabakh’s Defense Army sug- wish to serve in the Army. All the steps initiated gest that tensions on the front- within the frames of this project serve for this pur- lines have somewhat increased in pose. The Army is a field where every Armenian fam- the past week. A statement by the ily deals with, thus, we all are the beneficiaries of YEREVAN (Public Radio of Armenia) — UK Ambassador to army said that Azerbaijani forces this project”, the Defense Minister said. fired a dozen rounds from mor- The president welcomed the project and tasked to Armenia Judith Margaret Farnworth received a jersey as a gift from Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan. And tars and light cannons at its posi- regularly report to him on its results aimed at draw- tions in northeastern Karabakh with a message on her Twitter account, the diplomat thanked the ing respective conclusions. on Wednesday and early captain of the Armenia national football squad for this present. Thursday. S A T U R D A Y , M A Y 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 3 INTERNATIONAL AGBU Nubar Library Launches English- International News Language Website for its Digital Collection Azerbaijani MFA Deeply PARIS — In May, the AGBU Nubar Concerned over Library in Paris launched the English- language version of its website, offering a Dissolution of All- wealth of information, photos and docu- ments about Armenians in the Ottoman Russian Azerbaijani Empire and the Armenian diaspora. A major highlight of the website is an Congress extensive virtual exhibition — now avail- BAKU (Armenpress) — The decision of the able in English and French — on the his- Supreme Court of Russia to dissolve the All-Russian tory of the Ottoman Armenians and the Azerbaijani Congress has caused a serious stir in Armenian Genocide, entitled Armenia Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani minval.az reports. 1915. The exhibition is based on the “We assess the decision of Russia’s Supreme Court “Arménie 1915” exhibition initiated by an unfriendly step towards Azerbaijan,” Azerbaijani MFA spokesperson Hikmat Hajiyev said, adding, “We consider this a negative step from the perspective of Azerbaijani-Russian relations and cultural dialogue between the two states.” Taking advantage of the situation, Hikmat Hajiyev blamed Armenians for interfering in Russian- Azerbaijani relations. “We come to the conclusion that the Russian- Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, and shown at Armenian Diaspora is able to have a serious influ- City Hall in Paris on the occasion of the ence on Russia’s foreign and domestic policy,” commemoration of the centenary of the Hajiyev said, adding that the developments of the Armenian Genocide. recent years show how the Armenians are able to The virtual exhibition first evokes the impact on Russian-Azerbaijani relations. everyday structures of Ottoman According to the Azerbaijani MFA spokesperson, Armenian society at the end of the nine- the dissolution of the All-Russian Azerbaijani teenth century and shows the ideological Congress is a support to the Union of Armenians in radicalization of the leaders in power Russia. The Supreme Court of the Russian between 1908 and 1914, which led to Federation, upholding the claim of the Ministry of the genocide. It then presents the imple- Justice of Russia, made a decision on May 15 to dis- mentation of the genocide with its major solve the body. The reason given was that the char- phases in 1915 and 1916, before taking ter of the organization did not meet the require- a human and political assessment at the ments of the Russian legislation. The organization end of World War I. The final section is had been established in 2001. dedicated to the reactions in France about the fate of the Armenians. “Arménie 1915 was the largest exhibi- Armenian Exhibition tion about the Armenian Genocide ever Held in Tehran made possible in with more than A major highlight of the website is an extensive virtual exhibition—now available in 500 photos, documents and various English and French—on the history of the Ottoman Armenians and the Armenian TEHRAN (Armenpress) — With assistance from pieces. Here we have condensed the Genocide. Armenia’s Embassy in , a photo exhibition titled main thematic entries, completely reedit- “Newly Independent State of Centuries-Old ed the text and are now delighted to Armenia” was held in Tehran’s Ararat cultural union make it accessible in English for people the French-language Constantinople- ly thanks to major donations by May 11-13 dedicated to the 25th anniversary of around the world,” said Boris Adjemian, based journal Renaissance published Armenian politicians and men of letters Armenia’s independence, the press service of director of the AGBU Nubar Library. from 1918-1920; back issues of the in the first half of the 20th century. Armenia’s Foreign Ministry reported. The website, which will continue to be library’s journal Revue d’histoire arméni- Conceived of as a center for Armenian During the exhibition key cultural, scientific, polit- updated with digitized materials, is also enne contemporaine to order; and a full and Near Eastern studies and as a site for ical, public, economic and other events in Armenia in home to a full list of the library’s period- collection of Études arméniennes con- Armenian intellectuals to exchange 1988-2016 were presented. More than 160 photos at ical collection; photos of prominent temporaines, the library’s current print ideas, the library has sought to develop a documentary and ction format were presented. Armenian leaders and of Armenian life in and online journal. diverse archive on Armenian affairs and Consul of Armenia’s Embassy in Iran Grigor the Ottoman Empire and early diaspora; The AGBU Nubar Library was estab- remains an indispensable resource for Hakobyan, Chairman of the Iran-Armenia Joint portions of the Andonian archive of lished in 1928 by AGBU founder and scholars, journalists, documentarians, Chamber of Commerce Levon Aharonyan and exhibi- Armenian Genocide testimonies as well president Boghos Nubar. In its early researchers, students and individuals tion organizer Pavel Sargsyan delivered remarks at as portions of the archives of the years, the library was directed by interested in Armenian history. the event. Armenian Patriarchate of Ottoman Armenian writer and journalist To visit the virtual exhibition and learn Constantinople, the Armenian National Aram Andonian under whom the more about the AGBU Nubar Library, Delegation and AGBU; digitized copies of library’s collection expanded dramatical- visit www.bnulibrary.org/index.php/en/ Istanbul City Hall Approves Changes in Kamp Armen Orphanage AGBU Lebanon Announces Commitment to ISTANBUL (Armenpress) — Istanbul’s City Hall approved changes in the development program of the Kamp Armen orphanage in the city’s Tuzla district, The UN Global Compact Platform the Agos newspaper reported. New educational and cultural centers, a cinema, the- BEIRUT — In April, AGBU Lebanon American University of Beirut, the with our scope of work. UNGC is just the ater, concert and cultural halls, a library and other announced its participation in the Office of the High start,” said AGBU Lebanon District pres- venues in the territory belonging to the Tuzla munici- United Nations Global Compact Commissioner for Human Rights and ident Gerard Tufenkjian. Through this pality will be built, while the changes mostly relate to Platform (UNGC), an international plat- the Foundation of Human and partnership, AGBU Lebanon is also the Gedikpasa Armenian Protestant Church Fund. The form for development, implementation Humanitarian Rights, Lebanon. With demonstrating a commitment to act building, which is in ruins on a plot of land measuring and disclosure of responsible and sus- this commitment, we express our intent responsibly; contribute to the develop- almost 5,000 square meters, will be rebuilt. tainable policies and practices. It calls to support the Global Compact by ment of United Nations Sustainable The Kamp Armen orphanage was built by for the participation of both businesses advancing these principles and will Development Goals, such as quality edu- Armenian orphans. The late journalist Hrant Dink and NGOs to work toward a vision of make a clear statement of this commit- cation, gender equality and partnerships; and his wife were brought up there. In 1983, the creating “an engaged community that ment to our stakeholders and the pub- and collaborate with national and region- Turkish government expropriated the orphanage. In advances sustainability practices nation- lic,” said Anita Lebiar, the executive al stakeholders on various projects. 2011, a law was passed under which church proper- wide.” director of AGBU Lebanon. Officially launched at the UN head- ty belonging to minorities were to be returned to AGBU Lebanon is the first Armenian AGBU Lebanon believes it is possible quarters in New York in 2015, UNGC is their rightful owners, however this orphanage, locat- non-profit organization in Lebanon to and crucial to create and ensure sustain- the largest sustainability platform with ed next to the Gedikpasa church, was not included in take part in the UN Global Compact ability, a belief that coincides with the 9,000 business, 4,000 non-business and the list. platform and supports the ten princi- vision of the Global Compact Network in 85 local networks in more than 160 In 2015, bulldozers began to bring down the build- ples of the compact with respect to Lebanon. “Our participation will reflect countries worldwide. It calls for institu- ing: much of the structure was destroyed. Several human rights, labor, environment and our values: envisioning the Lebanon we tions to embrace, support and enact, organizations and ordinary citizens rushed to the anti-corruption. “Our leadership want; setting ambitious and achievable within their sphere of influence, a set of scene to stop the orphanage from being destroyed. believes that the key to reaching out to community targets; institutionalizing core values in the areas of human After 175 days of struggle, the orphanage was the Lebanese community at large lies in and mobilizing to make these targets rights, labor standards environment and returned to the Gedikpasa Armenian Protestant partnerships. This partnership follows happen; and implementing and monitor- anti-corruption. Church Fund in October 2015. in the footsteps of earlier partnership ing them. We look forward to partnering To learn more about the UN Global with the Issam Fares Institute for Public with other UN agencies and being part of Compact Platform, visit Policy and International Affairs at the other platforms, the vision of which align https://www.unglobalcompact.org/. 4 S ATURDAY, M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR INTERNATIONAL Armenia’s Heart: Poems … and Nothing More

POETRY, from page 1 artists and writers, where Agapi Mkrtchian As Prof. Tessa Hofmann writes in an exten- presented selected poems in both languages. sive Afterword, they include well-known Attending the gathering, which was celebrat- poets from the older generation of the 1940s ed by violin and guitar music, were several and 1950s like Arevshat Avagyan, Henrik prominent members of the Gyumri Writers’ Edoyan and Edward Militonyan, as well as Association, who spontaneously offered read- authors born in the 1970s and 1980s, who ings from their works at the conclusion. Days represent a post-Soviet literature. In addition later in Mkrtchian’s hometown of Gegashen, to traditional themes in Armenian poetry, not far from Yerevan, students from the local like love, religion and nature, Hofmann notes school presented a two-hour program to a the treatment of emigration, for example, in packed auditorium, reciting (from memory)

Agapi Mkrtchian with students from her school

ward to recite poems from the new book, and again in both traditions; Diana Sahakyan per- we were amazed at the proficiency of their formed selections from Chopin and Schubert delivery, particularly considering that the on the piano whereas Arpi Nazanyan and her book had just come off the press and they brother Mushegh played Armenian works on had prepared the entire program in one short the flute and cello, respectively. A special Gegashen pupils week. treat came in the performance by Lilit Back in Germany, the book has already Sargsyan, who sang her own compositions been presented at the Leipzig book fair and accompanying herself on the classical guitar. the works of Varlan Alexanyan, Edward selections from the anthology, again in both will be featured by publisher Grössenwahn in Sargsyan, who is founder and editor in chief Militonyan, Ani Ter-Gulanyan, Eduard Armenian and German. Students of Mariam October in Frankfurt. On May 5, at the of the magazine Chrag, composes both the Harenz, Agapi Mkrtchian, Arevshat Avagyan Kazaryan, who directs the music school, pro- Wiesbaden Literaturhaus, guests were intro- verse and the music and has won prizes for and Arpi Voskanyan. vided the musical counterpoint to the poetry. duced to the poems by Mkrtchian and mem- her interpretations. She is currently studying As soon as we entered the school, my hus- bers of the Dichterpflänzchen, a poetry in Germany. Opening Doors with Poetry band and I were surprised to be greeted by lovers’ association, who recited in German, With the final selection, a poem by Anush In her commentary, Hofmann quotes lines faculty members in German. As we learned and Susanna Markosyan and Lilit Sargsyan, Vardanyan titled “New Europe,” Lutz from a poem by Chilean Vicente Huidobro during a tour of the school, German is an in Armenian. Schauerhammer from the Dichterpflänzchen that say, “Let poetry become a key that opens integral part of the cultural tradition there A generous selection of poems provided said the performers wanted to encourage the a thousand doors.” Both in Armenia and in and all pupils begin to study it as a foreign the audience with a broad sample of the vol- younger generation of Armenian poets to Germany, doors have been opened by the language already in the third grade. In fact, ume: Armenuhi Sisyan, Narek Kirakosyan, look beyond their own borders and experi- public readings of poems from this anthology this is where Mkrtchian first encountered the Vardan Hakobyan, Nane, Agapi Mkrtchian, ence, abroad and to the future. in both languages. While on a recent visit to language; later she was to pursue higher edu- Edward Militonyan, Arusyak Ohanyan, Sona At the end of May, the Literaturhaus in Armenia my husband and I had the opportu- cation in Germany and today teaches it at the Van, Arevshat Avagyan, Benik Stepanyan, Berlin will open its doors to the new anthol- nity to enjoy an event in Gyumri on April 9 at high school level in Wiesbaden. On stage, one Anush Aslibekyan and Anush Vardanyan. ogy and book launches are to follow in sev- the Berlin Hotel, an inter-cultural center for after another young girl or boy stepped for- Again, music completed the evening, and eral more cities.

Turkish Leader Calls Trump His ‘Dear Friend,’ Despite Decision to Arm Syrian Kurds

emerged in northern Syria with the retreat of By Ayesha Rascoe state authority in 2011 that accompanied the outbreak of civil war. The United States sees the YPG as distinct WASHINGTON (NPR) — Turkish President from the PKK and as a valuable partner in Tayyip Erdogan touted “outstanding” rela- the fight against Islamic State. tions with the United States on Tuesday, May Trump and Erdogan both emphasized the 16. He emphasized that Turkey will not positive. “The relationship that we have accept Syrian Kurdish fighters in the region together will be unbeatable,” Trump said. while stopping short of directly criticizing a The meeting came amid an uproar in US decision to arm them. Washington over reports that Trump dis- Erdogan met at the White House with closed sensitive information regarding President Donald Trump, and both called rela- Islamic State to senior Russian officials dur- tions between the two NATO allies strong. ing a White House meeting last week. “We’ve had a great relationship and we will Trump, who took office in January, has make it even better,” Trump said in a joint sought to reach out to Erdogan, and was crit- appearance with Erdogan. icized by some in the United States for con- Erdogan said his visit would “mark a his- gratulating the Turkish president on his con- torical turn of tide” and hailed “outstanding tested win in a referendum on constitutional relations” between the nations. It was an changes that gave him sweeping new powers. especially positive tone considering the ten- The visit was further complicated by sions over Washington’s decision to arm the Turkey’s calls for the United States to take Syrian Kurdish YPG militia that Ankara steps to extradite Turkish cleric Fethullah regards as an extension of the outlawed Gulen. Erdogan blames Gulen supporters for Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). a failed coup attempt last July and has con- “There is no place for the terrorist organi- President Erdogan with President Trump in Washington ducted a crackdown on them, drawing criti- zations in the future of our region,” said cism from Washington. Gulen has denied Erdogan, speaking through a translator. involvement in the coup and remains in the He added that the activities of the YPG and U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State forces. course on the YPG. Ankara regards the YPG United States. its political arm in the region, the PYD, “will The U.S. alliance with Turkey has proven piv- as an extension of the PKK, which has fought The Turkish government has also raised never be accepted.” otal in the battle against Islamic State in an insurgency in southeastern Turkey since concerns about a US criminal case against US officials on May 9 disclosed Trump’s Syria, providing the coalition with access to 1984 and is considered a terrorist group by Reza Zarrab, a dual Turkish-Iranian national, approval of plans to supply the YPG as it Turkey’s Incirlik air base to wage strikes the United States, Turkey and Europe. arrested last year and charged with helping advances toward the Islamic State stronghold against the militants. The YPG, or People’s Protection Units, Iran process millions of dollars in transac- of Raqqa in Syria. Erdogan had pledged to use the White effectively serves as the military of the tions that violated US sanctions against Turkey has been a crucial partner in the House meeting to try to get Trump to change autonomous Kurdish-led regions that Tehran. S ATURDAY, M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 5 Community News

Swiss-Armenian Dr. Mary Papazian Lobbied for Billions Officially Installed Owed to Holocaust As San Jose State Survivors University President SAN JOSE, Calif. — May 4 was a land- By Sadie Cruz mark day for San Jose State University and the Armenian people. Dr. Mary Papazian was inaugurated as the 30th PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (Press-Republican) — president of San Jose State University Millions of dormant accounts owned by Jewish (SJSU). She is the first Armenian people during the Holocaust still rested in woman president of a California State Swiss banks in the late 1990s. University and only the third woman That’s when a scandal broke, revealing that president of SJSU. the monies were never returned, which led to a The inauguration event was filled lawsuit that eventually issued $1.24 billion to with pomp and ceremony on the SJSU Holocaust survivors and their heirs. campus in the shadows of historic The mystery of the hidden millions would Tower Building and the Martin Luther change the way the world looked at King Jr. Library. Archbishop Hovnan ’s history in relation to World Derderian, Primate of the Western War II. Diocese, was represented by Fr. Datev Emmanuel Tchividjian, who describes himself Harutyunian, pastor of St. Andrew as Judeo-Christian, grew up in Switzerland and Armenian Church of Cupertino. later moved to Boston. He embarked on a per- Harutyunian’s remarks were poignant sonal mission to right the wrong that he felt and memorable, reminding all of “the was 50 years overdue. value of education as the most powerful He was at State University of New York tool that society has to ensure its per- (SUNY) Plattsburgh recently, as part of the Oasis of Sunday School children in war torn Syria petuation in the present and its pros- Douglas R. Skopp Speakers Series on the perity and happiness in the future.” He Holocaust, to talk about his role in the historic acknowledged Papazian’s “outreach to case and how the public-relations firm Ruder Finn, where he used to work, played an influ- ential part in making the Swiss banks agree to AMAA Centennial to restitution. “I never thought this would lead to a job, but it was a matter of the heart,” Tchividjian said. Be Celebrated on East He believes Christians today should have an atti- tude of repentance And West Coasts Dr. Mary Papazian and forgiveness for the tragedies that PARAMUS, N.J. — The centennial of any organization is an event of great pride the community has been exemplary and have occurred in and celebration. For the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), it it illustrates (her) understanding that in that past in the is even more reason to continue its suc- today’s world, educational institutions name of cessful, century hammered programs of and the public sphere must work hand- Christianity. By Florence Avakian education, humanitarian work, youth in-hand.” In closing Harutyunian Tchividjian, who camps, scholarships and evangelism. offered a final blessing upon Papazian was the director of On October 21, the AMAA will cele- and her loved ones. Emmanuel Tchividjian program and mem- brate its Centennial on the East Coast at its annual meeting, followed by a grand There were many dignitaries and ber services for the banquet at the Glenpointe Marriott in Teaneck, NJ. The West Coast celebration of noted educators who addressed the New England Israel the centenary will follow in California in October 2018. crowd and showered upon Papazian Chamber of Commerce, said asking forgiveness In a recent interview with AMAA Executive Director and CEO Zaven Khanjian their well wishes and accolades. is not good enough unless you feel a genuine at the AMAA headquarters in Paramus, he explained that the centennial celebra- Papazian addressed the crowd at the need to repent and do something. tions are combined with a fund-raising campaign with the express goal of raising inauguration, speaking about her His father was an Armenian refugee who was $20 million in the next two years. The campaign, which began in October 2016, Armenian heritage from her grandpar- relocated to , but asked his parents to has raised until today $4.5 million through pledges and donations. ent’s Genocide stories to her parents’ send him to boarding school in Switzerland. It was a century ago, that the AMAA was created at a church union member- commitment to being Armenian and Switzerland had been good to his family, so ship meeting in Worcester. “When the AMAA founded in 1918, there were more passing on their love of education to he felt he owed a debt to the country. than 100,000 widows and orphans throughout the Middle East. We answered the their children and her mother’s passion This motivated Tchividjian in his efforts to call to meet their physical, spiritual and educational needs, and we are still answer- change the lives of the many Jewish people and ing the call for those in need in 24 countries around the world, including their descendants who were robbed of their Armenia, Artsakh, the CIS, the Middle East, Europe, Canada, South America and money. Australia,” Khanjian revealed. He packed his bags for Switzerland for a The AMAA entered Armenia following the 1988 disastrous earthquake through three-week trip that extended into a three- the efforts of Rev. Dr. Movses Janbazian, the then-executive director, with one month quest. major program centering on orphans and childcare. Registering in Armenia in During his trip, he spoke to bankers from 1991, shortly followed by the registration in Artsakh as a humanitarian organi- UBS and Lloyds bank, politicians, members of zation, the AMAA projects grew and developed, now with 1600 children up to 18 parliament, diplomats, leaders of Switzerland’s years of age under sponsorship with thousands more in schools, Day Schools, Jewish community, historians, two federal Kindergartens, Sunday Schools and Christmas Joy programs, Khanjian related. Supreme Court judges, journalists, accountants After 25 years in Armenia and Artsakh, tens of thousands of children have and a clergyman to advocate for the refunding received direct monetary gifts, as well as food, clothing, medical care, day shelter of the Swiss bank accounts. and education. Over time, the AMAA started day schools with extracurricular During his time in Switzerland, Tchividjian activities and warm meals for children of parents suffering from financial and saw conflicting responses: Some people were other difficulties. These institutions are currently in Shushi, two in Yerevan, utterly shocked about the true Swiss history in Gyumri and Vanadzor. World War II, and others sympathized with the Simultaneously, the now 170-year-old Armenian Evangelical Church, also reg- Nazis. Dr. Mary Papazian during her inaugura- istered in Armenia. “There is a symbiotic relationship between the AMAA and the tion Because of the dormant-account scandal, church. The AMAA is the missionary arm of the church,” he explained. Switzerland had to create the Bergier There are currently 100 churches around the world, in five continents, with 31 Commission, led by the Swiss historian Jean- in North America. The US has eight on the east coast, 17 on the west coast, two to being an educator at an Armenian Francois Bergier, and as a country had to revis- in the mid-west, and four in Canada. Among the 100 churches functioning in dif- school in Los Angeles. Papazian noted it Switzerland’s WWII history. ficult areas, there are two in Turkey as well as a school dedicated to the memory that her family grounding set her on “I think the Swiss had a moral wake-up call, of martyred journalist Hrant Dink. the course of education and her family, and they realized the history was not as rosy as In Turkey, there is also Camp Armen, seized by the Turkish government and specifically her husband Dennis, have they thought. And, I think, it’s always good for finally returned in 2015. Moreover, in Lebanon, there is the acclaimed Haigazian been great supporters of her endeavors a country to acknowledge the past and change see AMAA, page 7 in her career in academics and academ- the attitude,” Tchividjian said. ic administration. see TCHIVIDJIAN, page 7 6 S ATURDAY, M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R COMMUNITY NEWS Armenian Assembly Website Hacked by Azerbaijan

WASHINGTON — In a flagrant effort to Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Intelligence expressing concern regarding the The Assembly previously urged the undermine the work of the Armenian Complaint Center. The Assembly brought undue influence of both Azerbaijan and Department of Justice to investigate the for- Assembly of America, a group of computer this act of cyber terrorism to the FBI’s atten- Turkey on America’s democratic institutions. eign trips illegally funded by Azerbaijan. “We hackers, calling themselves “TheConficker,” tion, citing instances of previous attacks by According to a recent report in The New respectfully request a full and thorough attacked the Assembly’s site and replaced it Azerbaijan and Turkey against the Armenian Yorker magazine, Azerbaijan has ties to Iran’s investigation by the Department of Justice with Azeri propaganda. They are linked to an National Institute (ANI) — a non-political, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) into these groups and the full application of Azerbaijan hacker group known as “Anti- non-profit organized dedicated to the study, through the Mammadov family and the high- the law. The reported activities constitute Armenia Team.” The Assembly took prompt research, and affirmation of the Armenian est levels of the Azeri government, all of which plainly illegal behavior and strikes at the core action and reclaimed control of its website. Genocide — in 2016 and 2000. ANI is a sister have conducted business with American com- of our Constitutional government through Shortly after the cyberattack by Azeri organization of the Assembly. panies. Azerbaijan also continues to shell out blatant foreign influence peddling,” the nationals, Assembly Executive Director Earlier this year, the Assembly informed the hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Assembly said in its letter to then Attorney Bryan Ardouny sent a letter to the Federal Senate and House Select Committees on Podesta Group, flaunting its caviar diplomacy. General Loretta Lynch.

OBITUARIES

PHOTO: MIKE KEPKA, THE CHRONICLE Francisco.” Al Nalbandian He was in several films set in San Francisco, including “Pal Joey,” “The Conversation” and “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” He also had Star of Old-Time SF, Bit roles in “So I Married an Axe Murderer” and Player in Films, Departs “American Graffiti.” He had a speaking role in “Tucker: The Man and His Dream” and played City He Loved a drug pusher in “Once a Thief.” He always kept his hand in the sidewalk flower business. After World War II, he bought By Carl Nolte the Geary Street stand from Mike Egian, an old- timer and a relative. “It’s family pride that keeps these things going,” Al said. SAN FRANCISCO (Chronicle) — It is not the There was more to Al Nalbandian than flow- big and famous things that give San Francisco ers and movies. He was a serious scholar and its special flavor. It’s not the thousand-foot-tall collected books printed in the Armenian lan- buildings, or even the glorious Golden Gate guage. He was honored for his collection by the Bridge. It’s the people, the San Franciscans, the Book Club of California in 2013. man at the corner store, the lady who watches “He had a passion for his people,” Lavette out for the neighborhood community garden, said. the barista who remembers what kind of coffee Al made more than 20 trips to Armenia when you like, the security guard who gives you a it was still part of the , bringing surprise smile on a blue Monday. They make gifts and medical supplies. “There was risk the city what it is. And what it was. Al Nalbandian, who died last week at age 95, was a familiar face at his flower stand involved sometimes,” Lavette said. “He was a One of them left us last week. He was Al tough guy.” Nalbandian, who ran the sidewalk flower stand He was also a kind one. Friends who stopped at Stockton and Geary streets. He died Tuesday, worked at the flower stand for 35 years. “Or 35 took over the Powell Street flower stand after by the stand always left with an armful of flow- May 9, at the age of 95. He was one of those Valentine’s Days, which is how we counted the his father died during World War II. ers, no charge. old-time San Franciscans, born and raised in years.” But Al had become stage-struck during his Nalbandian is survived by his wife, Aida; his the city, a living landmark. He was on that cor- Stores closed and new ones came and went, college days at the University of San Francisco. daughters, Louise and Elizabeth; and two ner for more than 70 years, working every day, but Al was always there and you could count on He worked in local theater and, after the war grandchildren, all of San Francisco. His sister, even into his old age. him. “He loved the street,” he said. ended, tried to get into the movie business in Louise, a professor at Fresno State University, In his last years, Al was a bit slow and “He took energy from it,” Louise said. “When Hollywood. He had some success. died in 1974, and his brother, Harvey, died in stooped, but he still knew his way around flow- he was there, it was like he plugged in to the Al appeared in 20 movies and in TV shows, 2014. ers, knew how to make a bouquet, how to get a energy and pulse of the city.” such as “Day in Court,” “Traffic Court,” Funeral services were at St. John’s Armenian customer to smile. His last day at work was Running a sidewalk flower stand sounds “Divorce Court” and “The Streets of San Apostolic Church, San Francisco on May 12. April 21. He became ill that day, was admitted easy, but it wasn’t. “As an employee and on the to a hospital, rallied a bit, and then faded away street, I saw that running a business in that quietly. chaos was an art form,” Lavette said. Telephone (617) 924-7400 Al Nalbandian, who ran a sidewalk flower Al and his flower stand were landmarks, and stand for more than 70 years, also had bit parts people counted on seeing him at the stand. in movies and on TV shows. “People would come who knew him their Aram Bedrosian “He was a San Francisco institution,” said entire life,” Lavette said. “Visitors to the city Elise Kazanjian, who was a lifelong friend. “He would make a point of stopping to see Al Funeral Home, Inc. knew everybody, and everybody knew him.” because they thought of him as part of San “Dad was part of the folklore of the old city,” Francisco.” Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945 said his daughter, Louise. “He was part of a And he was. Albert and Harvey Nalbandian family flower business that goes back more and their sister, Louise, were born in San MARION BEDROSIAN than a hundred years.” Francisco, the children of Paul and Ardemis 558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET PAUL BEDROSIAN “That little stand was a fixture on the corner, Nalbandian, who fled after the Armenian WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN like an island in between a river of humans and Genocide. Paul opened a sidewalk flower stand an ocean of cars,” said John Lavette, who at Powell and Market streets in 1915. Harvey Mari (Seferoglu) Imirze

WATERTOWN — Mari (Seferoglu) Imirze of Elizabeth Ganjian and her husband Varoujan of Watertown passed away on May 11, at the age Belmont, Janet Imirze of Watertown and GiragosianF UNERAL H OME of 92. Kevork Imirzian and his wife Nora of James “Jack” Giragosian, CPC She was the wife of the late Agop Imirze. Watertown. She also leaves behind her grand- Mark J. Giragosian She leaves behind her three children, children, Victor Ganjian and his wife Nancy of Funeral Counselors Belmont and Linda Ganjian and her husband 576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606 Jesse Lambert of New York and three great- www.giragosianfuneralhome.com grandchildren, Ani and Lori Ganjian and Arek Lambert. She was the sister of the late Alice Seferoglu, Garabed Seferoglu and Nadya Donelian. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews. Mari was very active at her spiritual home, St. ENNIS M. EVENEY & ONS James Armenian Church, where she was in D D S church every Sunday. She also spent countless hours working with the Women’s Guild, volun- Cemetery Monuments teering in the kitchen and at many church func- Specializing in tions. Funeral services were held at St. James Armenian Designs and Lettering Armenian Church, Watertown, on Monday, May 701 Moody St. Waltham, MA 02543 15. Interment followed at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Watertown. (781) 891-9876 www.NEMonuments.com S ATURDAY, M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 7 COMMUNITY NEWS AMAA Centennial to Be Celebrated on East And West Coasts

AMAA, from page 5 among a few other organizations commands a after the Genocide attended Armenian Sona — née Kelikian, have two sons, one daugh- University, established in 1955, with a current leading role of sustenance and support. Evangelical schools, with every school support- ter and six grandchildren. student body of 700. Among its numerous well- Khanjian was influential in the creation of the ed by the AMAA. Close to fifty percent of It is now 2 1/2 years that he has been the known graduates are its current president, the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund (SARF), operat- Armenian students in the Middle East have executive director of the AMAA. “This is my Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, historian and scholar ing out of the California since 2012 and chaired passed through the gates of Armenian love,” he declared. “The AMAA is a unique orga- Evangelical Schools sustained by the AMAA,” nization. Its foundation is the spiritual life of Khanjian revealed. the Armenian people. It is the combination of Khanjian was born in Aleppo, Syria, and said attention to the spiritual and physical lives of that the church, its Sunday School, and the the Armenian nation that keeps me bonded to choir were the focus of his youth. “The church the AMAA.” and school in Aleppo have been my home,” he A member of the Armenian Evangelical declared. “They were the first station for me Church, he calls the church “the focus of our and for the survivors, widows, and orphans.” lives following the teachings of Christ. Christ, During the Genocide, he lost both grandfathers God incarnate, was spirited, engaged, involved from Arapkir. all the time and with all segments of society. A graduate of the American University of Showing love and compassion, kindness and Beirut, majoring in business administration, he sacrifice, He reached out to all, teaching, edu- came to the US in 1979, and worked mainly in cating, forgiving, feeding the hungry, quench- real estate and development. He and his wife ing the thirsty, healing the sick and this should

Kirikian Armenian School Students Learn About Combatting Pollution in Armenia

PARAMUS, N.J. — On Saturday, April 8, and consciousness with our school as well as to AMAA’s Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian School in Malatia-Sepastia Region, Yerevan, Armenian Armenia Fund USA and members of Pure translate Earth Day as a special day for the Earth visited the Kirikian Armenian Saturday Kirikian Armenian School students to get them School of the St. Thomas Armenian Church in to think about our culture and national needs Dr. Yervant Kassouny and Genocide scholar Dr. it for two years. Tenafly. The visit was to bring awareness and to in general,” stated Baltaian. Khachig Mouradian. “The AMAA is like a physical body with edu- educate the children, grades kindergarten Baltaian and Ani Capan, principal of the In addition to these areas, there has been a cation as its bloodstream, the core. Armenian through 7th about Armenia Fund USA’s Toxic Kirikian Armenian School, invited Armenia crucial humanitarian focus on the seven-year Evangelicals, and thousands of Armenian youth Pollution Cleanup Project in Akhtala, Armenia. Fund USA and Pure Earth to speak about the crisis in war-torn Syria, where the AMAA who have been educated in the Middle East The soil surrounding the Armenian Apostolic dangers of toxic pollution and what they are Church monastery in Akhtala, Armenia will be cleaned up through the Toxic Pollution Cleanup Project. Currently, approximately 500 local children are at risk of lead poisoning, which can lead to mental disabili- ties and developmental delays, decreased bone and muscle growth, damage to the nervous system, kidneys and hearing. Every year, the Kirikian Armenian School celebrates Earth Day with a special project. The school picks a different cause every year to learn about, support and During the presentation donate towards. The purpose of the Earth Day project is to teach the children the importance of “giving.” The Earth doing to lessen that danger in Armenia. Taking Day Project program was started eight years ago part in the presentation were about 75 stu- by Jacklyn Baltaian, who is in charge of the Arts dents, ages 5 to 14. After the presentation, the and Crafts Department for the school. students’ hands shot up asking questions and “Since I am personally a nature lover and raising concerns about their peers in Armenia. involve myself in doing the best I can for the The day ended with all the kids excited to be environment, I wanted to share that awareness able to help.

NEW YORK — Earlier in May the Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients gathered to pick up their awards. Among them were several Armenians. Pictured above, from left, they are Frank Melkonian of Swiss-Armenian Lobbied for Billions California, Lucine Mardirosian of Florida, Ruth Bedevian of New Jersey, Ara S. Tekian of Illinois, Joan Agajanian Quinn of California, Owed to Holocaust Survivors Garo M. Tertzakian of California, and Kurken Yetvart Berksanlar of California. Missing from the photo is Andy () Madadian. Two TCHIVIDJIAN, fromm page 5 Goetschel had Hans Baer, chairman of Julius of the recipients are members of the Armenian International Women’s He said he encountered some anti-Semitism Baer Bank, the largest private bank in Association (Bedevian and Quinn). As well, Bedevian is the third and anti-American feelings while he was con- Switzerland, on the Paul Volcker Commission parishioner from the St. Leon Armenian Church family to receive this versing with Swiss diplomats. One ambassador with her. The commission wanted the banker to honor. The other honorees are Sarkis Bedevian and the late Charles told him: “We didn’t kill them, and now they go to Boston, so Tchividjian would organize Pinajian. mess with us.” press events for the Swiss government repre- Ally sentative to speak in the United States about Tchividjian was introduced to Corinne the dormant accounts. Goetschel, who was on the Paul Volcker Tchividjian organized radio, TV and newspa- Commission, which was investigating the dor- per interviews. Goetschel introduced him to mant accounts. David Finn of Ruder Finn, who so appreciated “Until then, my idea of the Swiss government Tchividjian’s passion and management of the was that it was the enemy,” he said. crisis that he asked Tchividjian first to work for Goetschel said that she, as a worker for the them on the case and later to join the firm as Swiss government and a Jew, would resign her its ethics chair. position if she felt any anti-Semitic pressure in To Tchividjian, hearing from the people most the Swiss government. She became affected by this scandal was one of the most dif- Tchividjian’s “moral guarantee-er.” ficult parts of the experience. He felt he didn’t The Swiss government went to a number of do as much as he could and to this day doesn’t firms seeking help, which all turned them down, know how impactful he was. until Ruder Finn, a public-relations company He would sometimes get calls from people from the United States, took on the challenge. with relatives who had money in the dormant Tchividjian was working for the Swiss gov- accounts, and he would connect them with the ernment for free while Ruder Finn was being right people. paid, but nevertheless they had the same mis- “But you never do what’s right because of the sion. His meeting with Goetschel was the link impact. You do what’s right because it’s right,” to interacting with the Swiss banks themselves he said. and the beginning of his relationship with “And you hope that the impact is what it Ruder Finn. needs to be.” 8 S ATURDAY, M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMUNITY NEWS Diocesan Assembly Convenes in Florida

PALM HARBOR, Fla. — More than 125 cler- Promise,” the feature film about the Armenian including Hye Pointe Church of Bradford, MA; Relief, Armenian Church Endowment Fund, gy and lay delegates, representing parishes Genocide, Barsamian reminded clergy and dele- St. Gregory the Enlightener Church of White ACYOA, Sacred Music Council, Ararat Center, from across the Eastern Diocese, gathered here gates that the generation of 1915 charted a Plains, NY; St. James Church of Watertown and and the Women’s Guild. from May 4 to 6, for the 115th Diocesan new course for their children and children. St. Sarkis Church of Dallas. He also mentioned In the afternoon, delegates heard from the Assembly, hosted by St. Hagop Church of “In a world where ugliness, suffering, mad- the renovation of Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditing Committee and Diocesan Council trea- Pinellas Park. ness was all around them, they never lost sight Auditorium at the Diocesan Center and the surer Roseann Manoogian Attar. They approved Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the of the beautiful, the gentle, the holy,” he said of increase in rentals the Diocese looks forward to the revised 2017 budget and the proposed $4.6 Diocese of the Armenian Church of America the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. in the coming year. million budget for 2018. (Eastern), presided over the meeting. In his mes- “They held onto those qualities like precious Regarding the council’s strategic plan, Melanie Dadourian and Oscar Tatosian, co- chairs of the Diocese’s Endowment Campaign, spoke about the effort to raise $15 million to support Diocesan and parish programs. The “Our Church, Our Legacy” campaign was launched last fall to inspire every Armenian, strengthen their faith, and make the church a relevant part of daily life. “Our goal is to make the church more relevant to every parishioner in every region of the Diocese,” Dadourian said. “We want everyone to feel a part of this effort and help us grow the church.” She announced that $8 million has already been raised. “We have a very strong start,” added Tatosian, “but there’s still a long way to go.” Another campaign now underway across the Diocese aims to raise funds to restore Christ’s tomb in Jerusalem. The Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian and the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, members of the “Save the Tomb” campaign committee, gave an overview of its progress, noting that more than a third of the $300,000 goal has been raised to date. They encouraged delegates to support fundraising receptions planned for the coming months, and announced that the Diocese will organize an Easter pilgrimage to the Holy Land next year. Charles Takesian was presented with the “St. Vartan Award” in recognition of his leadership Rev. Mardiros Chevian of the Armenian Church community of Ocala. On Saturday, May 6, clergy and delegates received the reports of the NEA and ERA Bylaws sage to delegates on Friday, May 5, Barsamian seeds, and they replanted them here, in this Kalustian mentioned efforts to continue devel- Review Committee. They approved a proposal spoke about ways the church must expand its country, when they resettled their lives. We oping topic-driven programming, support con- directing the Diocesan Council to centralize ministries to reach people in the 21st century. today are the inheritors of what they planted.” tinuing education for clergy, and assisting administrative services — such as health insur- He noted the Diocese’s new Creative Rev. Arsen Mirzoyan read the message of parishes with community outreach. ance, payroll, or human resources policies — to Ministries project, which teaches the history Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan leverage the collective strength of the parishes. A and traditions of the Armenian Church through Catholicos of All Armenians. Mirzoyan and Rev. Legate and Ecumenical Director, spoke about second proposal to ensure that assembly minutes video and audio episodes, and mentioned other Sahak Sahakyan both attended the Diocesan the plight of Christians in the Middle East and are finalized and distributed to delegates in a efforts to use technology for outreach. Assembly as representatives of Holy the importance to advocate on their behalf in timely manner was also approved. Turning to some of the challenges facing the Echmiadzin. the United States. He described his trip to Iraq In closing the meeting on Saturday, May 6, Diocese, he spoke about recent meetings with “We exhort you to make the Eastern Diocese last January, where he met Christian refugees Barsamian expressed his gratitude to clergy parishioners in different regions and their con- and our church prosper with God-pleasing and heard first-hand about the threats they face and delegates for their commitment to the cerns about declining membership, modern works and commitments for the glory of God in their daily lives. Armenian Church. He also thanked the officers social ills, and the difficulty of attracting young and for the well-being of our God-loving peo- Aykazian also spoke about his efforts to advo- of the assembly and the host committee for people, among other things. ple,” the catholicos wrote. cate for the recognition of the Armenian their hard work in organizing the weekend’s “Admittedly, some of these are issues our The Rev. Avedis Kalayjian gave the report of Genocide and work with the new administra- events. church cannot simply settle overnight,” he said. the Clergy Conference, held from May 1-3 at the tion to boost support for Armenia and Artsakh. The 115th Diocesan Assembly was chaired by “But at the same time, I feel that none of these Bethany Center in Lutz. On Friday, May 5, the Diocese’s communica- Diran Jebejian of St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, concerns is so great that we cannot overcome Gail Guroian gave a report of the Parish them—together. We need to speak openly Council Chairs meeting held on the morning of together. Plan and work together. And above May 4. The meeting was led by Diocesan all, pray together — pray for the well-being of Council member Paul Mardoian, and gave each of our parish communities.” parish council chairs a chance to address dis- He went on to speak about the Diocese’s cuss issues, such as outreach, welcoming new commitment to preparing pastors through the members, hall rentals, and other parish build- program at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary. ing initiatives. Barsamian mentioned the seminary’s new cam- Diocesan Council Chair James Kalustian pus in Armonk and the Diocese’s support of highlighted accomplishments of the previous clergy pursuing advanced degrees through the year. He noted that the council has been work- continuing education initiative. ing with several parishes which are in the Reflecting on this spring’s release of “The process of building new sanctuaries and halls,

Fr. Mardiros Chevian and Fr. Arakel Aljalian

tions and ministries staff members made a pre- NJ, with Alex Topakbashian of St. Sahag and St. sentation about the new Creative Ministries Mesrob Church of Wynnewood, Penn., serving as project. They screened several videos in the vice chair. Laurie Bejoian of St. James Church of “Bread & Salt” series, discussed podcasts, and Watertown, MA, served as the secretary. shared supplemental materials available for The assembly host committee was led by the parish schools and study groups. Rev. Fr. Hovnan Demerjian, pastor of St. Hagop Clergy and delegates then had an opportuni- Church of Pinellas Park, FL, and Stepan ty to attend small group sessions, where they Serpekian, committee chair. heard reports from various Diocesan depart- The 116th Diocesan Assembly will be hosted Melanie Dadourian and Oscar Tatosian ment leaders, as well as representatives of St. by St. Gregory the Enlightener Church of White Nersess Seminary, the Fund for Armenian Plains, NY. S ATURDAY, M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 9 COMMUNITY NEWS Diocesan Banquet Honors Longtime Supporters

PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Two individuals He went on to speak about his commit- were honored for their support of the ment to protecting Christians in the Middle Armenian Church and the larger Armenian East, creating opportunities for Orthodox community at the annual Awards Banquet church leaders to be heard by government held as part of the 115th Diocesan Assembly officials, and pursuing efforts for Genocide in Palm Harbor, on Friday, May 5. recognition. Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag “Congressman Bilirakis, I want you to Barsamian presided over the banquet, which know that the entire Armenian Church com- was hosted by St. Hagop Church of Pinellas munity is grateful to you,” Barsamian said. Park. “We are proud to have such an honorable The award for the “Friend of the friend as you, lending your voice and Armenians” was bestowed on US strength to our own. I know you are a man Congressman Gus Bilirakis. A longtime sup- of faith, and I want you to know that our porter of Armenia and an advocate for prayers are always with you.” Armenian Genocide recognition, Bilirakis Receiving this year’s “Armenian Church has also been an outspoken proponent of Member of the Year” award was Sandra preserving the Christian heritage in Turkey Shahinian Leitner. and the Middle East. Shahinian Leitner has served the As the vice chair of the Congressional Armenian Church in a variety of capacities Armenian Caucus, he has worked to in her home parish of St. Leon Church of strengthen relations and economic coopera- Fair Lawn, NJ, and on the Diocesan level. From left, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Sandra Shahinian Leitner and James Kalustian tion between the U.S., Armenia, and She is currently a Diocesan Trustee and

interview prior to the awards banquet. “If of keeping Christ at the center of our daily anything, I hope that I have both touched lives. He said it is up to the new generation individuals and influenced ways of thinking to carry forward the legacy of the visionary that will benefit us as a community of peo- founders of the Eastern Diocese. ple who want to do good in the world.” “Our diocese is like Noah’s Ark — it deliv- “Sandra puts all her energy, attention, ered our people to safety after the and creativity into everything she is involved Genocide,” he said. “Our ancestors built with — and it always leads to success,” Armenian churches in America and said Barsamian said. thanks to God, like Noah did.” “On a personal level, Sandra is an individ- Stepan Serpekian, St. Hagop Church ual of very fine character; honest, hard-work- Assembly committee chair, welcomed the ing and positive in outlook; a woman of clergy, delegates and parishioners to the cel- grace, fine taste, and discernment,” he ebratory evening. He expressed gratitude to added. “She is friendly and generous with the St. Hagop Church Assembly committee people from all walks of life.” for their hard work in organizing the week- The Rev. Hovnan Demerjian, pastor of St. end’s meetings. Hagop Church, spoke about the importance As St. Hagop Church is marking its 10th anniversary of consecra- tion this year, Parish Council Chair Dr. Michael Shahnasarian noted all the From left, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Rep. Gus Bilirakis and James Kalustian people who have con- tributed to building the community over the last Nagorno-Karabakh. board member of the Fund for Armenian decade. “We have great fel- “This award means very much to me. I feel Relief. lowship and a great com- like I’m more than a friend — I’m a cousin,” Shahinian Leitner recalled how she munity,” he said. Bilirakis said, referring to his Greek- became involved in church leadership in her Aram Megerian served American heritage. local parish and learned valuable lessons as the master of cere- He recalled hearing stories about the there that she took with her to other roles monies. Susanna burning of Smyrna as a child, and being both on a Diocesan and global levels. She Hovhannisyan sang the raised in a hardworking Christian communi- also noted the example of other women who national anthems of the ty. “We stand on the shoulders of our ances- have served the Armenian Church and laid US and Armenia. Tatev tors,” he said, “As long as they’re not for- the groundwork for women’s involvement in Baroyan performed arias gotten, their sacrifice will continue to have church leadership. Rev. Hovnan Demerjian from Puccini and meaning now and into the future.” “My legacy is fleeting,” she had said in an Babajanian.

Former Boston Celtics Legend M.L. Carr Captivates Audience at Holy Trinity Church CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — At 6’6” tall, former Carr is an works well. It was like that for the Celtics, and it Celtic M.L. Carr towered over the podium in the engaging public is like that for the church, everyone has a role to Charles and Nevart Talanian Cultural Hall of speaker who has play.” He went on to tell of how he was mentored Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater the unique ability in life, and now he mentors others, and how he Boston, as the gathered crowd enthusiastically to hold the atten- was encouraged in life, and now encourages oth- greeted him with a signature move that he him- tion of all ages ers from all walks of life. “I was the worst player self made famous, the waving of their white nap- through stories on my high school team, but one of my mentors kins and towels in the air and calling out “M.L.!, and life lessons. took an interest in me and my life changed for M.L.!!, M.L.!!! He laughed and said, “That’s what Particularly the better.” I want you to do the day I enter the Gates of engaging were his “M.L. Carr is not only a two-time Celtics Heaven!” M.L. Carr was known for being the many stories Champion, he is a Hall of Fame Speaker,” stated Celtics player who waved his white towel in the revolving around Holy Trinity’s pastor, Fr. Vasken Kouzouian. “His air to cheer on his teammates and rise up the the work ethic of understanding of the everyday issues that people support of the crowds. the Boston and families face is remarkable. Through his per- On Sunday, April 30, in the second of a series Celtics. “A man sonable nature, M.L. put us all at ease the moment of events celebrating books, courage and leg- named Red he entered our church, and from there it was as if ends, Holy Trinity Church was pleased to have Auerbach instilled we had known each other for years. His talk, M.L. Carr share his life’s inspiring story and mes- M.L. Carr, surrounded by young Holy Trinity parishioners as well as Rev. Vasken a complete team inspired and motivated. His presence, was power- sage for all. Kouzouian and his wife, Arpi first approach ful, but his words were most unforgettable.” M.L. Carr is a two-time NBA Champion, hav- throughout his Before anyone realized the passing of time, ing won with the Boston Celtics in 1981, and years leading the the engaging former Celtic spoke candidly 1984. On Sunday, April 30, he showed another up. “I come from a town that has two famous Celtics.” Using the imagery of St. Paul’s One about his life’s experiences and lessons side of himself, in an environment far different champions and I remind the other younger Body, Many Parts, Carr went on to describe that learned for one hour, and graciously answered than the parquet floor of the old Boston champion that I was the first whenever I speak “no one player, no one person, can accomplish every question asked of him. Offering his time Garden, this skilled basketball champion with him,” joked Carr, referring to the great what a team can. The hand cannot see, and the to sign photos, and books, Carr left the gath- demonstrated his eloquence as an orator. Michael Jordan. “Growing up with very limited feet cannot hear, but the body works better when ered crowd with this message, “We don’t make Sharing from his life and career, Carr took the means, I came from a loving and supportive everything is in sync and harmoniously working excuses, we make it happen. No excuses, no gathered crowd back to his early days in the family. A family of hardworking people, with as one. Everyone, and every part of the body is complaining will get you to your goal. Go out small town in North Carolina, where he grew many ministers throughout the generations.” important. If everyone does their job, the body and reach your goal.” 10 S ATURDAY, M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR Arts & Living Movses Shakarian ‘ArmComedy’ Uses Comedy to Sells out in All Bridge the Armenian and Three Cities WASHINGTON — “ArmComedy” benefit LGBT Communities shows, co-hosted by the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) and Armenia Tree Project (ATP), sold out in all three tour locations — Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco. By Michael Ciriaco Incorporating Armenian and American politics, comedians Narek Margaryan and Sergey LOS ANGELES (LA Weekly) — Stop me if Sargsyan brought political satire and shared you’ve heard this one already. What do you cultures to new audiences in the US. get when you cross a gay man with an “With the help of our hardworking volun- Armenian? Apparently, you get Movses teers and the generosity of our sponsors, the Shakarian. three-city tour was a big success,” stated A lawyer by day, Shakarian spends his Assembly Board Co-Chair and ATP Board nights hitting the mics at comedy venues Member Anthony Barsamian. “We applaud across Los Angeles. This month, the openly Narek Margaryan and Sergey Sargsyan for gay comic is working double duty, both pro- using comedy to highlight how we can all make ducing and performing in a pair of Armenia a better place for its citizens.” shows, Armenian Allstars and That’s So Thanks to the efforts of the Assembly and Wrong, which aim to give a voice to the often ATP, “ArmComedy” made a guest appearance invisible queer Armenian community. on Conan O’Brien’s late night talk show on “We exist!” Shakarian exclaims in a recent TBS, airing on Thursday, May 11. During the preshow interview. “Despite what many filming, the duo was seen trying to take Armenian people will say, we do come in gay. Conan’s giant bobble head to Armenia, which There are more of us than anyone would has been a goal of Narek and Sergey since know, and I would like to add that we are not 2014 and was brought up again when Conan all log-cabin Republicans.” Always one to end was featured on an “ArmComedy” episode. with a punch line, the Los Angeles native Gifted musical students in China instructed by Sahan Arzruni. Narek and Sergey interviewed Conan on their quips, “That aside, the biggest myth I would own show in Armenia in 2016. like to dispel is that not all gay Armenians The theme of the tour was to “Make Armenia have perfect eyebrows.” Green Again,” a play on “Make America Great Although Shakarian can shrug it off with a Sahan Arzruni to Teach Again.” Proceeds from all three shows benefit- laugh, the Armenian community has long ted the Assembly and ATP. Shirts and tote bags been a target of negative stereotyping. When with the shows’ theme “Make Armenia Green Movses was 3 years old, his family moved out And Perform in Again” are available on www.aratherat.com. “We thank everyone who supports the impor- tant work of the Armenian Assembly of America and the Armenia Tree Project to Armenia and Artsakh secure much needed funding for Armenia and creating jobs in rural communities throughout the nation,” said Assembly President and ATP NEW YORK — Noted pianist, composer and ethnomusicologist Sahan Arzruni Founder Carolyn Mugar. embarked on a three-week trip to Armenia and Artsakh on May 12. He will teach Special guests attended the performances and perform for students in six towns in from coast to coast, including Permanent various provinces. Representative of Armenia to the United By Florence Avakian “My relationship with music and children Nations, Ambassador Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, is longstanding,” said Arzruni in a recent and former guest stars from previous interview in . “I have been “ArmComedy” episodes, actor Ken interested not necessarily with children learning music, but also music written for Davitian and Sevag Tankian. children to play.” The show in Los Angeles featured a musical His interest was “sparked” in 1972 when he was asked to record Aram performance by composer, conductor, and key- Khachaturian’s two sets of Children’s Albums. “Until then I didn’t realize how mas- terfully these compositions were put together. And because children play only one or two selections out of the entire set, the beauty of the whole cycle does not come through fully.” The recordings gave him the “opportunity to play the whole Khachaturian cycle in its entirety and discover the musical arc.” The pianist was then given the chance to present a half-hour radio broadcast on WNYC, New York City’s Municipal Broadcasting System on a weekly basis for five years. The broadcast was called “Young Musician,” where compositions written by great masters would be played. “I would often invite composers who wrote for children, and we would discuss the material and play during the half hour program.” Movses Shakarian Arzruni then started recording these pieces, including works by Bela Bartok, Kabalevsky, and many others. “I identified with this genre of music,” he explained. When Sahan Arzruni received Armenia’s highest honor, the Movses Khorenatsi of LA, which according to the 2000 census Medal from President Serge Sargsyan in Yerevan last year, he felt the “need to recip- was home to 40 percent of the nation’s rocate. The idea of communicating with younger musicians in Armenia came to Armenian-American populace, the highest mind.” concentration of that ethnicity in the United He recalled that when most diasporan musicians go to Armenia, they appear in States. He was often the only student with Yerevan. The rest of the country and Artsakh “do not receive the benefit of their Armenian origins in his school, and he devel- artistry.” “ArmComedy” Comedians Narek Margaryan oped his comedy skills as a form of self- On this project, “I will concentrate on towns outside of Yerevan,” he declared. and Sergey Sargsyan defense. These areas will include Ashtarak, Gyumri, Vanadzor, Berd, Goris in Armenia, and “Growing up as an overweight, gay, brown Stepanakert in Artsakh. kid, I used comedy to make fun of myself Arzruni will spend three days in each town working with students of each area’s boardist Greg Hosharian, and a special intro- before others had the chance to,” music school, devoting the necessary time to each student on an individual basis. duction by local comedians Mary Basmadjian Shakarian says. On the third day, he will perform in a concert that will also include a number of stu- and Armenian Assembly intern alumna Lory In 2010, he moved back to L.A. and was dents whom he has worked with. String, wind, vocal and folk instrumentalists will Tatoulian. The show in Mountain View, confronted by unprecedented prejudice. take part. California featured musical performances by “I was shocked at the racism and general- The young musicians have already sent him the instrumental and choral music, Julliard-based piano student, Armen Sarkisian, izations I now face,” Shakarian recounts. “so that I can learn and play with them on stage.” Both the teaching and perform- and jazz vocalist Zara Avoyan. “Stereotypes which I had never experienced ing segments will be videotaped. While in Los Angeles, in addition to meeting before, such as people assuming I am involved The whole program is under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture of Armenia up with Conan, Narek and Sergey were given a in fraud, that I am somehow tied to criminal and Artsakh, and is organized by the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR). special tour of The Simpsons Animation Studio, activity and that I cannot be trusted in my pro- see ARZRUNI, page 13 thanks to Character Layout Artist Yelena fession as an attorney. Last but not least, the Geodakyan, where they also met with see SHAKARIAN, page 13 see COMEDY, page 13 S ATURDAY, M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 11 ARTS & LIVING Nercessian Presents City of Orphans at Daughters of Vartan Event

ORPHANS, from page 1 thanked representatives from the sponsoring organizations. Ani Ross Grubb then extended greetings on behalf of Holy Trinity Armenian Church, and later handled the microphone during the ques- tion-and-answer session. Marc Mamigonian, director of academic affairs of NAASR introduced Nercessian, point- ing out that she has a distinguished back- ground in academia. Assistant Professor in the Department of Fine Arts in Harvard, Visiting Professor at Boston College, Assistant Professor at the University of Puget Sound at Washington State, and Assistant Dean and then Associate Dean of Administration at Harvard Medical School from 1987 to 2004, she is the recipient of various prestigious fellowships and medals. She was the author of several books prior to The City of Orphans. Nercessian has not restricted her activities to academia. She founded in 1992 and subse- quently became co-director of the Center for Women’s Reproductive Health, at the Erebuni Medical Center in Yerevan, and in the same period became the founder of the first soup kitchen in Yerevan for the vulnerable, elderly and children. Nercessian started her talk by explaining the origins of her book. She was asked by a friend in Yerevan in the summer of 2012 whether she might be interested in writing about the Gyumri (Alexandrapol) orphanage. Though she had never heard of it, and it was at a great Dr. Nora Nercessian with a slide depicting Armenian orphans of the Near East Relief Gyumri orphanage. remove from her own academic specialty of the European Middle Ages, she said that it struck a nerve, as her father and uncle had grown up in orphanages in Lebanon. now came to be known as the city of orphans, ple. Some Armenian orphans, including those The audience asked many questions after the Ultimately, this led Nercessian to plough but for every orphan inside, two remained out who later served in the Soviet army, came back formal talk, allowing Nercessian to expand on through thousands of pages of primary sources on the streets. NER invested over $25 million occasionally to visit the site of the orphanage. many points, such as the nature of the largely and learn about the intersection of philan- (more $250 million in current values) in this She concluded by noting that a Russian base Armenian staff of the orphanage, where sup- thropy, human nature and political interests centerpiece for its philanthropic work. in Gyumri today uses some of the buildings still plies came from (initially the US, and later local- affecting the Gyumri orphanage. This was an It was believed that these children, unlike standing from Tsarist times, and the respite ly), how orphans were treated (good and bad), institution which drew the attention of promi- those in the Balkans or the Middle East, would from military use did not last much more than and broader issues concerning the Armenian nent American, European and Soviet politicians join Armenian society after they left the a decade. Genocide and US attitudes. and journalists who often traveled long dis- orphanage. Nercessian spoke of the unusual tances to visit. Nercessian in her lecture working relationship between the Soviet explored why the orphanage received such authorities and the NER during a period where AGBU Performing Arts Hosts Sold-Out Concert with great attention. there were no official American diplomatic rela- She began by describing the physical setup of tions with the Soviets. She also depicted the Miqayel Voskanyan and Friends the orphanage in former Tsarist Russian mili- struggle between the NER authorities and the tary installations which held 25,000 Armenian Soviets over the type of upbringing the children NEW YORK — On April 5, the AGBU Performing Arts Department (PAD)—in collabora- tion with D’LAYL Productions and the Armenian Student Association at —hosted a concert with the Armenian ethno-jazz group Miqayel Voskanyan and Friends at DROM in New York. The sold-out event drew hundreds of attendees. The group’s leader, tar player and singer Miqayel Voskanyan was joined by Arman Peshtmaljian on the keyboard, Gurgen Ghazaryan on the bass and Movses Ghazaryan on the drums, as well as special guest Sevana Tchakerian, from the Paris-based group Collectif Medz Bazar, on vocals and accordion. The show fulfilled one of PAD’s main goals — to introduce Armenian arts to a diverse audi- ence — as it drew many non-diaspora jazz aficionados. The online newspaper New York Music Daily covered the concert, writing: “Armenia is small, about the same size as Jamaica. Like reggae, Armenian music has a vast, global influence: Voskanyan’s compositions reflect that scope.” AGBU PAD director Hayk Arsenyan also remarked that “The fact that Miqayel Voskanyan & Friends incorporates the tar, a traditional Armenian instrument, and well known folk melodies in a jazz format promotes both the instrument and our music and shows how ver- satile they can be. AGBU PAD, in collaboration with other AGBU chapters and Young Professionals (YP) groups, is proud to showcase their talents to diverse audiences in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Paris—cities that not only have large Armenian com- munities but are also immensely multicultural.”

Dr. Nora Nercessian speaking. orphans primarily from Moush, Sasoun, would be given, American or Soviet. Erzeroum and Van across the Ottoman border Some time after Armenia entered the in the spring of 1919. The orphanages were run Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet by the American Near East Relief (NER) orga- Republic in 1922, and could no longer make inde- nization, which signed an agreement with the pendent decisions, the privileges given to NER Republic of Armenia for this purpose. began to be reviewed and curtailed. By the end of NER intended to concentrate the care of June 1929, NER ended orphan care, and left Armenian orphans at one site for economies of Armenia institutionally by the spring of 1931. scale. A Turkish military occupation beginning An effort by the Soviet authorities to erase in November 1920 interrupted its work for six the memory of NER’s orphanage work ensued, months and stole most of the supplies of the and for decades former orphanages had to keep orphanage as well as the resources of the sur- their experiences private. US newspapers fell rounding city. During the occupation, silent too. It was only after the fall of the Soviet On April 5, the AGBU Performing Arts Department (PAD)—in collaboration with D’LAYL Nercessian related, 34,000 of the province’s regime that memories reemerged, Nercessian Productions—hosted a concert with the Armenian ethno-jazz group Miqayel Voskanyan & population died of starvation, 50,000 were declared. Descendants of orphans in Gyumri, Friends at DROM in New York. raped and 8,000 enslaved. particularly numerous, had many stories to tell By April 1921, the country was in desolation and even kept photographs and souvenirs. and under Soviet rule. The Tsarist military post Nercessian interviewed a number of these peo- 12 S ATURDAY, M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARTS & LIVING ‘ArmComedy’ Sells Out Recipe COMEDY, from page 10 the two met with more than 30 students from Supervising Director Mike Anderson and the Boston area at Northeastern University, Colorist Modelist Mike Battle. The answering questions about how they began “ArmComedy” co-hosts were inspired by the their careers in political comedy. They were also Corner comedic style of “The Simpsons” at an early age interviewed by Public Radio International’s and discovered that they both had a common “The World.” sense of humor. During their US tour, Margaryan and by Christine Vartanian Datian On May 2, Margaryan and Sargsyan were Sargsyan took the time to explore each city and granted the keys to the City of Glendale, which future “ArmComedy” episodes will feature their was spearheaded by Glendale City Clerk adventures in Boston, Los Angeles, and San Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian, an Armenian Francisco. Bulgur, Garbanzo and Green Bean Salad Assembly intern alumnus. The same day, they Armenia Tree Project’s mission is to assist were interviewed on PanArmenian TV’s “Good the Armenian people in using trees to improve INGREDIENTS Morning Armenians” segment. their standard of living and protect the global 3/4 cup medium bulgur In Boston, they attended Red Sox and Celtics environment. In so doing, we are guided by the 1 large tomato, seeded and diced games, visited Armenian shops, and met with need to promote self-sufficiency, aid those with 2 cloves garlic, minced community members. While visiting Massis the fewest resources first and conserve the 2 cups canned or cooked garbanzo beans, drained Bakery, they were surprised to discover an indigenous ecosystem. More than 5.2 million 1 cup canned or cooked green beans, drained Armenian-American creation of “vegetarian lah- trees have been planted since the organization’s 1 medium red or white onion, chopped majun.” The night before their performance, founding in 1994. 1 medium green or red bell pepper, seeded and chopped 1 English cucumber, diced 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced 1 small bunch parsley, finely chopped 2 stalks celery, diced 2 tablespoons fresh or dried mint Olive oil and fresh lemon juice Lemon zest (from one lemon) Kosher or sea salt, black pepper, dried or fresh oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, Aleppo pepper, or paprika to taste Chopped parsley, green onions, and mint as garnish Armenian or Kalamata olives as garnish Crumbled Feta cheese as garnish “ArmComedy” in Los Angeles PREPARATION: Place the bulgur in a bowl and cover with boiling water for 20-30 minutes until all liquid is absorbed. Drain and set bulgur aside. In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, garlic, garbanzo beans, green beans, onions, bell pepper, cucumber, and jalapeno pepper and toss; add the bulgur, parsley, cel- ery, and mint, and toss together with olive oil, lemon juice and lemon zest to taste. Add salt, pepper, and seasonings, and toss again,checking if salad requires more olive oil or lemon juice. Cover and chill for one hour or overnight for best results. Transfer salad to a large bowl and top with choice of garnish. Drizzle with olive oil or lemon juice, if desired. Serves 4-6. *Christine's recipes have been published in the Fresno Bee Newspaper, Sunset and Cooking Light Magazines and thearmeniankitchen.com.

Go to: http://www.myrecipes.com/search/site/Datian or http://www.thearmeniankitchen.com/

“ArmComedy” in Boston Movses Shakarian Uses Comedy to Bridge The Armenian and LGBT Communities SHAKARIAN, from page 10 Wrong cannonballs into the deep end of the assumption that just because I am Armenian, gay swimming pool. Running the last I live in Glendale, which I don’t,” he adds, Wednesday of every month on the stage of invoking the Los Angeles city closely associ- DTLA’s Precinct, this queer cabaret co-pro- ated with its sizable Armenian population. duced by Levi Packer and hosted by Shawn “Because I can’t afford it. Glendale is expen- Morales features comedy, drag, performance sive!” art, go-go boys and political satire, while aim- Dispelling myths about Armenian culture is ing to create a safe haven for LGBT a primary goal of the “Armenian Allstars,” Armenians. Most importantly, it’s a venue “ArmComedy” in San Francisco Bay Area which takes place on the second Sunday of where Shakarian can fag out as hard as he every month at Flappers Comedy Club in wants. Burbank. Now in its third year, this comedy “For ‘Allstars,’ the difficulty is when show, co-produced by Mary Basmadjian and Armenian audiences think that I’m joking Sahan Arzruni to Teach in Armenia and Artsakh Michael Passion, showcases a variety of about being gay,” Shakarian says. “That I pre- comics, sketches, improv, musical acts and tend, for the sake of comedy, I am a homo- ARZRUNI, from page 10 flowers, and proper cutlery and china even magicians to comment on topical issues, sexual. Because nothing gets a crowd laugh- “It gives me great pleasure at this stage of plates. as well as endorse the rights of women and ing harder than awkward my career and age to give my time and “I needed to do something. It is part of the LGBT community, two demographics homophobia. ‘That’s So Wrong,’ on the other knowledge to people who can benefit from the same spirit of giving — food and music,” often marginalized by a traditionally conser- hand, is almost the inverse of ‘Armenian it,” he said with pride. said Arzruni. vative culture. Allstars.’ The crowd is not in shock that I’m As another example of Arzruni’s caring He has been featured in many television “One of the goals of the Armenian gay or that I’m addressing LGBTQ issues, and concern, the musician revealed another and radio musical broadcasts, given com- Allstars is to bridge the gap between they embrace it.” talent of his. mand performances at the White House, as Armenians and non-Armenians,” Shakarian Similar to how “Armenian Allstars” strives Known for his creative cooking which he well as the British, Danish, Icelandic and explains. “It is personally important to me to to bridge the gap between Armenians and has often shared both on radio broadcasts Swedish courts, and performed with the communicate to Armenian LGBTQ people the LGBT community, “That’s So and in community events, Arzruni is one of famed . that there is support within our community, Wrong” endeavors to create a supportive hub four chefs who prepares dinners for 400 In addition to his 2015 Movses Khorenatsi and provide an environment that allows for comedians and the disparate factions of homeless people, including women and chil- Medal, he received the Sts. Sahak and everyone to let loose and feel comfortable.” LA’s queer culture. dren, every Monday. Mesrob Medal and Encyclical from Shakarian isn’t above a bit of elbowing “That’s So Wrong provides a safe space He has done this weekly for two years at Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin I in when it comes to his culture. where comics and audience members can the All Souls Unitarian Church in New 1996. “I’m a gay Armenian, which makes me dif- express themselves regarding LGBTQ and York City, a project sponsored by the He was appointed a representative of ferent from most Armenian men, because I other issues without censorship or the fear of church, as well as City Harvest and local Armenia’s Ministry of Culture in the diaspo- don’t dress as gay as they do,” says being labeled. [The show] uses humor as a businesses. The grateful beneficiaries, ten ra on the occasion of the Aram Shakarian. “When I get dressed I look like a form of bonding and comradery, trying to to a table, are treated to a four-course Khachaturian Centennial in 2003, and man. I don’t look like Lawrence of Arabia unite all factions of the LGBTQ community, meal in a dignified atmosphere on tables awarded by the Conservatory the @*#&ed Liberace.” including twinks and otters,” Shakarian, decorated with linen tablecloths, fresh title of “Honored Professor.” If Armenian Allstars mingles the waters of always wrapping with a joke, adds, “and Armenian and LGBT cultures, That’s So tigers and bears ... oh my!” S ATURDAY, M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 13 ARTS & LIVING CC AA LENDARLENDAR

Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston, 145 Brattle Newspaper in the United States @ Newton Marriott Hotel MASSACHUSETTSCALIFORNIA St., Cambridge. Open to all. You don’t have to be a mem- Banquet Hall. 85 Years and Beyond. Details to follow ber of the 1000 Club to join us for a delicious losh kebab MAY 27 — Broadway in LA … Armenian International and pilaf dinner, $9.99 per person; tickets on sale at the NEW JERSEY Women’s Association-L.A. Affiliate present an Evening door. Regular monthly raffle drawing at 8 p.m., plus 5 with Andrea Martin hosted by Seth Rudetsky, at El Portal $25 door prizes. “One-time” numbers will be sold on the NOVEMBER 18 — Save the date. Gala banquet cele- Theater, North Hollywood; one-night comedy show hon- night of dinner; special offer: purchase five “one-time” brating the 70th anniversary of the Tekeyan Cultural oring AIWA’s 25 plus years. 7:00 pm. Reception and numbers for $20, save $5. For further info, contact the Association. At the Terrace at Biagios. Details will be Armenian tapas; 8:30 p.m. Performance, followed by Holy Trinity Church office, 617.354.0632. forthcoming. Dessert and coffee with the stars. Tickets: $150; spon- MAY 25 — Jennifer Manoukian, “A Literary Renegade: sorships available. For info and reservations call (909)- Zareh Vorpouni and Twentieth-Century Western NEW YORK 625-3413 or (310) 472-2454. Armenian Literature in France,” 7:30 p.m., at the NAASR Center, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont. Co-sponsored by MAY 20 — A Day of Faith, Hope, Love and Service at MASSACHUSETTSFLORIDA Armenian International Women’s Association (AIWA) St. Nersess Armenian Seminary starting at 4:30 p.m. and National Association for Armenian Studies and This event will include Divine Liturgy, diaconate ordina- JANUARY 20-28, 2018 — Armenian Heritage Cruise Research (NAASR) / Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation tion, and consecration of a new baptismal font (4:30 XXI 2018 Eastern Caribbean Cruise aboard the Royal Lecture Series on Contemporary Armenian Issues. pm), 2017 Graduation Ceremony (7 pm), and an evening Caribbean’s Freedom Of The Seas. Travelling to: St. Kitts Contact NAASR at 617-489-1610 or [email protected]. reception (7:30pm). Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, / St.John’s Antigua / San Juan / Labadee, Private Island. JUNE 3 — Annual Armenian Night at the Pops, 8 p.m., Primate, will officiate. 486 Bedford Road, Armonk. RSVP Cabin Rates starting from US $1044 / person based on Symphony Hall, Boston. Presented by Friends of by May 11 to 914-273-0200 or [email protected]. For Double Occupancy, including Port Charges and ACAA Armenian Culture Society and featuring Hasmik more info or to donate go to www.stnersess.edu. All are registration fee. Government taxes of $108.36 are addi- Torosyan, soprano and the Boston Pops Orchestra in a invited. tional. Armenian Entertainment, Armenian Cultural selection of songs and arias, as well as the spectacular MAY 21 — A classical concert dedicated to the 70th Presentations, Armenian Festival Day, Tavlou & Belote Cirque de la Symphonie. http://www.facsboston.org/ for anniversary of the Tekeyan Cultural Association. Tournaments and much more. Call TRAVELGROUP INTER- tickets and information. “The Armenian Spirit” at Alliance Francaise in New York NATIONAL @1- 561-447-0750 or 1-866-447-0750 Ext. JUNE 9 — Let’s Party! At the KITCHEN, Boston Food City at 3 p.m. With Ani Kavafian, violin, Ani Kalayjian, 108. Ask for Janie. Market – Benefit for the Park’s Care in partnership cello and Orion Weiss, piano. with the Trustees of Reservations, Boston Food Market, JUNE 29 — The Freeport Memorial Library will have a MASSACHUSETTS with chefs presenting signature dishes we love and the lecture on the history of the Armenians, Thursday generosity of so many, all coming together at the KITCHEN at 2 p.m. by Dr. Ronald Brown, professor of history and MAY 19-20 — Armenian Memorial Church Annual Fair to support the Armenian Heritage Park’s Endowed Fund ethnic studies at Touro College and world religions at the (rain or shine)—On Friday evening, May 19, from 5 to for Year Round Care. 7-10 p.m. Advance reservations Unification Theological Seminary in New York City. Free 8 p.m., the Church will be serving its delicious kebab din- required. Space is limited. To receive the e-invite, please to the public. The library is located at 144 W Merrick Rd, ners .and selling exquisite desserts. On Saturday, May 20, email [email protected] Freeport, NY 11520, phone (516) 379-3274. the entire Fair will be open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. with JUNE 11 — St. James Armenian Church Annual Picnic in meals served all day starting at 11:30 am. (Take out avail- Watertown. 12-6 p.m. Delicious Armenian Food! Live WASHINGTON, D.C. able.) Armenian delicacies table. Silent Auction (closing Music! Raffle! Children’s Activities! Moon Bounce * at 2 p.m.). Armenian Memorial Church, 32 Bigelow Ave., Balloons * Face Painting * And More! On Church MAY 27 — Benefit Concert and Dance for the Orphans Watertown. For more information, call 923-0498. Grounds - 465 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, of the Tavush Region of Armenia. International MAY 20 — NAASR 63rd Annual Assembly of Members, [email protected] www.stjameswatertown.org Armenian Entertainer BARTEV. Saturday, 8 p.m. Delicious at the NAASR Center, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont. 12 JUNE 17 — The Society of Istanbul Armenian’s of appetizers, silent auction, dancing to your hearts con- p.m. Start. Registration at 11:30 a.m. Featured Boston will Honor Rev. Arakel Aljalian as the Father tent, Cash Bar. Takuhi Hallajian, 301.219.4041.St. Mary’s Presentation by Ara Krafian, CEO, SMMA Architectural, of the Year. Saturday at 7 p.m. Dinner at St. James Armenian Church Cultural Hall, 4125 Fessenden St. NW, Engineering & Design Firm for NAASR’s Building Armenian Church Hall, Watertown. Donation $50. For Washington, DC. Organized by Knights & Daughters of Transformation. To make a reservation contact NAASR Tickets, call Krikor Shaboian at 617-489-0346. Vartan and Friends of Bartev at [email protected]. JUNE 19 — The Gregory Hintlian Memorial Golf JUNE 13 — Tuesday, Monthly Public Discussion. MAY 22 — Arsen Manukyan, “The Business Tournament, “This Year Remembering Gerry Speaker Aram Hamparian, Executive Director, Environment in Armenia: Legal and Practical Issues Ajemian,” sponsored by Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Armenian National Committee of America ““A 360 for Investors,” 7:30 pm at the NAASR Center, 395 Greater Boston at the Marlborough Country Club, Degree View of Armenian American Advocacy” 7:00- Concord Ave., Belmont. Co-sponsored by the Armenia Marlborough. Monday, 9:30 a.m., registration; 11 a.m., 8:00 PM. St. Mary’s Armenian Church Cultural Hall, 4125 Business Network and the National Association for “Shot Gun.” Join us for a day of golf-player’s fee: $175 Fessenden Street, NW, Washington DC. Organized by Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) / Calouste (includes hospitality, lunch, dinner, green & cart fees, Knights and Daughters of Vartan. Gulbenkian Foundation Lecture Series on Contemporary prizes and gifts) – or just dinner and a social evening JUNE 25 — Book reading, by Adrienne G. Alexanian, Armenian Issues. Free and open to the public. ($50 per person). Limited to 128 players. Tournament editor of Forced Into Genocide, memoirs of an Contact: [email protected] or armenianbusinessnetwork@g and tee sponsorships available. RSVP deadline, June 12. Armenian Soldier in the Ottoman Turkish Army. 1:00 PM, mail.com. To register or for further information, log 4125 Fessenden St. NW, Washington, DC. Organized by MAY 25 — The Armenian Museum of America, onto http://www.htaac.org/calendar/event/403/ or Knights & Daughters of Vartan, St. Mary’s Armenian Concert: John Hodian and Epiphany 3, Featuring new contact the Holy Trinity Church Office,617.354.0632, or Apostolic Church Parish Council, Armenian Assembly of blends of Armenian music from touring family trio, John email [email protected]. America and Armenian National Committee of America. Hodian, Bet Williams and Jack Hodian. Thursday, at 8 NOVEMBER 2 — Thursday, Symposium with the partic- p.m. The group will perform music blending ancient and ipation of the International media representatives, Calendar items are free. Entries should not be longer modern cultures and musical styles. Funded by the dedicated to the Armenian Mirror-Spectator’s 85th than 5 lines. Listings should include contact informa- Dadourian Foundation. Concert open to the public. Anniversary. Details to follow. tion. Items will be edited to fit the space, if need be. A MAY 25 — Annual Spring Dinner and Drawing spon- NOVEMBER 3 — Friday, 85th Anniversary Celebration photo may be sent with the listing. Items should be sored by the Friends of Holy Trinity 1000 Club, 6:30 Banquet of the Armenian Mirror-Spectator sent no later than Mondays at noon. p.m., Charles and Nevart Talanian Cultural Hall, Holy Newspaper the first English Language Armenian Send items to [email protected].

National Gallery of Armenia Holds Virtual Tour of Western Armenian Monuments

YEREVAN (NEWS.am) — The 360° closed the architectural structures of uments located in Turkey and Azerbaijan chance to leave for Turkey and see our his- images of cultural monuments of Western Moush, Van, Sassoun, Urfa and other are in a rather dangerous zone in terms of torical and cultural monuments. This is a Armenia and Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia famous settlements. their preservation. Each second the bar- very simple virtual way to see what monu- will be exhibited in the National Gallery of With the help of 360° images, the most barians are destroying and eliminating ments and fortresses there are and how all Armenia from May 16 to June 16. important monuments of history, culture them. However, such technical capacities of them decreased over these hundred Last year Ucom LLC and 360°Armenia and natural wealth of Western Armenian allow us to fully possess our heritage.” years. Unfortunately, we see that various implemented a rather important project were captured. Introducing the project, General Director monuments are changing and becoming aimed at finding out what the generations Armenian Minister of Diaspora, Hranush of Ucom, Hayk Yesayan, stressed: “We the possession of another country. This is know about their historical homeland, Hakobyan, attended the opening of the attach great importance to the digital pos- a value, which we must preserve.” which of the lost treasures are still pre- exhibit. Getting familiarized with the session of the historical and cultural mon- Yesayan also stressed that over 40 mon- served and which state they are currently capacities of the virtual tour, the minister uments found in the territory of Turkey. uments have been presented within the in. The camera crew of the companies dis- noted: “Unfortunately, the Armenian mon- We know that not everyone gets the framework of the project. 14 S ATURDAY, M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR COMMENTARY

COMMENTARY Mirror Armenia-Turkey Relations Spectator Revisited

Yerevan, which is sponsoring a youth exchange program. By Edmond Y. Azadian The British Foreign Office has invited to Armenia a group of university students from Turkey with the help of the Civic EstablishedEstablished 1932 1932 Initiative Society. Seminars have been going on in the resort An ADLAn Publication ADL Publication Turkey poses an existential threat to Armenia, and has his- town of Tsakhkadzor to study to the challenges and per- torically, as successive regimes harbor the same ambitious spectives on Armenian-Turkish relations. dreams of resurrecting the Ottoman Empire. Armenia has A Turkish delegation comprising 18 university students is always been an impediment in achieving this goal. led by Mustafa Aydin, president of Kadir University. He has Turkey does not view another Christian nation in the indicated that attempts have been made in the past to EDITOR Alin K. Gregorian region, namely , as a similar threat. For Ankara, improve relations with little or no success. He has also Georgia is more malleable politically. Turkification of expressed cautious optimism about the impact of the new ASSISTANT EDITOR Georgia has already progressed significantly, beginning with constitution on those relations. But he has dwelt long on Aram Arkun the Ajarian region, which has a majority Muslim population. improving Turkey-Russia relations. Those relations may Turkey’s relations with Armenia have always been tense define in a major way the relations between Armenia and ART DIRECTOR Marc Mgrditchian and mutual hatred has run deep on both sides. Turkey. In the past, the Soviet government had sacrificed Armenia always has to factor in Turkey’s long-term inten- Armenian interests to win over Turkey. The short-lived tions in its foreign policy. However, at the same time, Turkey friendship between Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is a next-door neighbor and an accommodation with it is and Russian leader Lenin resulted in the Treaty of Kars, to essential, no matter how unpalatable it may prove to be. the detriment of Armenia. SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST: Patriotic jingoism has no place in dealing with that dan- Even Premier Nikita Khrushchev in the 1960s, who liber- Edmond Y. Azadian gerous neighbor. A prudent and calculated approach will alized the Soviet Union to a certain extent, extended his serve better our need for survival. hand to Ankara, announcing that Moscow has no territorial CONTRIBUTORS: Genocide and its denial are hot topics for the Armenians claims against Turkey. Therefore, the Russia-Turkey rap- Florence Avakian, Dr. Haroutiun but for the world powers, they remain academic issues. prochement can affect Armenia either way. By improving its Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Diana Many attempts were made in recent years to improve relations with Moscow, Ankara may give up for a while its Der Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, Turkish-Armenian relations — the Protocols, football diplo- method of using Armenia as a whipping boy to punish Kevork Keushkerian, Harut Sassounian, macy, the Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Committee Hagop Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian Moscow. But on the other hand, Putin may force Armenia (TARC) and others — to no avail. The improvement of those into an unacceptable compromise with Azerbaijan over CORRESPONDENTS: relations will remain a long-term challenge. Only the late Karabakh, because Baku is an important player in the three- Armenia - Hagop Avedikian Boston - Nancy Kalajian New York/New Jersey - Marylynda Bozian-Cruickshank Berlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach

Contributing Photographers: Jacob Demirdjian and Jirair Hovsepian

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© 2014 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator Periodical Class Postage Paid at Boston, MA and additional mailing offices. Hrant Dink heralded the long and arduous way to reach that way relations. goal. Turkey will come to terms with its dark history only At this time, Turkey’s accommodation with Moscow is over ISSN 0004-234X through internal change, through democratization of its Syria, where the Kurdish factor has angered Erdogan people, which admittedly is a slow process. But since Dink’s immensely, especially in view of Washington’s military sup- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The martyrdom, his vision has been gaining traction, gradually, port of Kurds in Syria, which may end up carving out a Armenian Mirror-Spectator, 755 Mount Auburn but certainly. Academics, human rights activists and even Kurdish enclave in that beleaguered country. St., Watertown, MA 02472 ordinary citizens are developing the awareness of historical But that Kurdish victory may prove to be a short-term tac- Other than the editorial, views and opinions facts. There are many Turks now who have been articulating tical policy to force the Trump administration to relent. expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily the Armenian cause better than many Armenians. reflect the policies of the publisher. Mustafa Aydin has characterized Armenian-Turkish rela- Turkey is a country where civil liberties act as a pendu- tions as dead but not buried. lum; in the early period of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Armenia has to watch all these relations between Turkey- rule, Turkey enjoyed some liberalization with positive result Russia-US-Azerbaijan and design its foreign policy accord- for the Armenian community. The restoration of Akhtamar ingly. Sometimes, an insignificant development may cause Copying for other than personal use or and Sourp Giragos Churches, the return of a few confiscat- deadly damage to Armenia. internal reference is prohibited without ed community assets, etc. Today, the pendulum has swung express permission of the copyright to the opposite direction, with the return of a witch hunt As emotional as Hrant Dink was, his vision was pragmatic owner. Address requests for reprints or and forward-looking. People-to-people contacts and especial- back issues to: and arbitrary arrests and clampdowns on rights by the gov- ernment. But popular awareness and academic advances are ly contacts with scholars will carve inroads in the relations there, even if at a standstill. of the two countries. And when Turkey attains the level of Baikar Association, Inc. A minor initiative with symbolic significance is taking German civilization, admission of genocide and compensa- 755 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472- place through the mediation of the British Embassy in tion may not need international pressure on Ankara. 1509 S ATURDAY, M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR 15 COMMENTARY

daughter of Azerbaijan’s leader, Ilham Aliyev,” The In an article published on May 9, 2017, fur- Guardian reported. Muscat and his wife have denied ther reported that members of the “are receiving payments related to Egrant. openly calling for [Prime Minister Muscat’s] departure amid Significantly, Azerbaijan’s state oil company happens to be a growing corruption scandal involving his wife, a a shareholder of ’s new power station. One of the Panamanian shell company, and alleged payments from the My Turn accounts at Pilatus bank is in the name of , President of Azerbaijan’s daughter. The European Energy minister of Malta. Another account is in the name of Parliament’s inquiry committee invited Muscat to its head- By Harut Sassounian Pres. Aliyev’s daughter, Leyla Aliyeva. Mizzi and Malta Prime quarters in to give evidence on the accusations Minister’s Chief of Staff, , “had set up two against him. Muscat declined the invitation. -registered companies four months after entering Investigative journalist Galizia reported that a woman who Malta Bank Employee Reveals office in 2013. A third shell company, Egrant, was created at had worked as executive assistant to the owner of Pilatus Documents Linking Aliyevs to the same time by the same Maltese accountant.” Prime bank, Syed Ali Sadr Hasheminejad, found in a safe and Minister Muscat and his wife hosted the Aliyevs during their scanned bank account paperwork naming Michelle Muscat. Bank Accounts visit to Malta in 2014. The executive assistant told the reporter that “she was given In 2005, President Aliyev’s wife, Mehriban Aliyeva, recent- a list of companies, maybe eight or 10 names, and told that Continuing the series of articles we published in the last ly appointed by her husband as Vice President of Azerbaijan these were to be given special attention for payment trans- two weeks about corruption in Azerbaijan, we wish now to as his possible successor, was named as one of two managers actions. The companies included Willerby Inc., Tillgate Inc., reveal additional scandalous details about funds deposited in of the Panamanian UF Universe Foundation, according to Hearnville Inc., Egrant Inc., and Al Sahra FZCO,” a company a Malta bank by family members of Azerbaijan’s “” documents published by the International owned by Leyla Aliyeva, daughter of Pres. Aliyev, according President,Ilham Aliyev. (See related article on page 16.) Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). “The UF to the Times of Malta. The executive assistant was quoted as Interestingly, the , Joseph Muscat, Universe Foundation would have ultimate control of stating that she had seen the forms for the opening of the has emerged at the center of Azerbaijan’s financial scandals. AtaHolding, a major Azeri conglomerate. The 2005 proposal bank account. “Payments of hundreds of thousands of dol- London’s The Guardian newspaper reported last week that named President Aliyev’s three children in addition to other lars from Al Sahra FZCO, always marked as loan payments, Muscat’s wife, Michelle, had received large amounts of money senior members of the Azerbaijan’s tax office as beneficia- were not made to their accounts at Pilatus bank, but to from Leyla Aliyeva, daughter of President Aliyev. ries…. In addition, Aliyev’s daughters controlled a Panama- accounts they had at a bank in Dubai…. Once, she said, the Investigative journalist of incorporated company and two others in the British Virgin bank’s CEO, Mr. Ghanbari, received instructions from Mr. Malta revealed “a series of payments, in the form of loans, Islands. The Panamanian company held a significant stake in Hasheminejad for the transfer of some $400,000 to a Maltese had been routed to Egrant [a Panama-registered shell a consortium of companies exploring gold fields in woman who lives in New York and has a jewelry business. It company which belongs to the wife of Malta’s Prime Azerbaijan. Aliyev’s sister was the sole shareholder and had to be marked as loan payment.” Minister]. The largest, for $1.07 million, was allegedly owner of a BVI [British Virgin Islands] company registered in The executive assistant confessed that she turned over the made in March of last year. They are claimed to have come December 2005. Registration records list her at an address in documents she had copied from the bank to the authorities from an account at Pilatus bank belonging to Al Sahra a West London neighborhood where average home prices in Malta because “I could not stand to read any more of the FZCO. And the owner of Al Sahra was allegedly the touch $9 million.” lies, denials and half-truths. It was too much!”

Herter Award for Constructive Dissent by a Senior Officer ... and then denied the award based upon a curious reliance on a New Joint Angel Fund The Silence of technicality. How ironic that in 2005, he was denied his recog- nition and then subsequently recalled for refusing to remain Between Armenia and silent on his principles, when earlier this year, some 1,000 US officials who signed on to a State Department dissent cable Turkey Builds Bridges My Friends: protesting the president’s policy on immigration were treated as heroes in many quarters. Through Capital Evan’s captivating 2016 book Truth Held Hostage: America An Ambassador’s Story and The Armenian Genocide — What Then, What Now? pre- HIS WEEKEND in North America and sents the unvarnished truth about his experiences and the fate Europe, the sporty population will have he encountered. The book contains numerous poignant turned to baseball, basketball, soccer, By Harry N. Mazadoorian episodes such as the moving tribute given to him by thousands rugby and similar sports to enjoy their in Armenia, after they learned of his recall, in the form of leisure time. In Armenia, however, they do Each year, people of Armenian descent all over the world countless yellow ribbons being displayed. things differently. pause on April 24 to commemorate and reflect on a tragedy The “Yellow Ribbon Campaign” adopted a slogan borrowing Instead of watching TV, many that befell their ancestors beginning in 1915. Under the shad- words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.: “In the end, we will T Armenians will have been tuned into their ow of World War I, 1.5 million Armenians living in the remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our radio stations to listen to live commentaries… of Ottoman Empire perished from starvation, forced deportation friends.” chess. The country, one of the youngest in the world and outright murder under the most ineffable conditions imag- The book recites inconsistencies in the implementation of since gaining independence in 1991, certainly likes inable. Men, women and children were stripped first of all their the US policy on genocide non-recognition, some bordering on to do things differ- possessions, then their very dignity and ultimately their lives the absurd: While US ambassadors in other countries, such as ently. as they became victims of what is commonly referred to as the France, are not allowed to participate in local Armenian By Monty Munford Doing business, first genocide of the 20th century. Genocide commemorations, Evans however, is more Those who feel that the events of 1915 reports that the US ambassador to of a challenge are irrelevant after more than 100 years or Armenia is allowed to participate in than merely taking a sacrificed pawn or a captured that it makes no difference what one calls the annual April 24th wreath laying, knight. Landlocked between Turkey, Georgia, the atrocities need only to look to ensuing but — in Ambassador Evan’s word — Azerbaijan and Iran, Armenia currently has open history in places such as Cambodia, “is on strict instruction not to speak.” borders with only Georgia and Iran. Rwanda and Bosnia to realize that if geno- Mandated silence. Tourists to Turkey, of which there are many, have cide is not recognized and condemned Diplomacy is a complex and chal- to travel through Georgia and relations with then it will surely be repeated. lenging discipline with many practical Azerbaijan are on a constant war footing because of This year’s Connecticut commemora- realities and nuances to be considered the Nagorno-Karabakh Armenian enclave in tion of the Armenian Genocide took place prior to formulating any policy. But Azerbaijan. As recently as a year ago, a short war at the state Capitol April 22 and featured undergirding any policy — and the sin- broke out between the two foes. as keynote speaker John Marshall Evans, a gular principle on which any position However, in spite of these difficulties, Armenia’s Yale- and Columbia-educated retired is to be based — must always be the business community takes inspiration from so-called career diplomat. truth. Evan’s book ends with “Ten Startup Nation Israel as a similarly hemmed-in coun- Evans was appointed United States Modest Proposals” to the govern- try that is achieving, although perhaps Palestine is Ambassador to Armenia in 2004 and soon ments of the United States and Turkey another example of a country landlocked by its became a witness to the great paradox of designed to end this lingering, fester- neighbors. the genocide denial. Immersing himself in ing stalemate. The ambassador’s Politics apart, Armenia is doing well in business. studying the stark and cruel truth of those thoughtful proposals should be con- According to the World Bank “Doing Business tragic times, he tried to reconcile the his- sidered by all stakeholders in this 2017” report, it is placed 38th among 190 coun- torical record with the US position of non- haunting tragedy. It proposes solu- tries and a recent announcement of a joint Turko- recognition. Despite overwhelming agreement by scholars and tions without asking apostasy from anyone. Armenian angel fund is kickstarting Armenia’s incip- governments around the world that the events of 1915 consti- Victims look to many countries to stand up for them, to ient startup community. tuted genocide, that is not the position of the United States. acknowledge the truth and to provide comfort and support. Announced last week, the angel fund will attempt While recognizing the magnitude of the killings, the US suc- Many will look the other way and provide no such support. to heal the antagonism, or outright hostility, cumbs to objections and threats by Turkey, its increasingly per- This might be expected from enemies or strangers, but not between the Turkish and Armenian governments, a plexing and erratic ally in the Middle East. The US tiptoes from friends. Victims expect their friends to speak out and relationship that soured during WWI with the geno- around the issue by the use of euphemisms, circumlocution acknowledge the truth with the ultimate goal of ensuring that cide of 1.5 million Armenians as the Turkish and legerdemain. such acts shall never occur again. Ottoman empire collapsed. Ultimately, Ambassador Evans could not in good conscience In the end, there is nothing more devastating than the The Armenia-Turkey Investor Day was initiated by remain silent and took the principled position of acknowledg- silence of friends. the Public Journalism Club and the Economic Policy ing the 1915 atrocities as genocide. For taking that position, Research Foundation of Turkey within the frame- he was relieved of his position, thus ending a distinguished 30- work of the Exchange of Entrepreneurs Project year career in the Foreign Service. (Harry N. Mazadoorian is a Kensington resident and is the under the Support to the Armenia-Turkey The ambassador’s story has another sad and even punitive distinguished senior fellow in dispute resolution at the Normalization Process and is funded by the twist. After his initial reprimand but before his recall, he was Quinnipiac University Law School’s Center on Dispute European Union. nominated for and actually selected to receive the Christian Resolution.) see ANGELFUND, page 16 16 S ATURDAY, M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR

Malta’s PM under Pressure from MEPs over Corruption Claims Tied to Azeri First Family

VALLETTA, Malta (The Guardian) — Malta’s date her and she is being prosecuted Sahra was allegedly the daughter of embattled prime minister, Joseph Muscat, is fac- following a complaint from her former Azerbaijan’s leader, Ilham Aliyev. ing a growing rebellion in Brussels, where employer. She was arrested last year, The connection has raised eyebrows because Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) her passports were confiscated, and the two countries have significant dealings in are openly calling for his departure amid a she says she was refused permission to the energy sector. Azerbaijan’s state oil compa- growing corruption scandal involving his wife, a leave Malta to attend her mother’s ny is a shareholder in Malta’s new power sta- Panamanian shell company and alleged pay- funeral. tion. ments from the president of Azerbaijan’s Now the leader of the opposition Muscat and his wife deny receiving payments daughter. (See related commentary on Page claims he has proof that Muscat’s chief or having any connection to Egrant and say 15.) of staff, Keith Schembri, accepted they will sue for libel. They point out that no The Mediterranean island state’s presidency bribes from the sale of Maltese pass- document proving the allegations has been of the European Union (EU), which began in ports to wealthy Russians, with money published or handed to the magistrate. January, has been rocked by allegations of again routed offshore. On the evening of April 20, reporters were and kickbacks. Malta’s spell The allegations against Muscat, tipped off that the lights were on in the offices at the helm of the union has done nothing to which he denies, are the subject of a of Pilatus Bank, which overlook the Msida airbrush its reputation as a haven for dark judicial inquiry opened last month at yacht marina. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his wife, Michelle money, and with the entire European project the prime minister’s own request. An individual was filmed emerging from a now at stake, it is becoming a source of anxiety The claims against Schembri will side door and was later identified as Iranian and embarrassment in Brussels. now be investigated separately. He ment inquiry invited him to give evidence on national Seyed Ali Sadr Hasheminejad, the The scandal began last year with the publica- said: “There is no evidence whatsoever to sub- May 18, when he will be in in Strasbourg on owner and chairman of Pilatus. Hasheminejad tion of the Panama Papers, a leak of 11.5 mil- stantiate the allegation of ‘kickbacks’ for pass- official business. It has no power to compel him says he was at his offices preparing for a board lion documents from the offshore law firm ports, and nor would I have the motive.” to attend. The leader responded immediately, meeting and the bags were just personal lug- Mossack Fonseca. In a series of twists that Pilatus denies ever having held any of the saying now was not the right time. gage from a business trip. could have been lifted from the pages of a spy alleged accounts, or carrying out transactions “The prime minister is happy to appear in Last week, a Russian national who had thriller, matters came to a head last month. relating to them. front of the European parliamentary commit- worked as his assistant at the bank, came for- The owner of a Maltese private bank — who On Monday, May 1, Muscat called a snap elec- tee,” his office told the Guardian. “In order to ward as Caruana’s source in an anonymous is alleged to have held accounts for shell com- tion, nine months before the end of his term. present as complete a picture as possible, the newspaper interview. She talked of having panies belonging to Muscat’s wife, two of his “The latest developments and allegations prime minister will do so once the independent found and scanned paperwork naming Michelle closest allies and the Azeri presi- place at stake the credibility of the EU,” said magisterial inquiry — which he requested him- Muscat in a safe. She claims the safe was kept dent’s daughter Leyla Aliyeva — was filmed leav- Molly Scott Cato, a Green MEP and member of self —is concluded.” in the kitchen at Pilatus Bank, because there ing his offices at night, with bags reporters the European parliament’s Panama Papers The files of Mossack Fonseca revealed last was no CCTV in that room. The bank denies the claim contained documents. inquiry into money laundering and tax evasion. year that Schembri, with the then energy min- existence of such a safe. A whistleblower from the bank in question, Last week, in a move calculated to increase ister, Konrad Mizzi, had set up Panama-regis- She claims she was sacked in March 2016. Pilatus, has alleged that police tried to intimi- the pressure on Muscat, the European parlia- tered companies four months after entering The bank has since accused her of fraud and office in 2013. A third shell company, Egrant, misappropriation, which she denies. She was was created at the same time by the same arrested in August. Maltese accountant. The name of its ultimate “I was taken to police headquarters,” she told owner was so sensitive, leaked emails show, the Malta Independent. “When I tried to phone that it was only disclosed on a Skype call and my lawyer to tell him what was happening, one not in writing. His or her identity remained a of the police officers pushed me roughly against mystery. a wall and snatched my phone out of my Muscat brushed off calls to dismiss Mizzi and hands.” She is on bail and cannot leave the Schembri, and his administration appeared to country. The police insist they have behaved have weathered the storm. correctly and did not mistreat her. However, on April 20 this year, the investiga- Muscat’s office is dismissing the affair as a tive journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia reignit- “politically motivated attack,” and has asked ed the scandal. On her blog, she claimed to the leader of the opposition to step down if his have evidence that Egrant ultimately belonged allegations are found to have been a fabrication. to the prime minister’s wife, Michelle Muscat. Malta’s voters go to the polls on June 3. Last She alleged that a series of payments, in the December, the Labour party had spoken open- form of loans, had been routed to Egrant. The ly of securing a landslide — a prediction that largest, for $1.017 million, was allegedly made now looks far from certain. The offshore leak in March last year. They are claimed to have that led to the resignation of Iceland’s prime come from an account at Pilatus bank belong- minister a year ago is threatening to end the ing to Al Sahra FZCO. And the owner of Al career of another head of state.

New Joint Angel Fund Between Armenia and Turkey Builds Bridges Through Capital ANGELFUND, from page 15 the YerevaNN research lab is one of the world’s So, can capital do that politics has so far most searchable terms for machine learning failed to do? There appears to be hope, not least algorithm expertise. because of Armenian-born celebrities such as The Armenian government, not surprisingly, the Kardashian family, Manchester United soc- plays a straight bat when it comes to Armenia’s cer player (and country role model) Henrikh future as a tech hub while it reaches out to Mkhitaryan, Cher and Andre Agassi. investors in a more traditional manner. Their so-called fame means interest in “We are implementing an ‘open-door’ policy Armenia is ongoing and a widespread diaspora with regard to foreign investments. Significant means Armenia receives millions in remittances reforms and several developments have been from abroad, something European investors are achieved during the last decade to make beginning to find interesting. Armenia a more favorable destination for for- VC representatives at last week’s Armenia- eign investments, including both reforms of the Turkey Investor Day included Tugce Ergul, legal system and practical steps in easing busi- Angel Labs Director, Harald Braunstein, ness processes. Founder Partner at German-based NFQ Capital, “Armenia is ready to become a hub for the Ertan Can of HR Ventures, as well as Alana international business community and act as a Tung, ex-Time Warner Investments and now at bridge between the member states of the Delivery Hero. European Union, the Eurasian Economic Union Already, there are startup stories emerging and Middle East countries,” said Hovhannes out of the country’s capital, Yerevan. Teamable, Azizyan, deputy minister, Armenian Economic “an employee referral and diversity hiring plat- Department. Mirror Seeks Summer Intern form that transforms social networks into high- In a country where the citizens love playing performance talent pools” last month raised $5 chess to the extent they listen to it on the radio, The is seeking an intern for a six- Armenian Mirror-Spectator million Series A funding. it is no surprise that Armenia is playing the week program this summer (mid-July through August). The intern will Its charismatic Co-founder Vazgen long game when it comes to technology and Hakobjanyan describes the company as “the investment. receive a $150 weekly stipend provided through the Armenian next LinkedIn” and while the company has a The launch of its joint angel fund with Students’ Association of America’s Internship Program. strong presence in Silicon Valley, Hakobjanyan Turkey may be an interesting first move across The intern should be in college or graduate school. If interested, makes it very clear that his company is based in the board, but whether it takes further pieces Armenia. via capital co-operation and can overcome 100 please email [email protected] and [email protected], or He also believes Yerevan has a future as an AI years to create mutual and benign check- call 617 924-4420. cybersecurity hub, based on the cybersecurity mate will be a long game indeed. wars that Armenia and its neighbors are cur- (This column originally appeared in rently engaged in. Moreover, Forbes.com)