SEPTEMBER 7, 2013 MirTHErARoMENr IAN -Spe ctator Volume LXXXIV, NO. 8, Issue 4302 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 Armenia Improves Cultural Giant Position in Global Competiveness Report Levon Ananyan YEREVAN (Armenpress) — In accordance with the World Competitiveness Report for 2013-2014 Dies in Yerevan issued by the World Economic Forum, Armenia improved its position by three points in three dif - ferent areas. Manuk Hergnyan, the chairman of the By Aram Arkun “Economy and Values” Research Center, stated this Mirror-Spectator Staff at a press conference held on September 4. Hergnyan said, “There are 148 countries involved in the report and the Republic of Armenia YEREVAN — Levon Ananyan, writer, occupied the 79th position. Compared with the pre - journalist, translator and chairman for the vious year’s report, our country improved its posi - past 12 years of the Writers Union of tions for three points.” Armenia, died from cancer on September 2. For the fifth year in a row, Switzerland was Ananyan had an unmistakable voice, ranked the most competitive country in the world. raspy and gravelly, perhaps due to years of smoking. He was not classically handsome, yet there was Number of Armenians Edmond Y. Azadian signs a copy of something appeal - A Legacy of Armenian Treasures, at NAASR. Has Decreased in Egypt ing about his vis - Testimony to a People age, which was CAIRO (Armenpress) — A member of the Armenian almost as recog - Diocesan Council in Egypt, Suren Bayramyan, stat - nizable as his Azadian Presents New Book on ed that the number of Armenians in Egypt voice, as it was decreased from 7,000 to 5,000 in the past few seen frequently years. on Armenian tele - Michigan’s Manoogian Museum Currently there are also more than 400 vision. Dedicated BELMONT, Mass. — Edmond Y. Azadian, the chairman of the Armenian Armenian citizens residing in Egypt due to dual cit - Levon Ananyan to promoting lit - izenship. Bayramyan noted, “The Armenians were erature and the Democratic Liberal (ADL) party Eastern District Committee of US and Canada and vice chair of the Tekeyan Cultural not hurt in the clashes in Egypt. The Armenian love of reading in structures and churches were not damaged as well. Armenia, he strove to make Armenia’s cul - Association (TCA) Board of Directors, present - ed his new book, A Legacy of Armenian Notwithstanding, it’s noteworthy that there is no ture known abroad. negative attitude towards the Armenians in Egypt.” He also did not shy away from expressing Treasures: Testimony to a People , on the Alex and Marie Manoogian Museum in Southfield, Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tigran his opinions as an intellectual on public Balayan stated that no Armenian citizens have issues. He leavened his insights with humor Mich., on Saturday, August 24. The program, jointly sponsored by the Armenian Mirror- turned to the Armenian diplomatic representation in and wit. Egypt asking for the assistance to leave the country. Almost 67 when he passed away, Spectator and the National Association for Ananyan was born on October 13, 1946 in Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), was the village of Koghb in the province of held at NAASR’s headquarters. Red Cross Officials Tavush. He was proud of his family con - Azadian is the executive editor of the book. nection with ancient Armenia, which he see TREASURES, page 12 Visit POW in Baku see ANANYAN, page 3 BAKU (ArmeniaNow) — An International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) official in Yerevan has confirmed that the organization’s rep - resentatives visited the Armenian soldier who was Armenia to Join Customs Union Kevork Marashlian taken prisoner in Azerbaijan last month. Hakob Injighulyan, 22, crossed into the area near Retires after 24 Years Karabagh controlled by Azerbaijani armed forces With Russia Rather than EU Of Distinguished and was taken prisoner on August 8. Armenia has confirmed that the soldier did not face prosecution MOSCOW (Combined Sources) — In remarks posted on his website, Service to TCA, ADL at home. ICRC Armenia Delegation Communication Armenian President Serge Sargisian said Sargisian pointed to Armenia’s membership Officer Ashot Astabatsyan confirmed that the this week that his country would join the of the Collective Security Treaty WATERTOWN — At its general meet - Committee’s Baku office representatives visited the Russia-led Customs Union. Organization, a Russian-led military ing on August 24, the Central Board of prisoner of war on Monday. Sargisian made the surprise announce - alliance, as part of the reasoning behind his Directors of the Tekeyan Cultural The parents and relatives of Injighulyan staged ment after talks with his Russian counter - decision. Association Inc. (TCA), representing all protests near the ICRC office in Yerevan last month part, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow on “When you are part of one system of mil - chapters in the US and Canada, accept - demanding that the Red Cross take action to help September 3. itary security it is impossible and ineffective ed the retirement of Kevork Marashlian repatriate him. Armenian authorities were angered He said Armenia is also ready to take part to isolate yourself from a corresponding from his post as executive secretary, by Azerbaijan’s parading the POW on television, in the establishment of the Eurasian eco - economic space,” he said. which had been presented to the board which it said constituted a violation of the Geneva nomic union. “I confirmed Armenia’s inten - Sargisian also vowed to continue com - six months ago. Convention on the treatment of POWs. tion to join the Customs Union and the municating with “European structures,” Marashlian retires for health reasons process of the formation of the Eurasian adding that his government remains com - after a distinguished career of manag - Union,” he told reporters. “It is a rational mitted to institutional reforms sought by ing the offices of the Tekeyan Cultural decision stemming from the national inter - those bodies. Association Inc., the Armenian ests of Armenia. This decision does not con - Sargisian made no mention of a planned Democratic Liberal Party’s Eastern INSI DE stitute a refusal to continue our dialogue Association Agreement with the European District of US and Canada and the with European structures. We intend to Union. Armenian Mirror-Spectator . continue these reforms in the future.” see CUSTOMS UNION, page 2 The board passed a special resolution acknowledging his dedication to the Kherdian organization and his leadership quali - ties. Marashlian will continue his services Explained to the above organizations on a volun - tary basis, as his health allows him. Page 10 The Central Board of Directors of Tekeyan Cultural Association Inc. acknowledges the selfless devotion of Marashlian beyond the call of duty dur - INDEX ing his 24 years of services at the Arts and Living . 10 premises of Baikar Association in Armenia . 2, 3 Watertown. Community News. 4 He has also actively participated in Editorial . 14 joint organizations of a multitude of International . 4 Presidents Serge Sargisian, left, and Vladimir Putin community events in Massachusetts, as see MARASHLIAN, page 16 2 S ATURDAY , S EPTEMBER 7, 2013 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Syrian Armenians Concerned about the Negative Effect of Possible US Air Strikes New Classroom Opens in Sardarapat School YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — University in Stepanakert, Ethnic Armenians who have By Gohar Abrahamyan according to the government fled Syria during the last two press office. SANDARAPAT, Armenia — A modern classroom years of conflict and took Khachik Chozikyan, who opened in a community school with the support of refuge in Armenia consider moved from Syria to Armenia VivaCell-MTS. The creation of the classroom with that possible US strikes against the alleging that the United States is mis - a year ago, fears that American strikes innovative solutions became possible due to the country will prove a futile effort to leading the international community by against the Assad regime will only make cooperation between VivaCell-MTS, Children of resolve the crisis, while only causing neg - putting the blame on the government things worse for the entire country. Armenia Fund and Sardarapat School. ative effects. forces in Syria. Chozikyan, who has been a member of With an electronic smart board as well as six new They acknowledge with regret, howev - Armenia is following the situation the Help Your Brother initiative of the computers, the classroom is designed for 30 stu- er, that Syria is getting continuously around Syria with particular interest Armenian Revolutionary Federation dents and special mobile furniture allows students plagued by the civil war that has been and not only because of the involve - (Dashnaktsutyun), delivering humanitar - to perform individually, in pairs or groups. going on in this Middle Eastern country ment of major regional powers in it, ian aid to compatriots in Syria, says a Organizers of the renovations hope the advance- for more than two years now with no including its top ally Russia, neighbor possible US intervention may have ments will facilitate modern technologies, class dis- end in sight. Iran and historical foe Turkey. Syria is unpredictable consequences. cussions and lectures, reading sessions and games. The situation around Syria, where home to an 80,000-strong Armenian “I can’t imagine how Muslim soldiers “If we manage to make the learning environment opposition forces are waging armed bat - community and the civil war in this can embrace Americans. Maybe they will, more attractive, we will get the expected results tles against government forces loyal to country has already resulted in thou - but maybe they won’t. If they don’t, within the shortest terms. Our nation’s unique President Bashar al-Assad, aggravated in sands of them leaving their homes and there will be a situation similar to Iraq, approach towards education should be targeted at the wake of the alleged use of chemical relocating to Armenia.