OCTOBER 21, 2017 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVIII, NO. 14, Issue 4508 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF Aliyev, Sargsyan Meet for ‘Constructive’ Talks in Switzerland Major Increase in Tourism Reported By GENEVA (RFE/RL) — The presidents of tion with these Armenia and Azerbaijan reportedly agreed direct talks, which Armenian Government to intensify the protracted search for a took place after a YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The number of tourists peaceful resolution of the Nagorno- long interval … As visiting Armenia rose by more than 24 percent in Karabakh conflict and bolster the ceasefire a next step, the Co- the first half of this year, an Armenian government regime in the conflict zone when they met Chairs will orga- noted on Friday. in Geneva on Monday, October 16. nize working ses- In an extensive report on its one-year activities, “The meeting took place in a construc- sions with the the government put their total number at 622,381. tive atmosphere,” read a joint statement Ministers in the Tourists in the country were up by about 6 per- issued by the Armenian and Azerbaijani for- near future,” added cent last year, according to separate government eign ministers as well as the US, Russian the statement. data. It also shows that the number has grown by and French co-chairs of the [Organization The talks began an average of 9 percent annually from 2012. for Security and Cooperation in Europe] at the official resi- The government sought to facilitate the growth Minsk Group after the talks. dence of Presidents Serzh Sargsyan (R) of Armenia and Ilham Aliyev of of the tourism by liberalizing in 2013 Armenia’s “The Presidents [Serzh Sargsyan and Switzerland’s per- Azerbaijan in Geneva civil aviation sector. The average cost of air travel Ilham Aliyev] agreed to take measures to manent representa- to and from the country has fallen since then. intensify the negotiation process and to tive to the UN office Also, Armenian authorities unilaterally scrapped take additional steps to reduce tensions on in Geneva in the presence of the US, Russian Aliyev and Sargsyan then spoke one-on- visas for European Union and United States citi- the Line of Contact,” it said. and French mediators. They continued in a one for over 45 minutes, according to zens in 2012 and 2014, respectively. An agreement “The co-chairs expressed their satisfac- tete-a-tete format about an hour later. see TALKS, page 3 on visa-free travel between Armenia and Iran came into effect in August 2016. The Islamic Republic is a major source of tourism income for Armenia. Washington, D.C. Yerevan lifted visa restrictions for citizens of Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar this Genocide Museum year. In another effort to boost the influx of tourists, it allowed Russian nationals in March to Shame Continues visit Armenia with Russian domestic passports. By Aram Arkun Armenian MP Urges Mirror-Spectator Staff PACE to Study Azeri GREAT NECK, N.Y. — Sometimes fairy tales Arms Deals to don’t come true. The story of Anoush Terrorists Mathevosian and the Armenian Genocide museum in Washington, DC is one such case. YEREVAN (Armenpress) — A member of the Anoush’s grandfather was killed in the Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Genocide, and her father deported to Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Naira Persia, where he grew up in an orphanage. Zohrabyan has urged the Assembly to study the From left, Ragip Zarakolu, Christoph Links, Sabine Kieselbach (moderator), Asli Erdogan Anoush was born in Iran in 1926. She and investigation of the Bulgarian Trud newspaper, and Mehmet Atak her sister worked hard after coming to the according to which Baku, using diplomatic flights, United States, and eventually did well for has been supplying arms to conflict zones for more themselves financially, but she remained than three years. Writers from the ‘Other’ Turkey troubled by the effects of the Genocide on Zohrabyan spoke at PACE responding to the the her family. She said, “Even today I remem- comments of representatives of Azerbaijan. Speak Out in Frankfurt ber that and I suffer for that…When I was 4 “Dear colleagues, yesterday, when we were dis- or 5 years of age, I would see my father cussing the crimes committed by the terrorist FRANKFURT — If France was would read papers with tearful eyes. I would ‘Islamic State’ that can be named only ‘geno- By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach the Guest of Honor this year at ask my mother, ‘why is he crying?’ My cide,’ I was not allowed to give a speech and the celebrated Frankfurt Book Special to the Mirror-Spectator mother would say, ‘I can’t explain to you — speak about the horrors that the Yazidis, Fair, then Turkey — that is, the you are too young, but when you grow Christians and non-Sunni Muslims encounter. official Turkey — might well earn older I will explain.’” But the most ridiculous thing is that the dele- the title of the Guest of Dishonor. Taking part in the innumerable interviews with She wanted to do something about it. gate of Azerbaijan speaks about terrorism, authors, round table discussions and special exhibits were leading Turkish per- Mathevosian said, “So I decided from early whose country acts in the same manner as the sonalities from the book world, who presented their recent works and engaged on that I have to find some means for build- ‘Islamic State’ and whose army relies on merce- capacity audiences in heated debates about the current, sad state of affairs for ing an Armenian Genocide museum some- nary murderers. And according to international intellectuals in their country. These were the voices of the “other” Turkey. where. It happened that I trusted the reputable media outlets, there are also murder- On October 11, the opening day of the world’s largest trade fair for books, which Armenian Assembly [of America] and I ers from Daesh among the Azerbaijani merce- ran to October 15, Turkish investigative journalist Ahmet Sik was given the Raif talked to them. I said I have a small amount naries, who are used to beheading, slaughtering Badawi Award for Courageous Journalists (granted by the Friedrich Naumann of money and I want to raise funds to build and disrespecting soldiers and civilians — the see WRITERS, page 5 see MUSEUM, page 19 April war is its evidence,” Zohrabyan said. INSIDE ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR 85TH ANNIVERSARY Stellar Panel of Journalists at November 2 ‘Dentist’ Is Mirror-Spectator Symposium Philip Terzian BOSTON — On Thursday, November 2, the during 2005-2012. A native of the Washington, In Now Armenian Mirror-Spectator, as part of its two-part DC, area and a journalist for more than 40 years, 85th anniversary celebration, will sponsor a sym- he has been a writer and editor at Reuters, news- Page 13 posium on the campus of Wellesley College. papers in Alabama and Kentucky, the New The panel will feature journalists Robert Fisk, Republic and the Los Angeles Times, and was edi- David Barsamian, Philip Terzian and Amberin torial page editor of the Providence Journal. For Zaman. It is titled “Journalism and ‘Fake News’: 20 years, he wrote a political/foreign affairs col- INDEX Armenian Genocide and Karabakh.” umn syndicated by the Scripps Howard News Arts and Living . 13 Aram Arkun, the Tekeyan Cultural Service. In addition, during 1978-79 he was Armenia . 2 Association’s executive director and the Mirror- speechwriter for Secretary of State Cyrus Vance. Community News. 6 Spectator’s assistant editor, will act as moderator. Terzian has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Editorial . 18 Terzian (at right) is a senior editor at The Prize in commentary, Pulitzer juror, media International . .. 3-5 Weekly Standard, having served as literary editor see PANEL, page 20 2 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia USAID Cooperation Yerevan Celebrates 2799th Anniversary Celebrated YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The city of Yerevan cel- YEREVAN — Prime Minister Karen ebrated its 2,799th anniversary on October 14. On Karapetyan and US Ambassador to that occasion, Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan Armenia Richard M. Mills Jr. attended issued a statement, praising the city and its resi- this week an event dedicated to the dents. 25th anniversary of cooperation He said, “Dear residents of Yerevan, today we mark between the Republic of Armenia and the 2799th anniversary of our sunny capital. I am the United States Agency for sure each of us has his beloved corners in Yerevan International Development (USAID). with warm and indispensable memories. I heartily The Prime Minister extended his con- congratulate all of us and wish that Yerevan should gratulations on 25-year-long effective Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan with US Ambassador to Armenia Richard M. Mills Jr., always live inside us and that we should never doubt cooperation and implementation of third from right that we live in the warmest, most beautiful and numerous programs that have had a unique city with its taste and scent and we can have positive impact on Armenia’s economic we have had a reliable partner in the ingchallenges with a special emphasis our practical participation in making our old and and social development, and strength- face of the US Agency for International placed on situational challenges that new capital better.” ened bilateral cultural and direct Development. Together with the were most relevant at that particular human ties. In his speech, Karen Agency, we have made joint efforts moment of time.” Yerevan May Scrap Plans Karapetyan stated in part, “Since 1992, over these years, focusing on emerg- He added, “We keep on working with our American partners to foster eco- For New Nuclear Plant nomic growth, develop democratic institutions and implement a wide YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The Armenian government range of social and educational pro- may abandon its ambitious plans to build a new grams.