MARCH 3, 2012 MirTHE rARoMENr IAN -Spe ctator In Our 8 Volume LXXXII, NO. 34, Issue 4228 0th Y$e2a.r00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 Vietnam, Armenia Eye Armenian Genocide Top French Court Strikes down Strong Trade Ties Suit Tossed, Again, HANOI, Vietnam (Vietnamese News Agency) — Armenian Genocide Law Economic and trade links between Vietnam and In Latest Circuit Armenia have yet to tap their potential, said Appearance PARIS (AFP) — France’s top court ruled forward the bill, swiftly vowed to draft a President Truong Tan Sang while receiving Tuesday that a law backed by President new version of the law that has plunged Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian on Nicolas Sarkozy to punish denial of the France’s relations with Turkey into crisis. February 24. Despite some developments in bilateral coopera - By Tim Hull Armenian Genocide was unconstitutional France had already recognized the killings as a genocide, but tion, Sang suggested the two sides should review the new law sought to go hurdles in their joint policies in order to promote SAN FRANCISCO (Courthouse News further by punishing any - bilateral relations. Service) — A California law that allows one who denies this with Sang particularly thanked Armenia for training state courts to hear insurance claims by up to a year in jail and a Vietnamese cadres and students in the past. victims of the Armenian Genocide can - fine of 45,000 euros He also said that Vietnam would be willing to act not stand, a full panel of the Ninth ($57,000). as a bridge to link Armenia with Association of Circuit ruled Thursday, finding that the However, the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member coun - statute intrudes on policy territory Constitutional Council tries. reserved for the US government. labeled the law an “uncon - The decision by an 11-judge panel in stitutional attack on free - ICG Calls for Increased San Francisco sealed the fate of a long- dom of expression” and it suffering class action for insurance ben - said it wished “not to enter Efforts to Settle efits filed by survivors of the World War into the realm of responsi - I-era slaughter of more than 500,000 bility that belongs to histo - Karabagh Conflict Armenians living in the former Ottoman rians.” YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The International Crisis Empire. Turkey has resisted calling the Turkey’s EU Affairs Group (ICG) called on the international community killings a genocide, and the issue is Minister Egemen Bagis to intensify efforts over the settlement of the politically touchy among its US and said France had averted a Nagorno Karabagh conflict and establishment of European allies in NATO. “historical mistake” and peace in the region. According to the ICG website, California legislators passed a law in Foreign Minister Ahmet the group underscores the necessity to continue 2000 that gave victims until the end of Davutoglu called the deci - negotiations within the framework of the 2010 to file insurance claims related to the sion “an important step Organization for Security and Cooperation in mass extermination of Armenians in the that will legally avert future Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group. Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923. exploitations.” The group also stressed the importance of devel - Referencing the little-used theory of However, Sarkozy’s oping ways to investigate of incidents on the line of “field preemption” or “dormant foreign Patrick Ollier (left), parliamentary relations minister, speaks office quickly put out a contact between Karabagh and Azerbaijan. affairs preemption,” the judges found during the Senate vote session for a bill criminalizing the statement saying the presi - that section 354.4 of the law intrudes denial of the genocides, including the Armenian Genocide. dent “has ordered the gov - on the federal government’s exclusive ernment to prepare a new President Marks right to handle foreign affairs. draft, taking into account “The existence of this general foreign as it infringed on freedom of expression. the Constitutional Council’s decision.” Legrand Birthday affairs power implies that, even when Turkey welcomed the ruling — but Sarkozy noted “the great disappointment YEREVAN (Tert.am) — Armenian President Serge see LAWSUIT, page 20 Sarkozy, whose right-wing party had put and profound sadness of all those who wel - Sargisian congratulated French composer, comed with hope and gratitude the adop - arranger, conductor and pianist Michel Legrand on tion of this law aimed at providing protec - his 80th birthday. tion against revisionism.” In an address sent to the musician earlier this see FRANCE, page 5 week, Sargisian commended Legrand for his talent and contribution to modern music. “It is thanks to outstanding personalities like you that your two homelands — Armenia and France — have been able Israel Inks $1.6 to strengthen their ties,” he wrote. Legrand was born on February 24, 1932 in Paris. Billion Arms Deal He is a prolific composer, having written more than 200 film and television scores in addition to many With Azerbaijan memorable songs. He is best known for his -haunting film music JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli defense offi - and scores, such as “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” cials this week confirmed $1.6 billion in (1964) and “The Thomas Crown Affair” (1968). deals to sell drones as well as anti-aircraft and missile defense systems to Azerbaijan, bringing sophisticated Israeli technology to INSI DE the doorstep of archenemy Iran. The sales by state-run Israel Aerospace Industries come at a delicate time. Israel has been laboring hard to form diplomatic alliances in a region that seems to be grow - Key to ing increasingly hostile to the Jewish state. Its most pressing concern is Iran’s Survival nuclear program, and Israeli leaders have Former Mirror-Spectator hinted broadly that they would be prepared Story on page 12 to attack Iranian nuclear facilities if they Editor Ara Kalaydjian Dies see no other way to keep Tehran from building bombs. WALTHAM, Mass. — Ara Kalaydjian, the former editor of the Armenian Mirror- Iran denies Israeli and Western claims it Spectator and a respected figure in the community, died on February 26. seeks to develop atomic weapons, and says He leaves his wife, Shoushanig (Hovsepian) Kalaydjian; siblings Antranig Kalajian its disputed nuclear program is designed to INDEX and his wife, Rose, of Germany, Alex Kalaydjian and his wife, Annie, of Watertown produce energy and medical isotopes. Arts and Living . 12 and Arek Kalaydjian and his wife, Lisa, of North Andover; Brothers-in-law John In Jerusalem, Israelis prime minister, Armenia . .2,3 Hovsepian and his wife, Carol, of Florida and Joe Hovsepian and his wife, Rosin, of Community News. 6 Benjamin Netanyahu, said Iran’s nuclear Editorial . 17 New Jersey, and sister-in-law Angele Vosgerichian and her husband, Nick, of program will take center stage in his International . 4,5 Connecticut. He also leaves Mayda Yetimian and many other nieces and nephews. upcoming talks with US and Canadian see ARA KALAYDJIAN, page 8 leaders. see WEAPONS, page 5 Benefit for the Armenian Mirror-Spectator Celebrating 80 Years and Beyond Thursday, May 24, 2012 2 S ATURDAY , M ARCH 3, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Armenia, EU Open Visa Facilitation Talks rate “readmission agreement” with None of the officials participating in By Tigran Avetisian Brussels that will commit it to helping the talks would say when the visa deal Armenian Singers Want EU immigration authorities expedite is likely to be concluded. “Both sides the repatriation of Armenian illegal are committed to engage in [the] speed - Azerbaijan Eurovision YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenia and immigrants. iest process,” said Traian Hristea, head Boycott the European Union (EU) began on Deputy Foreign Minister Zohrab of the EU Delegation in Yerevan. Monday the first round of official nego - Mnatsakanian, the chief Armenian Hristea also declined to speculate on YEREVAN (AFP) — A group of Armenian pop tiations that should lead to the easing negotiator, said the two agreements whether the Armenian authorities’ han - singers last Friday launched a campaign to boycott of visa requirements for Armenian citi - stemming from the EU’s Eastern dling of the upcoming parliamentary the 2012 Eurovision song contest which will be zens planning to visit EU countries. Partnership program would make elections could affect the process. hosted by Azerbaijan. Officials from the Armenian govern - Armenia’s relationship with the 27- “That’s a very speculative connection,” “We refuse to appear in a country that is well- known for mass killings and massacres of Armenians, in a country where anti-Armenian sen- timents have been elevated to the level of state pol- icy,” said the statement signed by 22 singers includ- ing three former Armenian Eurovision contestants. They hope to pressure the authorities into pulling out of the European pop extravaganza in the country with which Armenia fought a war after the fall of the Soviet Union. Armenia has applied to take part in the contest, but has yet to choose a singer to represent the country, according to Eurovision’s official website. The influential director of Yerevan’s State Song Theatre, where many successful Armenian singers Officials from Armenia and the European Union negotiated for easier visa requirements. have studied, was the first signature on the boycott petition. “How can we sing in a country that has caused ment and the EU’s executive European nation union “truly comprehensive.” He he said. us so much loss?” director Artur Grigorian said on Commission launched the negotiating also emphasized their “political signifi - Armenia and the EU are also expected Armenian television. process on two relevant agreements cance.” to open talks next month on the creation But several Armenian bloggers have questioned after more than a year of preparations.