FEBRUARY 13, 2016 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVI, NO. 29, Issue 4424 $ 2.00 NEWS INBRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 Businessman Offers Five Nobel NORMARMARA.COM PHOTO $5,000 for Every Laureates to Fourth Artsakh Child STEPANAKERT (Armenpress) — Businessman Samvel Karapetyan, now based in Russia, will grant Lecture in $5,000 for every fourth baby born to an Artsakh family, President Bako Sahakyan announced dur- ing a government session of Artsakh Republic. Yerevan Artak Beglaryan, spokesperson for the prime minister, added that Hayastan All Armenian Fund and the Government of Artsakh will grant an apart- ment to those families with five children. By Ekaterina Poghosyan “Therefore, at least after the third child it is worth to resettle in Artsakh, dear friends living YEREVAN (Mediamax) — For the first away from Artsakh,” Beglaryan wrote on the time, Armenia will host five Nobel Prize Artsakh government facebook page. laureates, who will give open lectures on Editor and writer Robert Haddejian blows out the candles on his birthday cake biochemistry, physics and medicine this Another Elderly April in Yerevan. Turkish-Armenian Newspaper Editor The “Nobel Days in Yerevan” event, Armenian Killed in unprecedented in Southern Caucasus, will be held on April 11-16 at Yerevan State Haddejian’s 90th Birthday Celebrated Istanbul Medical University. ISTANBUL — “Be inspired and create” slogan will ISTANBUL (Hurriyet) — Three robbers who last Armenian Minister of unite beneath the same roof those who week broke into the house of an elderly Armenian the Diaspora Hranoush want to get inspiration from world- couple in Istanbul’s Sisli district, first ransacked Hakobyan and many renowned scientists and work to obtain sci- the house before tying up the elderly couple and writers in Armenia, entific achievements, thus, returning leaving. Turkey and other parts see YEREVAN, page 4 A housecleaner who arrived at the couple’s of the world sent author house the next day alerted the couple’s relatives REUTERS/ANDERS WIKLUND /SCANPIX and journalist Robert when no one would open the door. They, in turn, Haddejian letters of con- called the police. gratulations on the occa- The firefighters who arrived at the scene went in sion of his 90th birthday from the window and saw the couples tied up. As it on January 26, while in tuned out, the 85-year-old husband had suffocated, Holy Trinity Church of while the 79-year-old woman was in critical condi- Beyoglu, Istanbul, an tion and is recovering at a local hospital. intimate banquet attend- ed by some 80 guests celebrated the life and MP Paylan Continues to works of this author in his presence. Haddejian Raise Issue of Turkey- (also written Haddeler Armenia Border or Haddedjian) is the longtime editor of the ISTANBUL (Public Radio of Armenia) — The Istanbul Armenian-lan- Turkish Parliament’s Commission on Planning and guage daily newspaper Budget has discussed the issue of increasing the Nor Marmara (originally number of large trade centers, Ermenihaber.am called Marmara). reports. Born in Istanbul, Addressing the Commission, MP Garo Paylan, Haddejian graduated who is of Armenian descent, referred to the closed Nobel laureate in medicine Robin Warren of from the Pangalti border between Armenia and Turkey, noting that Australia receives his Nobel Prize from Armenian Mkhitarist had the border been open, Armenia would do most Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf, December see 90TH, page 16 of its trade with Turkey. 10, 2005. According to the Turkish Sondakika website, Paylan said: “The border with Armenia has been closed for 23 years now. Had the border been open, Armenia would do three-fourth of its trade with Turkey. People would come here, relations would Barsamian Works to Revitalize Armenian Assembly develop.” Paylan added, “this could help solve the ing Armenian-Americans today through his one of the wire mill factories. I feel that I Karabagh issue as well. The development of rela- By Aram Arkun work with the Armenian Assembly of understand the community in many tions would benefit both parties.” America. As a new co-chairman of its board aspects from its origins, though of course Mirror-Spectator Staff of trustees, he is leading efforts to revitalize these took place at an earlier period, and the Assembly. As an active member of the how Armenians had to deal with many WATERTOWN — Anthony J. Barsamian Armenian Church, he also has just become hardships when they first came to the US.” has become a prominent figure represent- the first member of this church to be elect- After graduating from the University of INSIDE ed as head of the Massachusetts at Amherst, Barsamian went Massachusetts Council to Suffolk Law School in Boston. He began of Churches. (See working at a law firm after graduating, but accompanying article soon started his own firm, now called Antoura on page 8.) Hutchings Barsamian Mandelcorn and Barsamian has Robinson, where he is managing partner, always been proud of with 10 attorneys in the firm and two loca- Days his background. He tions. said, “Members of my Barsamian’s long history of involvement Page 10 family came here to the with the Assembly started after his gradua- US both before and tion from law school. His working in after the Armenian George Keverian’s office during law school Genocide. We are from led to being asked to help with President INDEX the Worcester commu- Levon Ter-Petrosian of Armenia’s visit to Arts and Living . 10 nity. We lived on Boston in 1994. In the process, Barsamian Armenia . 2 Laurel Street, which is got to know Robert Aram Kaloosdian, one Community News. 5 where the first of the founding members of the Assembly, Editorial . 13 International . 3,4 Armenian Assembly new co-chairmen: Van Krikorian at left with Armenian church in and Carolyn G. Mugar, then (and now) its Anthony Barsamian in front of White House the US was located. My president. He later became a member of the grandfather worked in see BARSAMIAN, page 9 2 S ATURDAY, F EBRUARY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Swedish FM Visits Armenia, Urges Peaceful Solution to Artsakh Conflict Russia Lifts Duties on Oil, Gas Supplies YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — The dynamic development of ties with YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Russian Sweden is of special significance Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Ambassador to Armenia, Foreign Minister Eduard Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Nalbandian said at a press conference on Russia Oleg Yesayan signed a protocol providing for Tuesday, February 9. indefinite exemption from export duties on petrole- Following a Yerevan-hosted meeting um products and natural gas, supplied from Russia to with his Swedish counterpart, Margot Armenia, RIA Novosti reports. Wallström, Nalbandian said the parties On December 2, 2013 Russia and Armenia signed discussed possibilities of further cooper- an intergovernmental agreement on the abolition of ation in economic, educational, scientif- export duties on deliveries of natural gas, petroleum ic, cultural and health sectors. products and rough diamonds to Armenia. The agree- “Also, we agreed to improve the legal ment was signed following talks between Presidents framework and promote investments,” Vladimir Putin and Serge Sargisian. Nalbandian noted, adding that an agree- Earlier, the Armenian government approved a set ment on avoidance of double taxation of amendments to the agreement. Energy and and prevention of fiscal evasion was Natural Resources Minister Yervand Zakharyan signed shortly before. reminded that the agreement concerns supply of “During our meeting, we dwelled Russian natural gas, petroleum products and raw dia- upon Armenia-EU relations focusing on monds to Armenia. dialogue on the new framework agree- Zakharyan said the changes will specify the proce- ment, current reforms in Armenia and dures for calculation and payment of customs duties Sweden’s readiness to support their for delivery of oil products and gas. He added also implementation. We discussed Armenia that the amended agreement would create favorable and the [Organization for Security and conditions for the development of economic ties Cooperation in Europe] OSCE Minsk between the two countries. Group Co-chairs’ efforts aimed at the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict,” Nalbandian said. Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström lays a wreath at the Tsitsernakabert Azeri Forces Fire 1,500 Wallström expressed her country’s memorial in Yerevan. Shots in Ceasefire support for peaceful negotiations, ruling out any military solution. Violations over Weekend Addressing reporters, Wallström ing the EaP member states a high status in The two discussed opportunities for described her current visit to Armenia as the EU family. the further development of relations STEPANAKERT (PanARMENIAN.Net) — The a good opportunity to get an insight into The minister also promised individual- both in bilateral and multilateral for- Azerbaijani armed forces fired around 1,500 shots the country’s perceptions of the long- ized approaches to separate member mats, as well as the negotiation process from various caliber weapons in ceasefire violations lasting land dispute. She emphasized the states to adjust different perspectives to of Nagorno Karabagh. on February 6-7, the Nagorno Karabagh (Artsakh) need to exert maximum efforts to avoid specific needs and to develop the dia- Sargisian said Sweden is among Defense Army reported. further escalation, expressing hope that logue based upon the “more-for-more” Armenia’s reliable partners in Europe. Artsakh troops continue controlling the situation a lasting peace will be achieved under principle. Wallström stated that a good platform on the contact line, retaliating only in case of the aegis of the Minsk Group. Diplomatic relations between the has been established for further devel- extreme necessity. Wallström elaborated on the European Armenia and Sweden were established oping and deepening relations between Despite the international community’s urgent calls to Union (EU) Eastern Partnership (EaP) pro- on July 10, 1992.