JUNE 16, 2018 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVIII, NO. 47, Issue 4542 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF AGBU New England District 110th Anniversary Banquet Mirror Annual Summer Vacation Raises $1.22 Million, Honors Afeyan and Guleserian WATERTOWN — The Armenian Mirror-Spectator will close for its annual summer vacation starting NE District’s Global Excellence Awards for was screened, guests were welcomed by July 2. 2018 and an important new Boston AGBU Lindsey Hagopian and Houry Youssofian, By Aram Arkun The last issue before the vacation will be that of internship program was announced. the AGBU New England 110 Gala Mirror-Spectator Staff June 30 . The first issue back will be that of July 21. The attendance of a large number of stu- Committee co-chairs. Youssofian exclaimed You may submit stories, letters or inquires elec- dents and AGBU Young Professionals (YPs) that the evening was really a reunion of tronically in the meantime. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Armenian reflected the commitment of the New .family and friends. She spoke about the General Benevolent Union New England (AGBU-NE) District celebrated its 110th Bako Sahakyan Will anniversary on Saturday, June 2, with a banquet at the Samberg Conference Center Not Seek Reelection at MIT. The unbelievable view of Boston YEREVAN (Armenpress) — President of Artsakh thanks to the great weather served as the Bako Sahakyan officially announced this week in background for a sell-out event with 300 an interview with the Public TVs of Armenia and people. It raised $1.22 million, of which $1 Artsakh that he will not seek reelection as presi- million was from the Cpl. Paul Marsoubian dent in 2020. Amvets Post 41 for AGBU Scholarships. Dr. “As you know our people adopted a new Noubar Afeyan and Dr. Kristine J. Constitution through referendum in 2017, which Guleserian were honored with the AGBU provides for a transitional stage of 3 years. This peri- od will be also used for harmonizing the legislation with the new Constitution. National presidential elections will be held in 2020 in line with the current New Eastern Diocesan Constitution. I want to announce officially that I will not participate in that election. My participation will Primate Listening and be as a citizen of the Republic of Artsakh who elects Learning, Considering a new president,” Sahakyan said. He added that he will take all the necessary steps Reprioritization AGBU President Berge Setrakian addresses the audience. to ensure free and transparent presidential and par- liamentary elections. England District on innovative program- intense level of her own family’s commit- By Aram Arkun ming for both demographic groups, includ- ment to AGBU and its goals when they emi- Armenian Official ing career advancement through mentoring grated to Boston. Hagopian also spoke Mirror-Spectator Staff dinners and acting as an incubator for about her personal connections to AGBU, Decries Azeri Attack NEW YORK – Very Rev. Daniel entrepreneurship. The importance of this which became profound when she chaired YEREVAN (Public Radio of Armenia) — The Findikyan’s election on May 4 as Primate event for AGBU was highlighted by the the YPs in New York. She introduced Lia Establishment of an atmosphere conducive to of the Eastern presence not only of AGBU President Berge Oganesyan, who served as the evening’s peace talks is key to achieving progress in the Diocese of the Setrakian but of almost every member of master of ceremonies. Karabakh conflict settlement process, spokesman Armenian Church the Central Board of Directors. Oganesyan is an entrepreneur-in-resi- for the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tigran of America repre- After Boston-area Armenian clergy pro- dence at TED, where she gave the first TED Balayan said on June 11. sents a decided nounced their blessing, and a brief video of The comments come in the wake of a ceasefire change from the the history of the AGBU in the Boston area see AGBU, page 20 violation by the Azerbaijani side, which saw an past. The installa- Artsakh Defense Army soldier killed. tion of any new Balayan described these actions ahead of the Primate for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in first time after 28 Turks Go to the Polls in Germany Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ visit to years, which is Armenia as “yet another provocation on the part of the length of time Archbishop Khajag BERLIN — By Erdogan and his Baku aimed at aggravating the situation in the Barsamian, the longest-serving Primate in all forecasts, the By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach AKP party col- region and disrupting the implementation of agree- the history of the Diocese, was in office, outcome of the Special to the Mirror-Spectator leagues have been ments that would help ease tensions.” would imply change, but on top of that, parliamentary placing on wooing He said the incident proves the importance of Findikyan is the first American-born priest and presidential voters in Germany. respecting agreements, respecting ceasefires and to hold this office, and his election coincid- elections in Turkey will be close, so close, Of the more than 3 million eligible Turkish implementation of the agreement, on creation of ed with the mass movements leading to a some say, that there could be a runoff for voters living abroad, there are 1.4 million in investigation mechanisms. change of government in Armenia. the presidency. If Recep Tayip Erdogan Germany alone. The European countries “We have declared on many occasions that the Findikyan commented, “I was elected does not receive a clear majority in the first that follow in rank are home to substantial establishment of an atmosphere conducive to peace Primate the same week that Nikol round on June 24, he could face a candi- numbers of voters, but considerably fewer talks is key to achieving progress in the Karabakh Pashinyan claimed his place as prime min- date backed by a coalition of opposition than Germany; France with 341,000, conflict settlement process. Such actions by the ister, with all those really remarkable parties. Two weeks later, a runoff would be Holland with 260,000 and Belgium with Azerbaijani side pursue a contrary goal,” Balayan events in Armenia. People could not help called on July 8 (from June 30 to July 4 for 142,000, zaccording to German press said. but remark that it was a new day, with voters abroad). And in that case, the votes reports. The US and Canada account for fresh hopes and expectations. I don’t want cast by Turkish citizens living outside the about 100,000 each. to be too romantic about that. Time will country, who make up an estimated 5 per- Voting began on June 7 at 13 polls set up tell. My way of expressing it is that perhaps cent of the total electorate, could prove in the Turkish consulates throughout the holy spirit of God is at work here.” decisive. Germany, as well as Austria and France, INSIDE see PRIMATE, page 11 This helps explain the special focus that see POLLS, page 5 Tekeyan Sponsor a Teacher Program Philadelphia Disburses Annual Support Story YEREVAN — They say that if you have decided to help, and you do help, you bear responsibility for that decision. The Page 12 Tekeyan Cultural By Gayane Muradyan Association of the United States and Canada (TCA) INDEX for some 18 years undertook and continues now to Arts and Living . 14 undertake the realization of its philanthropic program in Armenia . 2,3 Community News. .. 6 support of the five schools in Armenia and Artsakh bear- Editorial . 18 ing the name of Vahan Tekeyan. International . 4,5 see TEACHERS, page 3 2 S ATURDAY, J UNE 1 6 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Aurora Prize Awarded to Rohingya Human Rights Defender Kyaw Hla Aung Sarkissian, Ambassador YEREVAN — The third annual $1.1 Discuss Macron’s Visit million Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity was awarded on June 10 to YEREVAN (Armenpress) — President of Armenia Kyaw Hla Aung, a lawyer and activist Armen Sarkissian received French Ambassador to recognized for his dedication to fight- Armenia Jonathan Lacôte on June 12 and the Rector ing for equality, education and human of the French University in Armenia Jean- rights for the Rohingya people in Marc Lavest. Myanmar, in the face of persecution, The President of the Republic and Ambassador harassment and oppression. Kyaw Hla Lacôte referred to the state visit of the French Aung was presented the 2018 Aurora President Emmanuel Macron to Armenia planned in Prize, granted by the Aurora October, as well as the preparatory works of the busi- Humanitarian Initiative on behalf of ness forum to take place in the sidelines of the La the survivors of the Armenian Francophonie summit. The interlocutors also Genocide and in gratitude to their sav- expressed confidence that the key event will foster iors, at a ceremony in Armenia. the relations between Armenia and the member Kyaw Hla Aung was selected as the states of the organization. 2018 Aurora Prize Laureate among During the meeting the sides also spoke about the 750 nominations submitted from 115 activities and future projects of the French countries. University in Armenia. Vartan Gregorian, co-founder of the Aurora Prize and a member of the Economist Acemoglu Selection Committee, commended Aung, stating: “As we remember the Offers Advice horrors and violence experienced by Armenians — especially women and YEREVAN (Public Radio of Armenia) — Prime children — on the deportation route Dr. Vartan Gregorian presented the award to Kyaw Hla Aung. Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Deputy Prime Minister during the Genocide, it is with a great Tigran Avinyan, Head of the Deputy Prime Minister’s sense of responsibility that we stand Office Varag Siseryan, Director of the Center for ready to support Kyaw Hla Aung’s have become illiterate, and, as a result, .most vulnerable people can create Strategic Initiatives Alexander Khachatryan and advocacy work that will hopefully lead are penniless.