OCTOBER 13, 2018 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXIX, NO. 13, Issue 4557 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF President Sarkissian Congratulates New Iraq France Bids Farewell to President YEREVAN (Armenpress) — President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sent a congratulatory message to ‘Giant’ Charles Aznavour Barham Salih, the new president of Iraq. Sarkissian wished success for the newly elected Iraqi president, expressing confidence that during PARIS (AFP and Guardian) — France his tenure the problems facing Iraq will be solved, paid a moving national homage on October the country and people’s welfare will be restored. 5 to the late singer Charles Aznavour, the little man with the very big life. US Announces Increase With honors that are usually reserved for national heroes, one of the greatest song- In Assistance to writers of the 20th century was lauded as a cultural giant by the leaders of his two Armenia homelands — France and Armenia — at a YEREVAN (Armenpress) — US Ambassador to ceremony in Paris. Armenia Richard Mills announced on October 9 Aznavour — who was still touring at 94 — that there will be an increase in assistance provid- died in his bath on Monday, October 1, just ed to Armenia by the US. days after he declared that he would like to The US has provided an extra $14 million for breathe his last on stage. supporting Armenian initiatives connected with He had concerts planned in both political changes, while during the upcoming year Brussels and his hometown of Paris over the US plans to provide $26 million, which is $20 the next month. Relatives of French-Armenian singer-songwriter Charles Aznavour and France’s President million more compared to previous totals. The ceremony at the Invalides began Emmanuel Macron follow his coffin carried by French Republican Guards during a ceremo- These funds will support programs rather than with Aznavour’s coffin, draped in the ny at the Invalides in Paris political processes, including civil society and the see FUNERAL, page 5 independent media. Prime Minister, Street Renamed for Artsakh in Glendale President Hold Talks to GLENDALE (Glendale News-Press) — A Azerbaijan. Defuse Tension sign for Artsakh Avenue — formerly a In June, the City Council voted 4-0 to stretch of Maryland Avenue — was unveiled rename a two-block section of Maryland YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Prime Minister of Tuesday, October 2, during a street naming Avenue, between Wilson Avenue and Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met with President of ceremony hosted by the city of Glendale. Harvard Street, to Artsakh Avenue. Armen Sarkissian on October 9 to discuss the The event drew officials from near and During the decision-making process, domestic political situation and developments in far: All five Glendale City Council members Councilman Ara Najarian said it was over- Armenia, including issues referring to the holding were present, in addition to state Sen. due to have a street referencing the city’s of early parliamentary elections. Anthony Portantino and Robert Avetisyan, large Armenian-American community. Sarkissian said, “We had agreed during our tele- a US representative for Artsakh, which is a Approval of the name change followed phone conversations, as well as our meeting in contested republic between Armenia and see GLENDALE, page 20 Paris that we should meet. I have already met with [Parliament Speaker] Mr. [Ara] Babloyan and I would like to discuss the domestic political situa- tion with you.” Pashinyan said, “It’s really very important that Artsakh Representative to the US Robert we discuss this issue also with the President of the Avetisyan speaks. Republic. In fact, I can say now that in the recent days a number of developments take place, which seem to lead to a solution. Particularly, we signed a memorandum with the President of the Prosperous Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukyan on Archbishop Aykazian as holding early parliamentary elections in December and another 16 MPs have supported that idea in a Part of Delegation Meets written form. I think that the process has taken the With Cuban Leaders, direction of de-escalation, which is positive.” Sarkissian said, “I am also very happy that the Iranian Foreign Minister process goes on in the atmosphere of dialogue and tolerance. It’s very important that the problem is really solved.” By Aram Arkun Mirror-Spectator Staff WASHINGTON — Archbishop Vicken INSIDE Aykazian, Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical From left, Hagop Vartivarian of the Central Board of the Tekeyan Cultural Association of Director of the Eastern Diocese of the the US and Canada, President Armen Sarkissian, Nouneh Sarkissian, Kevork Marashlian, Armenian Church of America, participated chairman of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party Eastern District Committee recently in clerical delegations traveling to Stories of Cuba, meeting with the Cuban president, and President Sarkissian Honored with East-West speaking with the Iranian foreign minister. The Council of Churches of Cuba invited Genocide Institute’s Global Statesman Award a delegation from the National Council of Churches of Christ in the US (NCC) to go to Page 13 NEW YORK — On October 3, President Armen Sarkissian of Armenia was given Cuba from August 22 to 25 to help cele- the 25th annual John Edwin Mroz Global Statesman Award of the East-West brate the 70th anniversary of the creation Institute at the New York Athletic Club. Sarkissian is vice president of the East- of the World Council of Churches. Five West Institute. Mroz was the founder of the Institute, which continues to attempt church leaders went, including Aykazian. INDEX to lessen tensions between the East and the West. Aykazian explained that the Cuban gov- Previous winners of the Mroz award include President George H. W. Bush in Arts and Living . 13 ernment knew of their visit and invited Armenia . 2,3 1995, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl in 1999, British Prime Minister Tony Blair them to meet with various authorities. Community News. 6 in 2005, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in 2008, and Hong Kong Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Editorial . 18 chief executive Tung Chee Hwa. Rodriguez Parrilla cut short his vacation to International . 4,5 see STATESMAN, page 3 speak with them. see AYKAZIAN, page 20 2 S ATURDAY, O CTOBER 1 3 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Premier Receives Outgoing Yerevan Opera Hosts US Ambassador Mills Caballé Tribute Concert YEREVAN — Prime Minister Nikol YEREVAN (Panorama.am) — A concert to honor Pashinyan on October 8 received US Montserrat Caballé, a world-renowned Spanish opera Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills singer and a friend of the Armenian people, took who is completing his diplomatic mis- place at the Alexander Spendiaryan Armenian sion. National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet on Pashinyan thanked Mills for his October 9. tenure-long efforts and significant con- Caballé died on October 6 in Barcelona aged 85. tribution to the strengthening of She had been suffering from poor health for some Armenian-American cooperation. time and was admitted to a hospital in Barcelona last “Our bilateral relations have been month. developing and deepening in many Her career spanned 50 years, the BBC reported. spheres during your tenure. I want to Caballé had stints with the Basel Opera and thank you for your balanced position Bremen Opera before her international break- during the velvet revolution. The through in 1965 in Lucrezia Borgia at Carnegie Hall United States is an important partner in New York. She went on to perform with the for Armenia, and I am confident that Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera and the Armenian-American friendly rela- Vienna State Opera, appearing opposite the likes of tions will continue to expand in the Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. years ahead,” Pashinyan said. In 2013, Caballé visited Armenia and Artsakh. In Mills, in turn, thanked Prime the same year she released an album titled “Armenia US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills presents to Prime Minister Nikol Minister Pashinyan for constructive and Artsakh – An Isle of Christianity.” Pashinyan a biography of President John Adams. cooperation, noting that he will remain a friend of Armenia and would be Astronaut Delivers Flags pleased to keep in touch with our coun- “My term as the Ambassador of the and I am proud to state continuously try and people. United States is nearing completion, developing ties between our two coun- From Int. Space Station tries, from business to governance and YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Russian astronaut civil society. I am confident that these Anton Shkaplerov personally delivered the Armenian ties will be further strengthened in the flag in Yerevan after 197 days in the International coming years. Now, as the government Space Station (ISS). and the people of Armenia are navigat- Shkaplerov is a former Commander of the ISS. ing this crucial period of Armenian his- Speaking to reporters at the Zvartnots airport of tory, I wish all the best to you, Mr. the Armenian capital, the astronaut — or as Russian Prime Minister,” Richard Mills said. say cosmonaut — noted that he has circled the Earth The parties exchanged views on the more than 8000 times, that he has seen Armenia, US-Armenia cooperation agenda, the Yerevan and Lake Sevan from space many times and ongoing programs and development taken photos. prospects. Reference was also made to “I was dreaming about coming to Armenia and Armenia’s inner political developments thanks to philanthropist Hrachya Poghosyan I had in the recent period. the chance to arrive and get to know the country up Pashinyan noted that ever since the close. Unfortunately I’ve come on a short time, only Velvet Revolution the country has three days, because currently I am in a rehabilitation embraced rule of law, and transparency phase after the spaceflight, but I will manage to at in the system of public governance.