A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 THE ARMENIAN In Our 80th Year MVolume LiXXrXIII, NrO. 4,oIssuer4249-Spectator$ 2.00 NEWS INBRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 French-Armenians Slam AGBU Board Sets Proposal for Azeri Armenia Wins Aside $1 Million Center in Paris PARIS (Tert.am) — The Coordination Council of Three Medals For Assistance to Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) has con- demned a proposed bill on establishing an Azerbaijan cultural center in the French capital. In London Syrian Armenians According to Nouvelles d’Armenie, the oppo- NEW YORK — The ongoing and expand- nents have issued a statement regarding the bill. ing militarized conflict in Syria has created “On July 25, [Prime Minister] Jean-Marc Ayrault a humanitarian crisis for the population and [Foreign Minister] Lauren Fabius submitted to and is threatening, among others, residen- the Council of Ministers a draft that would allow tial areas where concentrations of the the Azerbaijani dictatorship to found a cultural cen- Armenian community and institutions are ter in Paris. The CCAF is very surprised that situated, particularly in Aleppo, Damascus France’s new government is rushing the draft, and Kamishli. Several families have already including it in the agenda. Are there no other pri- been dislodged as a result of the fighting orities in France?” reads the statement. The mem- among government and opposition forces bers of the council note that international human and the use of heavy artillery involved. rights organizations constantly slam the regime of In preparation for the imminent need for President Ilham Aliyev for violation of human From left, Arsen Julfalakyan, Hripsime Khurshudyan and Arthur Alexanyan humanitarian assistance that is emerging as rights and racist and non-democratic policies. a result of the unfolding political crisis in Syria, the Armenian General Benevolent LONDON — Three athletes from Armenia medaled at the Olympic Games this Union (AGBU) is committed to taking Buenos Aires Suburb week, winning one silver and two bronze medals. The silver medal was won on action to help the Armenian community in August 6 by Arsen Julfalakyan in the 74-kilogram Greco-Roman wrestling catego- distress, this time in Syria. Adopts Armenian ry. Winning a bronze medal in the same category, in the 96-kilogram division on The Central Board of Directors moved to Genocide Resolution August 7 was Arthur Aleksanyan, 20. set aside an AGBU Emergency Fund for Winning another bronze was weightlifter Hripsime Khurshudyan, in the Humanitarian Assistance to the Armenian BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — The City Council of women’s 75-kilogram category. She lifeted 128 kilograms in snatch and 166 in the Community in Syria, in the amount of $1 San Isidro adopted a resolution recognizing and clean-and-jerk. million. condemning the Armenian Genocide. The city is an Aleksanyan, 20, and Julfalakyan, 25, hail from Gumri. Khurshudyan, 25, is from A special task force, in cooperation with affluent municipality in the province of Buenos Kasakh. the District Committee of Syria, is in the Aires. process of assessing the emerging needs, to Argentina’s Senate on December 13, 2006 create the appropriate logistics in compli- declared April 24 as the Day of Tolerance and ance with federal and international guide- Respect between nations. lines, to help and support the Armenian According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, community there. Necessary arrangements Armenia’s Ambassador to Argentina Vahagn Rwanda Hosts Groundbreaking Conference are also underway in AGBU’s centers local- Melikyan, Primate of the Argentina and Chili ly in Aleppo, Damascus and Kamishli, to Diocese of the Armenian Church Archbishop Gisal On Armenian, Jewish and Tutsi Genocides make them operational hubs for coordinat- Muradian, representatives of the Armenian com- KIGALI, Rwanda — A groundbreaking Genocide” was hosted by and held at the ing the relief efforts, extending help to fam- munity and organizations in Argentina attended conference titled “Genocide and Denial: Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre in con- ilies in other locations as well, wherever the the council’s session. The Armenian, Jewish and Tutsi junction with the National Commission need arises. They will also be prepared to for the Fight Against accommodate those who may have to be Genocide (CNLG), on temporarily moved out of their homes. The Sargisian Congratulates July 17 and 18. possibility of making AGBU facilities in Obama on His Birthday The center houses a Cyprus available as temporary shelter for museum that includes families, who may need to move out of the YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — On, August 4, exhibits on the Armenian country, is under consideration. Armenian President Serge Sargisian sent a con- Genocide, the Holocaust, AGBU is in close communication with gratulatory letter to the president of the United as well as genoices in officials in Armenia to be appraised of the States of America, Barack Obama, on his birthday. Cambodia, Bosnia and diplomatic efforts and social and organiza- The letter states, in part, “Your Excellency, I Darfur. The two-day con- tional initiatives being taken to address the warmly congratulate you on your birthday. I wish ference featured papers by situation. you and your family endless happiness and the suc- scholars from the US, AGBU President Berge Setrakian sent cessful implementation of your projects and initia- Europe and Rwanda. Its out an urgent appeal to the union’s mem- tives. We, in Armenia, highly appreciate your efforts primary focus was the bership worldwide to join forces and use towards strengthening our interstate relations. The analysis of denial in the their resources to help the Syrian commu- multi-faceted cooperation and strong partnership From left, Donald Miller, (unknown), John Bosco Siboyintore, aftermath of genocide. nity that has symbolized historically the ties between our countries have seen an unprece- Wendy Lower, Peter Balakian, Bianca Bagatourian, Deborah dented growth. This has given new impetus to our Lipstadt and Hadley Rose; second row, (unknown), Tom The Rwandan media ultimate humanitarian refuge for the sur- covered the conference vivors of the Genocide. collaboration and drawn closer our friendly peo- Nhadiro, Jean-Pierre Karegeye, Glen Ford, Solange Umulisa ples.” and Jose Kagabo For more information, visit see RWANDA, page 4 www.agbu.org. INSIDE Nazar Nazarian Celebrates His Expanding 88th Birthday SSAES ENGLEWOOD, N.J. — Community benefac- tor Nazar Nazarian celebrated his 88th birth- Page 5 day on Thursday, August 2, with friends. Nazarian has touched and brightened the lives of many individuals and Armenian institutions. He has been an Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Central INDEX Board member for 33 years and has served Arts and Living . 10 Armenia . 2,3 the organization as vice chairman as well Community News. 5 as treasurer of the Central Board of Editorial . 14 Directors. Nazar Nazarian, seated, third from left, celebrates with friends. International . 4 see NAZARIAN, page 16 2 S A T U R D A Y, A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R ARMENIA News From Armenia US Ambassador Visits Yerevan Subway to Get $15 Million Investment YEREVAN (News.am) — The Yerevan City Hall, the Shengavit Preserve Armenian Ministry of Finance and the Yerevan sub- way system have finalized a contract with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for a $5-million grant to By Joseph Dagdigian secure the subway’s reconstruction. Also investing in the project for $5 million each will be the European Investment Bank with $5 mil- YEREVAN — On Wednesday, July 25, lion and the European Union in the same amount, a delegation from the US Embassy in as an investment grant. “The underground of the Armenia visited the Shengavit capital city is one of the main means of communi- Historical and Archaeological Culture cation and it is in the focus of the city hall. We pay Preserve, located across Yerevan Lake huge importance to the project realization as we from the embassy. Visitors included settle our citizens’ security,” Mayor Taron Ambassador John Heffern and his wife, Margarian said. Libby, as well as Cultural Affairs officer Sean O’Hara. Greeting the US delega- tion was Vladimir Tchagharyan, direc- Number of Titled Chess tor of the Shengavit Preserve; Gagik Gurdjyan, director of the Erebuni Players Growing in Historical and Archaeological Culture Armenia Preserve, which oversees Shengavit; Dr. Hakob Simonyan, director of Armenia’s YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The International Chess Research Center for Historical and Federation (FIDE) awarded chess player Davit Cultural Heritage (RCHCH), and Dr. Zakaryan with the title of FIDE master. According Mitchell Rothman, head of the anthro- From left, Director Vladimir Tshagharyan, Libby Heffern, Embassy Cultural Affairs to the Armenian Chess Federation, Zakaryan won pology department at Widener officer Sean O’Hara, Ambassador John Heffern and Armenian archaeologist Armine this title for his success in chess tournaments. The University in Pennsylvania. Rothman Hayrapetyan examining a model of a head of a fourth millennium Shengavit man number of grandmasters, international masters and and Simonyan are both conducting FIDE masters is one of the international rating cri- teria in the country. Armenia is currently ranked the site. The reconstruction illustrates fourth in world chess; each Armenian chess play- what fourth millennium-BC inhabitants er’s new title