JANUARY 7, 2012 MirTHE rARoMENr IAN -Spe ctator Volume LXXXII, NO. 26, Issue 4220 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States (BURHAN OZBILICI, AP) Church Seeks Return France Senate Of Istanbul Orphanage ISTANBUL (hetq) — According to Hurriyet , Rev. To Vote on Krikor Agabaloglu of the Gedikpasha Armenian Protestant Church has filed a formal application with Turkey’s Foundations General Directorate for Genocide Bill the return of an Armenian orphanage in the Tuzla district that had been expropriated in the wake of Turkey’s 1980 military coup. By End of The late Hrant Dink also received an education at the orphanage and contributed to its construc - tion with his brothers. January No reasons were ever provided as to why the orphanage had been expropriated, Agabaloglu said. Turkey Freezes All Political Relations with France over Clergymen Clash at Genocide Row Birthplace of Jesus PARIS ( Guardian , Combined Sources) — BETHLEHEM (AP) — A brawl erupted between France is set to vote by the end of January clergymen during in an annual cleaning ritual at on a bill that would make it illegal to deny the church built at Jesus’ traditional birthplace. that the 1915 mass killing of Armenians by Members of a Turkish union hold Turkish and Algerian flags as they protest against France outside the French Embassy in Ankara. Armenian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox clergy - Ottoman Turks amounted to genocide, par - men screamed at each other and beat each other liamentary and government sources said on with broomsticks during Wednesday, January 4’s Wednesday. In response, Turkey has frozen relations dock in Turkey, annulled all joint military cleanup inside the Church of the Nativity in the Lawmakers in France’s National with France, recalling its ambassador and exercises, recalled the Turkish ambassador West Bank town of Bethlehem. Assembly — the lower house of parliament suspending all economic, political and mili - to France for consultations and said he They were tidying up the church ahead of — voted overwhelmingly in favor of a draft tary meetings. would decide case by case whether to let Orthodox Christmas celebrations in early January. law outlawing genocide denial in December. The furious Turkish reaction to Paris’s the French military use Turkish airspace. The two denominations each control sections of parliamentary vote marked an unprece - He said this was just the start and “grad - the church and fiercely guard their turf. The vio - dented low between the NATO partners. ually” but “decisively” other retaliation lence broke out when the sides accused each other Erdogan cancelled permission for French measures would be taken against France. of crossing into each other’s territory. Palestinian Israeli Knesset Discusses military planes to land and warships to see VOTE, page 3 security forces broke up the melee. Armenian Genocide Bill Two Armenians Named TEL AVIV (Jerusalem Post) — In a sign the As Righteous government still hopes to salvage ties with US Ambassador to Turkey, National Security Council head JERUSALEM (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Georges Yaakov Amidror tried unsuccessfully on Dilsizian and his son, Andre Gustave Dilsizian, have Monday to stop the Knesset Education Azerbaijan Leaving Post been selected as being Righteous among the Committee from discussing whether the mass Nations, bringing the total number of recognized killings of Armenians by Turks over a century Armenian rescuers of victims of the Holocaust up ago should be recognized as genocide. Obama bypassed lawmakers and temporar - to 21. The official ceremony took place on Amidror, speaking Monday night to a By Richard Solash ily installed him in the post in a recess December 28, 2011, at the Yad Vashem Museum, in gathering of the heads of Israel’s diplomat - appointment. Jerusalem. ic missions abroad, confirmed he tried to Obama’s move overruled an attempt by Georges Dilsizian fled to France at the end of the convince the committee not to discuss the BAKU (RFE/RL) — Matthew Bryza, the two senators, Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and 19th century, following the persecution of issue, saying this is the time to try and US ambassador to Azerbaijan, is heading Robert Menendez (D-NJ), to block Bryza’s Armenians in Turkey. Andre Gustave, born in “reduce tensions with Turkey, not pour back to Washington in the wake of the US confirmation. But the appointment was France, married a Jewish woman, whose family more oil on the fire.” Senate’s decision to only valid for the current session of moved to France from Turkey. During the German Amidror stressed the importance of a go into recess with - see BRYZA, PAGE 20 occupation of France, the Dilsizians gave shelter to relationship with Turkey if possible, though out voting on his her relatives. he expressed skepticism — because of inter - appointment, which According to the International Raul Wallenberg nal changes inside Turkey — of returning to has been opposed by Special Research Committee on Armenian the warmth of the relationship of five or 10 Armenian-American Campaign 2012: Rescuers, “the actual number of Armenians who years ago. Nevertheless, he said Israel need - groups. were involved in life-saving actions during the ed to continue trying to see whether it was - Bryza’s departure Holocaust is impressive, well beyond the 21 n’t possible to create a “positive trajectory” Matthew Bryza from Baku comes one A Look Through Armenians who have been officially recog - in the relationship. year after US nized...Further research will certainly unveil see KNESSET, page 4 President Barack The Armenian- unknown stories of heroism.” Georges Dilsizian died in 1946; Andre Gustave in American Lens 1971. INSI DE By Taniel Koushakjian Special to the Mirror-Spectator WASHINGTON — We are now less than a A Look Back year away from the 2012 elections and the campaign trail is already heating up. The At 2011 race for the White House has catapulted various GOP candidates to the top, only to see them tumble from its peak. There have page 9 –12 been historic debate gaffes, bold policy pro - posals and unorthodox candidates trying to distinguish themselves from each other, all in an effort to be the anti-Romney, the pre - sumptive GOP nominee. But this election INDEX season is going to be unlike any other. Arts and Living . 13 Fresh campaign tactics, new technologies, Armenia . 2 redistricting and the latest player in the Community News. 5 YEREVAN (Photolure Photo) — Republic Square took on a festive political arena, the SuperPAC, are all poised Editorial . 17 look in celebration of New Year’s. to dramatically change the way Americans International . 3, 4 vote in 2012. And these factors will impact see CAMPAIGN, page 20 2 S ATURDAY , JANUARY 7, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Sargisian Reassures Nation on 2012 Polls YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — President Serge Sargisian Armenia to Move One has assured Armenians Time Zone Closer to that he does not regard forthcoming parliamen - Moscow and Europe tary elections primarily as a means of clinging to YEREVAN (Arminfo) — In the next two years, power and said he needs Armenia will move one time zone closer to Moscow popular support for their and Europe, Armenia’s Economy Minister Tigran proper conduct. Davtyan said during a press-conference last “As you know, next year Tuesday. is also a year of the elec - “We have consulted with experts and have decid- tions to the National ed to move one time zone westward. This shift will Assembly,” Sargisian said be good for people, business and tourism,” the min- in his New Year’s address ister said. to the nation aired by Armenian television. “On Heritage Faction Leader many instances, elections have been perceived — I Notes Increase in repeat, perceived — only as a means of grabbing or Regional Importance retaining power. It is high President Serge Sargisian inspected the armed forces on New Year’s Day. time to realize that there YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Heritage party’s are much more eminent parliamentary leader believes Armenia’s regional goals.” state approaches in the political life. I Armenian officials pledged to prevent importance over the past year to have increased “I have made my personal decision make no secret that to do that I have serious fraud in the May 2012 elec - regardless, or rather, in spite of the authorities’ long ago: to do my best to get rid of needed help and I still need help,” he tions throughout 2011. They said actions. those flawed stereotypes, to enroot said. that a set of amendments to the At a news conference in Yerevan, Stepan Safarian principles of truly national and truly Sargisian and other senior Electoral Code approved by parlia - cited Iran as well as Turkey-related foreign policy ment in May 2011 would serve that behind the increase of the country’s regional purpose. importance. Armenia’s leading opposition forces Dwelling on Armenian-Turkish protocols, cast doubt on the sincerity of these Safarian reiterated the necessity for Yerevan to Armenian Inflation Down in 2011 pledges. They have challenged the withdraw its signature. YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Consumer suppress consumer price increases in authorities to prove their commit - The politician also expressed skepticism over the price inflation in Armenia has fallen the second half of the year. ment to free and fair elections by possibility for Madrid Principles to help resolve the below the maximum target rate of 5.5 The NSS data shows that year-on- enacting more radical changes in the Karabagh issue, believing the document to risk percent that was set by the authorities year inflation eased further in Electoral Code. Those include the sparking a new conflict. for 2011, according to the latest official December even though food prices holding of parliamentary elections on data released on Friday.