MAY 5, 2012 THE ARMENIAN Mirror -Spe ctaItn Ouor Mirror -Spe ctatror 80th Year Volume LXXXII, NO. 42, Issue 4237 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 Karabagh Soldier Dies JIRAIR HOVSEPIAN PHOTO Obama again From Azeri Gunshot STEPANAKERT (Arminfo) — An Armenian soldier, Breaks Promise to Hovhannes Nikoghosian, died from a gunshot wound in one of the units of the Nagorno- Commemorate Karabagh defense army on Friday after shots were fired from across the border. Armenian Genocide The Azerbaijani side reportedly violated the ceasefire, at the line of contact between the Karabagh and Azerbaijani armed forces, more than By Olivier Knox 500 times in the past week. WASHINGTON (Yahoo News) — One day Armenian Communists after paying a solemn visit to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, President Mark May Day Barack Obama on Tuesday, April 24, called YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Hundreds of supporters of the mass killings of Armenians at the hands the Armenian Communist Party (HKK) demon - of the Ottoman Turks in 1915 “one of the strated in the city’s center on Tuesday, May 1, in a worst atrocities of the 20th century” but May Day celebration that attracted a rare media again broke a 2008 campaign promise to spotlight for its election campaign. label the tragedy “genocide.” Holding red flags and banners, they marched “We honor the memory of the 1.5 million through Republic Square, which was once domi - Armenians who were brutally massacred or nated by a huge statue of the Soviet Union’s marched to their deaths in the waning days Communist founder, Vladimir Lenin. The proces - of the Ottoman Empire,” Obama said in a sion ended in a nearby park where HKK leaders written statement on Armenian addressed the mostly elderly and teenage crowd on Remembrance Day. the occasion. “A full, frank and just acknowledgement The party’s first secretary, Ruben Tovmasian, also of the facts is in all of our interests. Moving mentioned the upcoming parliamentary elections in his forward with the future cannot be done speech. An HKK appeal to the nation read out by anoth - without reckoning with the facts of the er Communist leader, urged Armenians to vote for the past,” Obama said in a implicit appeal for party, saying that only the HKK can guarantee employ - vital American ally Turkey to move closer to ment and worker rights. recognizing the massacre. The HKK was a major political force in the Turkey, a NATO member, fiercely dis - 1990s, winning roughly 10 percent of the vote in putes the genocide charge, and has warned presidential and parliamentary elections. However, that formal US steps to use the term will it failed to gain parliament seats in 2003 and has hamper relations. Turkey’s Ambassador to not been represented in the National Assembly Washington Namik Tan sharply criticized a since then. Barbara and Donald Tellalian in front of the Heritage Park sculpture similar statement from Obama in 2011, tak - ing to Twitter to denounce it as inaccurate, flawed and one-sided. Aronofsky to Direct On October 2, 2008, the Armenian- Heritage Park Monument Unveiled American newspapers published a letter Noah’s Ark Film see OBAMA, page 7 PEABODY, Mass. — The Armenian HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (Huffington Post) — Russell By Alin K. Gregorian Genocide monument that will be the Crowe will play Noah in Darren Aronofsky’s Noah’s Ark focal point of the Armenian Heritage movie, “Noah.” Crowe’s casting was first reported two Mirror Spectator Staff Park in Boston later this year was months ago, and since then it has become official. unveiled at a reception sponsored and New York Times Square “I rejoice that Russell Crowe will be by my side hosted by the Knights and Daughters of Vartan at the birthplace of that monu - Armenian Genocide on this adventure,” Aronofsky, director of “Black ment, A&A Industries. Swan,” said in a statement. “It’s his immense talent A&A Industries, owned and operated by Anahid and Aurelian Mardiros and Commemoration Defies that helps me to sleep at night. I look forward to their sons, is a high-precision cutting facility which specializes mostly in high- being wowed by him every day.” tech applications. The Mardiros family has donated the sculpture to the The Weather Crowe’s involvement in “Noah” was initially Armenian Heritage Park. revealed back in February by Deadline.com, and Guests strolled around the facilities and took pictures in front of the abstract the actor took to Twitter to confirm the news that sculpture, a split dodecahedron designed by architect Donald Tellalian. Café-style By Lucine Z. Kinoian he was “eyeing” the project. The potential casting small tables were set on the floor of the factory, and food and drinks lent the was re-confirmed by Deadline.com in March. event a light atmosphere. NEW YORK — More than 1,000 Liam Neeson is also rumored to star but as yet see UNVEILING, page 10 Armenians and Armenian Genocide recog - he has not been added to the cast. nition supporters alike gathered in “virtual Production on “Noah” begins this summer. Times Square” to commemorate the first Paramount has set the film for a March 2014 release. genocide of the 20th century on Sunday, April 22. The commemoration took place in Mirror-Spectator Presents Gregory Adamian the Kavookjian Hall of St. Vartan Cathedral to avoid the inclement weather. The hall was INSI DE 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award at May Gala crowded with standing-room-only and many observers listened through speakers that By Aram Arkun were set up across the vestibule and up the marble staircase to the lobby of the build - Lowell Mirror-Spectator Staff ing. An anchor group of volunteers was left in Times Square, with stage and posters, to WATERTOWN, Mass. — As was preserve our permit for future years. Memorial announced last January, Dr. Gregory This annual commemoration, organized Harry Adamian, president emeritus and by the Knights and Daughters of Vartan Story on page 7 chancellor of Bentley College, is being under the chairmanship of Hirant Gulian, awarded the 2012 Lifetime Achievement drew busloads of people from all over the Award at the Armenian Mirror- tri-state area. The event is given support Spectator ’s benefit gala, “Celebrating 80 from all major Armenian-American organi - Years and Beyond.” The celebration will zation in the United States, all Armenian INDEX take place on May 24. churches from New York, New Jersey, Arts and Living . 13 Adamian’s life story is an example of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, as well as Armenia . 2, 3 the rapid path to success accessible in local college and university student groups, Community News. 5 the United States to Armenian immi - many of whom were present. Individuals Editorial . 17 grants and their children. Dr. Gregory Adamian came from as far as away as California, International . 4 see ADAMIAN, page 11 Michigan and upstate New York. see COMMEMORATION, page 9 2 S ATURDAY , MA Y 5, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for AGBU’s New Office Building in Yerevan Germany to Provide 40 YEREVAN — On Friday, April 13, the this 13th day of Million Euros to groundbreaking ceremony of the new April, 2012, during Armenian General Benevolent Union the presidency of Armenia for Renewable (AGBU) office building took place. Berge Setrakian, Presided over by Bishop Hovnan the blessing cere - Energy Development Hakobyan, grand sacristan of the mony of the YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Germany’s state-owned Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, the Armenian General development bank is likely to provide support in ceremony was attended by AGBU Benevolent the amount 40 million euros to Armenia, for imple- Central Board member Vasken Union’s new office mentation of programs toward renewable energy. Yacoubian, head of the Republic of building took According to bloomberg.com, this is the next Armenia Government’s Committee for place in the round of the program, which was launched in 2007. Coordinating Humanitarian Projects Capital by the In the first round, 24 million euros had been pro- Simon Ter-Simonyan and special hand of His Grace vided toward the development of water energy. guests, as well as AGBU’s local staff, Bishop Hovnan scouts and members. Remarks were Hakobyan, Grant made by both Yacoubian, who Sacristan of the Serge Sargisian Pushes explained the intricate details of the Mother See of Message being placed in the time capsule by AGBU Central construction, and AGBU Armenia Holy Echmiadzin.” Board member Vasken Yacoubian For Development of Representation Interim Director Hovig Though AGBU Eordekian. Following the blessing, a has been active Tourism in Garni the construction of its own office build - time capsule was lowered by Yacoubian and present continuously in Armenia, it ing on Melik-Adamian Street, adjacent into the foundation of the building con - was not until recently that the organi - GARNI (Armenpress) — Tourism in Armenian to the Republic of Armenia Government taining the following statement: “On zation purchased land and commenced provinces should be developed, both for domestic building in the center of Yerevan. The and foreign tourists, President Serge Sargisian said six-story facility, in addition to two on April 30, during a visit before the elections. underground parking levels, will be “Garni is well known among Armenians, a kind of built on a land area of 1,380 square open-air museum. It is one of the visiting-cards of our meters, with a total area of 6,700 country. There are serious grounds for tourism devel- square meters. The structure will offer opment in the country,” Sargisian said. modern amenities with fully-equipped He urged voters to participate in the May 6 elec- office space, conference rooms and exhi - tions.