MAY 26, 2018 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVIII, NO. 44, Issue 4539 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF President Urges New Prisoner to End Hunger Armenian Strike YEREVAN (Armenpress) — President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian urged the president of the Government “Founding Parliament” initiative Garegin Chugaszyan not to jeopardize his health and stop his hunger strike. Sarkissian met with Chugaszyan Sworn in on May 18 near the Matenadaran yard. Chugaszyan is on hunger strike to seek the YEREVAN (RFE/RL, Arka) — Prime release of his fellow Founding Parliament members Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the mem- who are still in prison. bers of his cabinet were sworn in on The parents of Armen Sarkissian and Garegin Monday, May 21 in a ceremony led by Chugaszyan have known each other for a long time President Armen Sarkissian. and their families are friends. •Mher Grigoryan, former Ardshinbank Chugaszyan, 53, was chairman of the Founding board chairman, was appointed deputy Parliament initiative, an opposition movement, and prime minister. was detained in 2015 for organizing riots ahead of •Davit Tonoyan was named Minister of April 24 – the Armenian Genocide commemoration Defense. The ADL delegation with President Armen Sarkissian, sixth from left. day. However, the prosecution changed the detention •Armenia’s former ambassador to UN a few days later and Chugaszyan was released on bond. Zohrab Mnatsakanyan was appointed Chugaszyan later failed to appear before court. Minister of Foreign Affairs. President Armen Sarkissian He had changed his place of residence without noti- •Mane Tandiliyan, from Pashinyan’s fying authorities as required by law, thus violating Yelk parliamentary faction, was appoint- the terms of his release. ed Minister of Labor and Social Affairs. Receives ADL Delegation The court issued an arrest warrant for him. •Artak Zeynalyan of Yelk will head Police apprehended Chugaszyan on April 24, the Ministry of Justice. YEREVAN – President Armen Sarkissian In particular, the possibility of forthcom- 2018 when he was visiting the Tsitsernakaberd •Former deputy finance minister of the Republic of Armenia received a dele- ing elections, the question of repatriation, memorial complex. He was arrested but after a few Atom Janjughazyan will serve as gation of leaders from the Armenian the manner of assuring economic invest- days released by the petition of Ararat Mirzoyan Minister of Finance. Democratic Liberal Party (ADL) Central ments were discussed, along with the new and Lena Nazaryan, MPs representing “Yelk” bloc. •Arsen Torosyan was appointed as Committee and Supreme Council in his trajectory of Armenian diaspora-homeland Ararat Mirzoyan later was appointed First Deputy Health Minister. offices on Monday, May 21. relations. Prime Minister of Armenia. Chugaszyan declared a •Former governor of the Shirak For over half an hour, a series of critical The ADL delegation included Vartan hunger strike on April 24, the day of his arrest. region, Artur Khachatryan, will head issues were examined which concern the Nazerian, president of the Supreme the Ministry of Agriculture. Armenians of the homeland as much as the Council, Hagop Avedikian, president of the More Reserves Needed •Former nature protection minister, Armenians of the diaspora. The judgments Central Committee, Edmond Y. Azadian, Artsvik Minasyan will lead the Ministry and observations generally were positive Hagop Vartivarian, Kevork Marashlian, In Armenia of Economic Development and under the circumstances created by the Armen Manvelyan, Khoren Kalinian, Investments. Velvet Revolution. Edward Manoukian, and Karen Kakoyan. YEREVAN (Arka) — The number of natural •Levon Vahradyan will serve as the reserves in Armenia should be increased, said Aram country’s Minister of Sport and Youth Aghasyan, the head of a department at the Ministry Affairs. of Nature Protection, overseeing specially protect- •Suren Papikyan will head the ed natural areas and arboretums. Ministry of Territorial Administration Diaspora Minister, Speaking at a news conference on May 22 he said and Development. TCA Central Board some 452 species of plants, 40 species of mushrooms, •Arayik Harutyunyan will head the 155 species of invertebrates and 153 species of ver- Ministry of Education and Science. Delegation Meet tebrates are included in the Red Book of Armenia. In •Former sports minister Hrachya his words, some 70 percent of the flora and fauna Rostomyan was appointed Emergencies YEREVAN — Newly appointed Armenian species are in special nature conservation areas, Minister. Minister of the Diaspora Mkhitar which means that ‘we need to create new reserves to •Artur Grigoryan is the new Minister Hayrapetyan received a delegation of mem- preserve the other 30 percent of species.” of Energy Infrastructures and Natural bers of the Central Board of the Tekeyan According to Aghasyan, since 2009 the territory Resources. Cultural Association of the United States of reserves throughout Armenia has increased by •Lilit Makunts is Culture Minister. and Canada in his offices on May 18. The 100,000 hectares. He also noted that the latest edi- •Erik Grigoryan is Minister of Nature delegation was composed of Edmond Y. tion of the Red Book of Armenia was released in Protection. Azadian, Hagop Vartivarian and Kevork 2010, and the next one is planned to be released in •Ashot Hakobyan is Minister of Marashlian. 2020, but research work should begin now. Transport, Communication and The delegates congratulated the young There are now 34 specially protected natural Information Technology. minister and reported on the plans of the areas in Armenia, including national parks, natural •Mkhitar Hayrapetyan was appointed Tekeyan Cultural Association in Armenia From left, Hagop Vartivarian, Kevork reserves, and game preserves. Their total area is Minister of Diaspora. as well as the diaspora. In particular, possi- Marashlian, Minister of the Diaspora Mkhitar 383,000 hectares. see NEW GOVERNMENT, page 2 ble plans for repatriation were discussed. Hayrapetyan, and Edmond Azadian INSIDE Illuminating Manuscripts Page 13 INDEX Arts and Living . 13 Armenia . 2,3 SARDARAPAT, Armenia – In events marking the centennial of the Battle of Sardarapat, 450 youths Community News. .. 6 joined the ranks of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party. See article on page 3 and related edi- Editorial . 17 torial on the Battle of Sardarapat on page 17. International . 4,5 2 S ATURDAY, M AY 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Leading MIT Economist Calls on Armenian People to Be Active in Political Process YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Renowned economist Daron Acemoglu, who has agreed to assist Armenia in developing its economy, said on Monday, May 21, that the youth in Armenia must turn its engagement in politics into a positive trend of changes. “I’m happy to share my knowledge as it’s an excit- ing time, and at least I can do that. It’s the Armenian people who should make a step, rather than the prime minister, the MPs or judges, as well as neither me nor the Diaspora. The Armenian people, youth, who have been silent for a long time, must be engaged in politics, they should find a way to keep their participation in this and turn it into a positive Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and members of his government pose for a photograph with President Armen Sarkissian after trend of change. But this doesn’t mean that people being sworn in at the presidential palace in Yerevan, May 21. should hold protests every day. They must be involved in, should not allow the repetition of mis- takes made in the past two-three decades,” the econ- omist said via live video at a discussion titled New Armenian Government Sworn in “Armenia Tomorrow: Citizen Diplomacy at Work” organized by the Institute of Armenian Studies of the NEW GOVERNMENT, from page 1 office.“But it doesn’t mean that this immediately after tens of thousands University of Southern California. •Valery Osipyan was appointed is the only issue that we must solve,” of his supporters demonstrating in Acemoglu added that citizens should be vigilant, chief of Police. he said. “The government has to the streets of Yerevan forced Prime find the right way to control vie media and civil soci- •Artur Vanetsyan was named direc- function normally and it has and will Minister and former President Serzh ety structures in order to be assured that the new tor of the National Security Service. have long-term programs. One thing Sargsyan to resign on April 23. He leadership is not the previous one, they are the con- Pashinyan said on Monday that he doesn’t contradict the other.” said last week that he expects the tinuation of the positive change. remains determined to force fresh “After all, this government will also polls to be held later this year. “This is really a perfect opportunity of precondi- parliamentary elections in Armenia. be taking part in the pre-term parlia- Pashinyan made clear on Monday tions for us to move forward. At the moment it is “As I have said, pre-term elections mentary elections. In what format? that his political team will draft important to create a system where there is an equal are a priority for us,” Pashinyan told That’s a different issue,” he added. such amendments before the end of game field, there are promoting factors, opportuni- reporters after the oath of Pashinyan called for such elections June. ties and people are encouraged to effectively partici- pate in the country’s social and economic