DECEMBER 1, 2012 THE ARMENIAN Mirror -Spe ctaItn Ouor Mirror -Spe ctatror 80th Year Volume LXXXIII, NO. 20, Issue 4265 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 Globe Spots Names Mexico Panel Armenia a Top Travel Destination Rejects Aliyev YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Globe Spots, an inter - national tourism organization, recently included Statue Armenia in a list of top 10 countries tourists should visit in 2013. Armenia occupies the fifth position MEXICO CITY (RFE/RL) — An advisory on the list. commission in Mexico City has recom - According to Globe Spots, “Despite its rather mended the removal of a statue of well developed tourism infrastructure, Armenia still Azerbaijan’s late President Heydar Aliyev flies under the radar of most travelers.” that has been erected along a main boule - The agency also highlighted Armenia as the first vard of the Mexican capital. country in the world to adopt Christianity as a state Gabriel Guerra, a member of the panel, religion and noted its many churches and monas - said on November 23 that the commission teries that avid travelers should visit. has called for the bronze statue to be Globe Spots added, “Those willing to dig a little removed from the high-profile Chapultepec deeper will discover a truly amazing country with a Park, along Reforma Avenue and transferred beautiful landscape, but will also encounter gen - to another less “emblematic” location. uinely nice people always ready to offer them a shot Azerbaijan’s government paid around $5 of aragh [a strong, local drink] (introduced by million for the renovation of the section of never-ending toasts), or welcome them at their the park where the statue was erected and All-Armenian Fund khorovats [grilled meat] picnic... or both.” other public works. That corner of the park Visa requirements are expected to be lifted for was named the “Mexico-Azerbaijan European Union citizens beginning in January. Friendship Park.” Telethon Raises $21 Million Baku has warned of damage to Defense Minister Visits Azerbaijan’s relations with Mexico if the NEW YORK — Hayastan All-Armenian Fund concluded its 15th international statue is removed, including the potential Thanksgiving Day telethon this year by raising $21,422,477 in donations and Afghanistan closure of its embassy and the suspension pledges. The theme this year was “Our Village.” of Azerbaijani investments in Mexico. In addition, a portion of all the telethon proceeds will be going toward the out - KABUL, Afghanistan (Armenian Public Radio) — A Azerbaijan says Mexico City’s govern - reach efforts for Syrian Armenians. The telethon raised $12.3 million last year. delegation headed by Armenian Defense Minister ment signed an agreement stipulating the Above, hosts and guests during the telethon point to the screen showing the final Seyran Ohanyan left for Afghanistan for a two-day monument should be allowed to remain on figure pledged by donors. working visit on November 26. the spot for 99 years. Within the framework of the visit Ohanyan was see STATUE, page 3 expected to meet with his counterpart Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, Deputy Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, Lieutenant General Nick Carter and Three Members of Commander of the ISAF Regional Command North Edmond Azadian Meets with ADL Major General Erich Pfeffer. Family Drown Trying Issues related to Armenia’s involvement in ISAF Armenia District Committee Members and other questions of bilateral interest will be on To Save Dog in Calif. the agenda for the meetings. YEREVAN — On November 21, Edmond SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The search The delegation headed by Ohanyan is also sched - Azadian, co-chairman of the Armenian uled to visit the Armenian peacekeepers who have Democratic Liberal party (ADL) District was called off Monday for a teenager whose parents were killed after they been carrying out missions in Kunduz and Mazari Committee of US and Canada met in Yerevan Sharif since 2010. with the Board of Directors of ADL Armenia. plunged into the cold, powerful surf in ADL Armenia was established in 1991 Northern California in a nightmarish through the efforts of ADL District chain of events that started when their Armenian Books on Committee of US and Canada, which also son tried to save the family dog from helped found Azg newspaper, the most drowning. Display at British respected newspaper in Armenia. Eureka residents Mary Elena Scott, Library The ADL Armenia had tumultuous years 57, and Howard Gregory Kuljian, 54, Edmond Azadian meets with members of both drowned Saturday, said Ariel starting 1995, instigated by then-president ADL Armenia LONDON (Panorama) — An exhibition dedicated to Levon Ter-Petrosian. Party Chairman Gruenthal, a deputy coroner in the 500th anniversary of Armenian printing and Rouben Mirzakhanian was replaced by Humboldt County. 20th anniversary of the establishment of Armenian- Haroutiun Arakelian. During his tenure, tatives that an ADL worldwide general meet - The boy, Gregory James Kuljian, has British diplomatic relations opened at the British Arakelian sold all the real estate of the ing is planned to take place soon with the not been found and is presumed dead. Library on Thursday, November 22. party, including the headquarters in participation of two thirds of the chapters in Powerful, 10-foot waves had pulled the Armenian Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan Yerevan and four district offices, all of New York to discuss the party platform. dog into the ocean Saturday as it ran to attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition. which were donated by members of ADL During the meeting, the two sides agreed retrieve a stick at Big Lagoon, about 300 The exhibition features the best examples of District Committee of US and Canada. He that they will support the re-election of miles north of San Francisco, authorities handwritten and printed Armenian books kept at was charged with embezzlement and is now President Serge Sargisian to a second term, said. the British Library and will run through January. a fugitive in Sweden. during the presidential elections on The 16-year-old boy went after the Azadian informed ADL Armenia represen - February 17, 2013. dog, prompting his father to attempt a rescue, said Dana Jones, a state parks district superintendent. The teenager INSI DE was able to get out of the waves but then Community Unites Globally, Acts went back into the water with his moth - er in search of his father. Locally to Aid Syrian Brethren see DROWNING, page 16 Perchance WATERTOWN — The ongoing conflict in Syria has resulted in the displacement of thousands of Syrian Armenians, the majority of whom are fleeing to Armenia A Yeraz and Lebanon, as well as to Iraq, Jordan and else - where. The impact of the fighting in Syria has Page 10 By Gabriella Gage been felt throughout the country. Mirror-Special Staff Prior to the conflict, more than 90,000 Armenians called Syria home, predominately in the cities of Aleppo, Damascus, Homs, Kamishli INDEX and Latakia. What is more surprising is the corresponding impact the crisis in Syria Arts and Living . 10 has had on its sister diasporan communities throughout the world. Armenia . 2 Despite the political, regional and even religious divisions that normally plague Community News. 4 The members of the Kuljian family, from cooperative efforts in the global Armenian community, every facet of the diaspora Editorial . 14 left, Mary Elena Scott, Gregory James International . 3 seems to have united to address the needs of the Syrian-Armenian community. Kuljian, Olivia Kuljian and Howard see SYRIA, page 8 Gregory Kuljian 2 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 1, 2012 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Armenian Presidential Charents Remembered On 75th Anniversary Election Slate Still Unclear of Death YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenia is didate. The first is Ter-Petrosian, but mentary elections only under the pro - due to hold a presidential election in backing him would be tantamount to portional representation system; the YEREVAN (Armenpress) — A number of pupils just three months, but the Central the BHK unequivocally signaling that it independence of the national judicial gathered by the monument of prominent Armenian Election Commission has still not yet is in opposition to Sargisian and the system; and the separation of big busi - writer and poet Yeghishe Charents to pay tribute to set the exact date. Last time around, it HHK. ness from government. him on November 27, marking the 75th anniversary announced on November 9, 2007, that Several observers quoted by the The HHK, meanwhile, remains seem - of his death. The program was organized by the the ballot would take place on February Russian website Regnum believe the ingly convinced that Sargisian’s reelec - Writers’ Union of Armenia. 19, 2008. BHK is engaged in covert talks with the tion is a foregone conclusion. In a rebut - Chairman of the Writer’s Union of Armenia It is likewise not yet clear whom HHK and might back Sargisian’s presi - tal of Zohrabian’s assertion that the Levon Ananyan stated that Charents appeared in Armenia’s two main opposition group - dential candidacy in return for a HHK “is waiting with bated breath for the world literature with a special mission, which ings will choose as their respective can - promise of greater representation in us to choose” which candidate to sup - was to introduce the psychology, worldview and didates. Discussions between them on government than they enjoyed in the port, HHK parliamentarian Hamlet character of the Armenian people. Said Ananyan, the possibility of fielding a single oppo - past. (The post of prime minister or Harutiunian told Aravot this week that “In those difficult times the national genius com- sition candidate to challenge incumbent deputy prime minister figures in such the party “continues to breathe easily.” pleted his unique mission.” President Serge Sargisian have not yet speculation.) Harutiunian describes the two parties The Director of Charents House-Museum Lilit yielded an agreement.