AUGUST 9, 2014 MirTHErARoMENr IAN -Spe ctator Volume LXXXV, NO. 4, Issue 4347 $ 2.00 NEWS IN BRIEF The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 More Armenian Casualties in Aleppo Escalating Violence in NKR ALEPPO (Armenpress) — Another Armenian has died due to a missile attack on the Armenian-pop - ulated districts of Aleppo on July 30, according to Region, World Alarmed The region has seen a largely undis - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov the Aleppo News Office. Araksi Arushian- turbed ceasefire, or frozen conflict, since told Itar-Tass news agency on Monday. Khachatourian was the sister of an earlier victim, 1994, even though technically Armenia and “Of course, we are worried about the Azniv Arushian. Azerbaijan are still at war. Occasional events along the so-called ‘Line of The source stated that Sona Palikian was also YEREVAN ( Russia Times , Armenpress) — shooting incidents Contact,’” Lavrov among the casualties. She died in the Jalaa District The international community is raising in no-man’s land said. “The parties after to a missile blast. Gevorg Galemkeryan died in growing concerns over the renewed vio - over the years have “This time everything is being are accusing each the hospital. He had been wounded in the New lence in the Nagorno-Karabagh enclave, resulted in the other of provoca - Village district. Juliet Khachatourian, Gevorg urging the Armenian and Azerbaijani com - deaths of dozens of reported and perceived in a tions. That hap - Tashchian, Hakob Hakobian, Raffi Ayvazyan, and batants to deescalate tensions. soldiers on both particularly dramatic manner.” pened earlier, in the Hovhannes Ayvazyan were injured. As of Monday, at least 18 soldiers were sides, however. past, and unfortu - confirmed dead in the fighting that flared The Organization –Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov nately we have been over the weekend in Nagorno-Karabagh. for Security and Cooperation in Europe observing such escalations for many years. US ‘Concerned’ after Thirteen Azerbaijani soldiers are among (OSCE) Minsk Group on the Nagorno- However, this time everything is being Azeri Activist Charged the dead, according to the country’s Karabagh conflict, which is co-chaired by reported and perceived in a particularly Defense Ministry. Armed forces of the Russia, the United States and France, dramatic manner.” With Treason Nagorno-Karabagh Republic said five of urged the parties to show maximum Washington has also expressed concerns their soldiers have died in the violence. restraint and prevent further fighting, over the escalating tensions in the region, BAKU (RFE/RL) — The United States has voiced stressing that there is no military solution “deep concern” after Azerbaijani authorities to the conflict. “We extend our condolences charged prominent human rights activist Leyla to the families of those killed or injured and Yunus with treason. US Warns Armenia over Sanctions against Russia call on the sides to take immediate action Yunus, 57, was arrested on July 30 and sent to to reduce tensions and respect the cease - pre-trial detention for three months. YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The United others have imposed,” the US Embassy in fire,” US State Department spokeswoman A fierce critic of Azerbaijan’s poor rights record, States has urged Armenia to avoid doing Yerevan said on Thursday. Marie Harf said Monday. she was charged with treason, tax evasion, docu - business with Russian companies and “The US Embassy in Armenia, like other “The United States urges the presidents ments forgery and fraud, and sent to pre-trial deten - individual entrepreneurs that have been US embassies around the globe, distributed of Armenia and Azerbaijan to meet at the tion for three months. subjected to US sanctions in retaliation information about these latest sanctions to earliest opportunity to resume dialogue on Her 59-year-old husband, Arif Yunus, faces simi - for Moscow’s alleged role in the Ukraine Government of Armenia representatives as key issues,” she added. lar charges. crisis. well as to local business organizations,” it The Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents The Prosecutor General’s office said on July 31 “We encourage all countries and their added a statement to RFE/RL’s Armenian are scheduled to hold separate meetings that the two were involved in passing classified nationals to consider the reputational risk service (Azatutyun.am). with Russian President Vladimir Putin this information to Armenian agents via Azerbaijani of doing business with sanctioned individu - The embassy did not specify whether week in Sochi in southern Russia, Lavrov journalist Rauf Mirkadirov, who was arrested and als and entities and cease business dealings Armenia will only jeopardize its reputation said, stressing that the leaders will most charged with treason in April. inconsistent with the sanctions that we and see WARNING, page 3 likely discuss the situation in Nagorno- US State Department deputy spokeswoman Karabagh. Marie Harf said the charges “represent a further On Sunday, the European Union urged restriction on peaceful civil society activities in both sides to respect the ceasefire and Azerbaijan.” refrain from the use of force or threats. “We In a statement, she called on Baku to ensure reiterate our full support to the efforts of Leyla and Arif Yunus are “afforded all the fair trial the OSCE Minsk Group and the work of guarantees to which all citizens are entitled, and the three co-chairs, especially with regard allow them to freely express their views in accor - to the need to continue negotiations at the dance with international human rights commit - highest level, as was agreed at the meeting ments.” between presidents of Azerbaijan and Human Rights Watch said the charges “are see VIOLENCE, page 2 bogus and intended to silence them.” The New York-based group’s deputy chief for Europe and Central Asia, Rachel Denber, called for an end to “this campaign of intimidation against US Senate Goes Into Azerbaijan’s leading human rights defenders.” On his Twitter account, the Council of Europe’s Recess Without Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks, called the charges a reminder of the difficulties Confirming Turkey rights defenders face in Azerbaijan. Leyla Yunus, the founding director of non-regis - Envoy tered Peace and Democracy Institute in Baku, has been actively involved for years in people-to-people WASHINGTON — The US Senate diplomacy with Armenian rights activists. She has Conductor Sebouh Apkarian recessed for August without confirming an won several foreign prizes and honors for her work. ambassador to Turkey . The Senate finished its business late Thursday, July 31, with the confirmation of Kohar Conductor Sebouh Apkarian Dies US Ambassador to Russia nominee John NICOSIA, Cyprus — Artistic Director and Conductor of Kohar Symphony Tefft, after having declined to act on a num - INSI DE Orchestra and Choir Sebouh Apkarian died at his home here on August 5 after a ber of other diplomatic nominations, brief illness. including a US envoy to Ankara. Majority Apkarian was born in Cyprus. He was a composer, conductor, painter and edu - Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has announced Joan cator. He founded the Armenian Radio Program at the Cyprus Broadcasting that he does not expect any roll call votes Corporation, where he served for 46 years. He was also a member of the ADL and until after the August recess. The earliest supporter of the Tekeyan Cultural Association. date for confirmation votes for Quinn He graduated from the Melkonian Educational Institute, where he later taught Ambassador-designate John Bass and other music and conducted the school choir, following the steps of his music teacher pending ambassadorial nominations is Page 10 and mentor, Vahan Bedelian. September 8. After graduating from the Melkonian he continued his studies in Paris. “We are gratified for the additional time As an opera singer, he performed in Europe and the Middle East. that US Senators and American civil soci - He composed many songs, choral works, chamber music, oratories, cantatas, ety stakeholders will have to scrutinize the symphonic suites and musical caricatures. Many of these compositions have been troubling responses offered by INDEX performed in Tokyo, Paris, Cyprus, Beirut and the US. Ambassador-designate Bass,” stated Arts and Living . 10 Armenia . 2,3 His work and performances with Kohar Symphony Orchestra and Choir were Armenian National Committee of America Community News. 5 characterized by many as the most significant contribution towards the promotion (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “More broadly, we welcome Editorial . 13 of Armenian culture during the last decade. International . 4 Details of his funeral have not been announced yet. this expanded opportunity for a careful consideration of the implications of this see ENVOY, page 16 2 S ATURDAY , A UGUST 9, 2014 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Escalating Violence in NKR PM Appoints New Deputy VIOLENCE, from page 1 Serge Sargisian and Ilham Aliyev, could both sides to exercise restraint. Armenia in Vienna on November 19, be held as early as August 8-9 in the Similarly, representatives from Justice Minister 2013,” the EU said in its statement. southern Russian resort of Sochi. France and the UK also expressed hope Lavrov said that Moscow is taking sig - Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, the for cooler heads to prevail. YEREVAN (Hetq) — Armenian Prime Minister Hovik nificant efforts together with its Personal Representative of the OSCE “France is concerned about the Abrahamyan this week appointed Artyom American and French co-chairs “to help Chairperson-in-office also urged cau - increase of bloody incidents on the Geghamyan to the post of deputy justice minister. resolve problems that prevent us from tion. Nagorno-Karabagh line of contact and From 2008 to 2011, Geghamyan headed the min- signing an agreement on the common On August 4, Defense Minister the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border, istry’s liaison division to the European Court of principles of a resolution.” Seyran Ohanyan and US Ambassador which caused numerous deaths in the Human Rights.