THE ARMENIAN MIRRORc SPECTATOR Since 1932 Volume LXXXXI, NO. 40, Issue 4682 APRIL 24, 2021 $2.00 Vartan Gregorian, Savior of the NEVER AGAIN 1915-2021 New York Public Library, Dies at 87 By Robert D. McFadden NEW YORK (New York Times) — Vartan Gregorian, the ebullient Arme- nian immigrant who climbed to pin- nacles of academic and philanthropic achievement but took a detour in the 1980s to restore a fading New York Public Library to its place at the heart of American intellectual life, died on Thursday, April 16, in Manhattan. He was 87. The death, at a hospital, was con- On Saturday April 24, 2021 Armenians from throughout New England and beyond firmed by his son, Dareh Gregorian. will gather at the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common and march to the Armenian No cause was given. Genocide Monument at the Armenian Heritage Park on the Rose Kennedy Greenway see GREGORIAN, page 6 for a program to commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. (Story on page 8) Karabakh Official Fired After Criticizing Armenian Authorities US Catholic Bishops Issue Statement On the Armenian Genocide Israel Charny Looks Back on STEPANAKERT (RFE/RL) — A senior Nagorno-Karabakh official was WASHINGTON — This week, the US Conference The Momentous Conference sacked on Monday, April 19, hours of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a strong state- after criticizing Armenian authorities’ ment in anticipation of Armenian Genocide Remem- efforts to secure the release of Arme- brance Day on April 24. That Almost Wasn’t nian soldiers and civilians remaining In the document dated By Alin K. Gregorian JERUSALEM — Prof. Israel Charny, a long- in Azerbaijani captivity. April 19, 2021, Bishop Da- Mirror-Spectator Staff time champion of recognition of the Armenian Boris Avagyan, a deputy chief of vid J. Malloy, chair of the Genocide, is looking back at the uphill battle he Karabakh’s State Emergencies Ser- USCCB’s Committee on has waged in his country for the recognition of that genocide, the cost to him vice, effectively blamed pro-gov- International Justice and personally and professionally, and why he keeps on doing what he does. ernment members of Armenia’s par- Peace, highlighted the trag- In a recent interview from his liament for Azerbaijan continuing ic loss of Armenians in the home, Charny, 90, spoke with enthu- refusal to free them when he spoke at first genocide of the 20th siasm about his new book, titled Isra- a public discussion organized in Yere- century, echoing the spirit el’s Failed Response to the Armenian van by other lawmakers. of concern and solidarity Genocide: Denial, State Deception, Avagyan also said he does not know the Catholic Church has held Truth Versus Politicization of History Bp. Malloy of the which officials represent Armenia in with the Armenian Church. and his reasons for writing it. US Catholic Bishops negotiations on the fate of more than The statement builds on that The book (see accompanying re- Conference 100 Armenian prisoners believed to history, which includes the view with continuation of story) de- be held by Baku. November 2000 joint state- tails the efforts by the Israeli govern- “If you, deputies of Armenia’s Na- ment of Pope John Paul II and Karekin II, Supreme ment to thwart the first International tional Assembly, do not know that Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and the Conference on the Holocaust and person, how can I, the holder of a state 2003 delegation of US bishops to Armenia, led by Genocide, organized by Charny, in 1982. The conference was notable for in- post in the Republic of Artsakh, know Cardinal William Keeler at the invitation of the Ca- cluding for the first-time scholars presenting papers on the Armenian Geno- that person?” he asked. tholicos. cide in a conference on the Holocaust. see FIRING, page 3 see BISHOPS, page 9 see CHARNY, page 12 TURKEY PARIS NEW YORK Last Remaining Achod “Voices of Truth” Armenian Home in Schemavonian, Puts a Human Moush May Be Torn French-Armenian Face on the Down Activist, Dies at 85 Artsakh War Page 4 Page 7 Page 5 2 SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-SPECTATOR ARMENIA NEWS from ARMENIA Armenia President: Armenian President Opposes ‘Hasty’ No Peace Is Possible Without Fair Karabakh Changes to Electoral System Settlement YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — President Ar- toral legislation must be enacted at least ers are understood to have assured Pash- YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN. men Sarkissian has refused to validate one year before an election,” Sarkissian’s inyan last month that their parties will not Net) — Armenian President Ar- major amendments to Armenia’s Electoral office said in a statement. nominate prime-ministerial candidates in men Sarkissian said this week he Code which some opposition parties say The statement also questioned the wis- the event of his tactical resignation. believes it is impossible to estab- are aimed at helping Prime Minister Nikol dom of scrapping individual races in the lish lasting peace and stability in Pashinyan win snap parliamentary elec- constituencies, arguing that Armenia still the region without achieving a fair tions expected in June. lacks an “established parliamentary politi- resolution of the Karabakh conflict. The government-backed amendments cal culture” and political parties with “clear Former Army Chief Addressing reporters after a passed by the National Assembly early this programs.” meeting with his Georgian counter- month changed the legal mechanism for At the same time Sarkissian decided not Demands Release part Salome Zourabichvili, Sark- electing the country’s next parliament. to challenge the legality of the bill in the issian stressed the importance of Armenians have until now voted for not Constitutional Courts. This means, that the Of Transcript Of resuming the peace talks within the only parties and blocs but also their indi- parliament’s pro-government speaker, Ara- OSCE Minsk Group co-chairman- vidual candidates running in nationwide rat Mirzoyan, can sign it into law later this Security Meeting ship. constituencies. In the last two general elec- month. YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Onnik Gaspa- Sarkissian said he and Zourabi- tions, parliament seats were equally dis- A senior My Step lawmaker, Hamazasp ryan, Armenia’s former top general contro- chvili discussed issues of security tributed among candidates picked through Danielyan, criticized the president’s stance versially replaced last month, demanded on and stability in the region, tak- national party lists and individual races. on Monday, April 19. April 20 the declassification of some secu- ing into account the reality after The amendments backed only by law- “A quick validation of this very concrete rity documents in response to fresh gov- Azerbaijan, with Turkey’s support, makers representing Pashinyan’s My Step change would have allowed us to carry out ernment allegations that he lied about last launched a war against Artsakh bloc mean that the forthcoming elections the electoral reform ahead of the elections year’s war in Nagorno-Karabakh. (Karabakh). Sarkissian said he has will held only on a party list basis. with fewer shocks,” Danielyan told RFE/ Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan again also detailed his Georgian counter- One of the two parliamentary opposition RL’s Armenian Service. “Unfortunately, attacked Gasparyan when he spoke in the part on issues of preserving Arme- parties, Bright Armenia (LHK), denounced the president opted for a different path for Armenian parliament last week. nian cultural heritage in territories the changes to the electoral system as par- some reason.” Pashinyan denied Gasparyan’s Novem- that have gone under Azerbaijan’s tisan gerrymandering. The other opposition Pashinyan effectively reaffirmed plans to ber 17 claim that three days after the Sep- control. force, Prosperous Armenia (BHK), did not hold the snap elections in late June when publicly back or oppose them. he visited Armenia’s southeastern Vayots tember 27 outbreak of the war he warned Sarkissian announced over the weekend Dzor province on Saturday. Pashinyan that Armenia and Karabakh are Large Number of that he will not sign the controversial bill Under the Armenian constitution, such heading for de- Armenian Migrants into law, saying that it was passed hastily polls will have to be held within two feat and that the and without proper debate. months if the prime minister resigns and fighting must be To Be Affected by New “The Venice Commission [of the Coun- the National Assembly twice fails to elect stopped as soon Russian Immigration cil of Europe] believes that changes to elec- another premier. The BHK and LHK lead- as possible. Pash- inyan insisted that Regulation Gasparyan made MOSCOW (Panorama.am) — a statement to the Russia has asked migrants from CAUCASIAN HERITAGE WATCH: contrary at a Sep- post-Soviet states living there ille- tember 30 meet- gally to leave the country by June Gen. Onnik ing of his Security 15, the state-run RIA Novosti news Azerbaijan Accumulated Heavy Gasparyan Council. agency reported Friday, April 16. The Security In mid-December, President Council released, Vladimir Putin extended the resi- Equipment at Armenian Church meanwhile, some excerpts from Gaspary- dence status of foreign citizens liv- an’s remarks made at that meeting. It went ing in Russia until June 15, 2021, In Aghdam on to publicize on April 20 a short audio due to the coronavirus pandemic. Caucasian Heritage Watch has voiced alarm about threats to Armenian church of those remarks in which the general can This covered migrants from Com- of Vankasar, in Aghdam, Nagorno Karabakh. The organization has shared on its be heard saying that Armenian forces are monwealth of Independent States Twitter satellite imagery showing Azerbaijani probable heavy equipment near the successfully repelling Azerbaijan’s of- (CIS) countries living in Russia church. fensive military operations in and around without proper documentation. “Caucasian Heritage Watch reports possible threat to Karabakh.