APRIL 9, 2016 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVI, NO. 38, Issue 4432 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF ADL Eastern Pres. Sargisian Committee of US and Thrills Boston Canada Urges Obama To Condemn Azeri Visits with Governor, Aggression Heritage Park, Universities WATERTOWN — The ADL District Committee con- demns the terrorist acts of Azerbaijan in 3 different By Alin K. Gregorian directions against the peaceful population of the Republic of Karabagh (Artsakh), and urge President Mirror-Spectator Staff Obama to condemn this latest act of aggression. While in Washington as WATERTOWN — President Serge guests attending the Nuclear Sargisian, accompanied by several minis- Security Summit, the presi- ters and advi- (ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY PHOTO) dents of Turkey and sors, paid a Azerbaijan appeared jovial four-day visit to while their forces were start- Massachusetts ing to carry out their planned starting March terrorist act on April 1 at 3 p.m., Washington time. 28, where he At the State House, President Serge Sargisian, with Gov. Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh (Jirair Hovsepian Photo) We give solace to the families of Armenian soldiers strengthened and civilians, including one child, and pray for the his country’s souls of the departed and wish speedy recovery for ties with the the injured countrymen and women and children. local Armenian of St. James Armenian Church here for a community meeting with We praise the defense ministry of Artsakh and community as visiting Armenian President Serge Sargisian and his delegation. her valiant border guards and volunteers who not well as stressed The program, much like the four-day activities before and after, only defended the homeland but repelled and killed the natural ties were marked by unity throughout the various segments of the and wounded more than 200 Azeri terrorists, who between his community and a calling for the protection and prosperity of President Serge Sargisian lay flowers at a downed 2 MI 24 helicopters, a tank and a drone. country’s eager- Armenia. memorial to the Armenian Genocide outside St. We express our solidarity with Presidents Serge to-learn and “God Bless Serge Sargisian to protect Armenia and Karabagh,” James Armenian Church. Sargisian and Bako Sahakian and the whole popu- bright popula- said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian. lation of Artsakh. Most of all, we urge the United tion and the Barsamian praised the country of Armenia for celebrating its Nations Security Council to condemn this latest act world-class universities and high-tech innovation. 25th birthday. of terrorism perpetuated by Recep Tayyip Erdogan On the night of March 30, about 500 people gathered at the hall see VISIT, page 7 and Ilham Aliyev. —ADL Eastern Committee of US and Canada Prayer Service for the Panama Armenian Homeland And Her Defenders Papers ECHMIADZIN — On April 4, under the leader- ship of Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, a joint Prayer Service for the Homeland and her defenders was offered at How Family That Runs the St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Cathedral Azerbaijan Built an Empire of Yerevan. Of Hidden Wealth The service were attended by Serge Sargisian, President of the Republic of Armenia; Primates of the Armenian Church, Bishops from the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, members of the By Will Fitzgibbon, Miranda Brotherhood of Holy Echmiadzin, as well as thou- Patrucic and Marcos García Rey sands of Armenian faithful. At the entrance of the Cathedral, during the At the military cemetery Yerablur, President Serge Sargisian participated in the funeral services for Private Sasoun Mkrtian – a contract serviceman, scout-gunner who was BAKU (Irish Times) — On October 31, singing of the hymn Hrashapar, the ecclesiastical killed during military actions at the Nagorno Karabagh contact line. The funeral ser- 2003, Ilham Aliyev, the newly elected procession, which also included members of the vice was held with military honors. He said, “Dear Sasoun, rest assured that we will president ofAzerbaijan, stood behind a military, led the Armenian Pontiff to the Holy Altar carry on with your and your friends sacred mission. Rest in peace, Soldier of podium and a profusion of white flowers of the cathedral. During the procession, the faith- Fatherland.” to address presidents, prime ministers ful burst into applause for the homeland defenders and 2,000 other guests assembled at the who were in the procession. Respublika Palace. First touching the constitution and then the Koran, Aliyev Intense Clashes swore to serve his people. That night, fireworks lit up the sky of the Azeri cap- ital, Baku. INSIDE Aliyev’s election to lead this energy- Erupt in Karabagh rich former Soviet republic bordering both Russia and Iran had been all but guaranteed. His ailing father, Heydar, an President STEPANAKERT (vari- fire by Azerbaijani ex-KGB officer, had served in the same ous media sources) — Tentative Ceasefire artillery, leading to fire role for the previous 10 years. Election According to officials from returned by its own monitors reported that police had beat- Coverage Armenia and the Republic Accepted on April 5 forces. en and detained political opponents, in of Mountainous Karabagh, Since the signing of line with the country’s reputation for Pages 7-13 Azerbaijan launched a broad offensive on a ceasefire in 1994, years of negotiations repression. April 1, prompting a counterattack. At least primarily under the leadership of the Becoming president wasn’t Aliyev’s 50 people have died in heavy fighting. Organization for Security and only ascension during 2003. Using a net- After an abortive ceasefire unilaterally Cooperation in Europe’s Minsk Group work of secretive companies in offshore INDEX declared by Azerbaijan on April 3, a new have failed to reach a lasting political tax havens, his family, advisers and allies Arts and Living . 14 ceasefire was declared at noon on April 5 settlement. Sporadic fighting continued, set about acquiring expensive overseas Armenia . 2 by officials from both Azerbaijan and with the intensity of clashes escalating homes and positions in the country’s Community News. 4 Editorial . 18 Karabagh. News reports from the front in recent years. valuable industries and natural International . 3 lines state that the fighting had died down The recent fighting included the use see PANAMA, page 3 in general, yet the Karabagh government of tanks, helicopters, heavy artillery, has claimed several violations of the cease- see ATTACKS, page 2 2 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 9 , 2 0 1 6 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Intense Clashes Erupt in Karabagh ATTACKS, from page 1 our settlements.” The town is home to stressed that Turkey would stand by rocket systems and drones. Colonel about 50,000 people. The Karabagh Azerbaijan. He declared in parliament Facebook and Twitter Viktor Arustamyan, a deputy chief of forces promised a “crushing response” that “the whole world needs to know Ignite for Peace the Karabagh military headquarters, if that threat were to be carried out. that Turkey will stand shoulder-to-shoul- told Reuters that the recent fighting The representatives of the Minsk der with Azerbaijan against Armenian YEREVA (ArmeniaNow) — Famous Armenians and “was the most serious aggravation of Group countries issued a statement on agression and occupation until the end individuals supporting Armenians across the globe the situation since the 1994 ceasefire.” April 5, saying, in part, they “strongly of time.” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut have been expressing their concern these days over The first day of fighting was the blood- condemn the outbreak of unprecedent- Cavusoglu on the same day called for a the deadly fighting in Nagorno-Karabagh, sharing iest, with Azerbaijan reporting 12 sol- ed violence along the Line of Contact. peaceful resolution to the conflict which their prayers and condemning Azerbaijan for diers killed and Karabagh officials … We urge the sides to cease using would maintain Azerbaijan’s territorial unleashing a new war. reporting 18 dead. A 12-year-old boy force immediately. There is no military integrity. Earlier, Russia’s foreign minis- Serj Tankian, an Armenian-American rock star, was also reported killed during the solution to the conflict.” ter had said Ankara’s support for Baku has blamed Turkey’s leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan fighting. On April 5, Azerbaijan said French, American and Russian offi- was one-sided. for backing Azerbaijan in its aggression against that 16 soldiers had been killed in the cials, leaders of the Minsk Group, were Hetq Chief Editor Edik Armenians in Nagorno-Karabagh. last two days of fighting before the preparing a series of high-level visits to Baghdasaryan stated on April 5 that “I guess Erdogan doesn’t read history. Nagorno- ceasefire was announced. Karabagh Azerbaijan, Karabagh and Armenia to various Karabagh Defense Ministry rep- Karabakh’s rightful historical owners are Armenians. officials said 29 of their soldiers had work for a more stable peace. Russian resentatives confirmed the presence of [Bolshevik leader Joseph] Stalin gave it to been killed since the fighting started, president Vladimir Putin spoke with armed combatants from Turkey fight- Azerbaijan,” Tankian commented on his Facebook and another 101 wounded. Both sides Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev ing alongside Azerbaijani soldiers. account reacting to the Turkish leader’s statement have claimed to have killed hundreds of and Armenian President Serge “They suffered the most losses and they that Karabagh will return to Azerbaijan one day. opposing soldiers, while reporting loss- Sargisian during the evening of April 5, started the panicked retreat,” said More than 8,000 people liked the post and 1,700 es of their own in the dozens. urging a full cessation of hostilities and Baghdasaryan. shared Tankian’s concern. According to Armenian sources, on compliance with the ceasefire regime, While Azerbaijani ambassador to the “Eastern Turkey will one day return to its rightful April 1 and throughout the morning of according to a Kremlin statement.