THE ARMENIAN MIRRORc SPECTATOR Since 1932 Volume LXXXXI, NO. 46, Issue 4688 JUNE 5, 2021 $2.00 Michigan’s AGBU Manoogian School Graduates Record- Breaking Senior Class By Harry Kezelian SOUTHFIELD, MI Mirror-Spectator Staff — Since its founding by benefactors Alex and Marie Manoogian in 1969, the AGBU Alex and Ma- rie Manoogian School has been one of the premier Armenian educational establishments in the United States. The only Armenian day school outside of California which goes up to 12th grade, the school has been a pillar of the Armenian culture and heri- tage in the Detroit area. In 1995, the school succeeded in transitioning see GRADUATES, page 9 Super Seniors” board showing all the colleges where students have been accepted Armenian Foreign Minister Explains Resignation Pashinyan Proposes Moving Armenian, YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenian diplo- mats must not implement policies jeopardizing Azeri Forces to Initial Border Positions Armenia’s sovereignty and national security, outgoing Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan said YEREVAN (TASS) — Acting Arme- multaneously. We propose that the armed The situation on the Armenian-Azer- on Monday, May 31, commenting on his deci- nian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan forces return to their initial positions and baijani border in the area of the Ge- sion to resign. came up with a proposal on May 27 for international observers from the Russian gharkunik and Syunik border regions has The decision was announced last Thursday Armenian and Azerbaijani troops to move Federation or [the countries of] the OSCE remained tense since May 12. The Azer- just hours after an emergency meeting of the to their initial positions on the border and Minsk Group co-chairs be deployed there baijani Defense Ministry reported earlier country’s Security Council which discussed that observers from Russia or the Orga- instead. This relates to the Sotk-Khozna- on Thursday that six Armenian service- mounting tensions on the Armenian-Azerbai- nization for Security and Cooperation in var section [in the Gegharkunik Prov- men were captured during an attempt by jani border. Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group states be ince],” he said. reconnaissance and subversive group to Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Ni- deployed in the area. Following this move, the Arme- cross into Azeri territory. kol Pashinyan called for the deployment of in- The acting prime minister outlined a nian-Azerbaijani border should be drawn Armenia’s Defense Ministry confirmed plan for peacefully settling the border sit- up under the aegis of the international that the Armenian servicemen had been uation in a speech that was broadcast on community, Pashinyan said. captured but noted that they had been tak- the politician’s Facebook page. “This is the official proposal to Azer- en prisoner during the engineering works “On behalf of the Armenian public, I baijan, Russia, and other countries that in the border area of the Gegharkunik offer to the Azerbaijani government to are co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. Province of Armenia. Pashinyan called agree that the armed forces of both coun- If we fail to go along this route, the situ- the incident an abduction of Armenian ser- tries withdraw from the border area by ation may get out of control,” Pashinyan vicemen. Yerevan applied to the European several kilometers very quickly and si- cautioned. Court of Human Rights over the incident. Janjigian Delves into Wine, Women, Former Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan ternational observers along contested portions Beat Writers and JFK in San Francisco of the frontier where Armenian and Azerbaijani By Alin K. Gregorian WASHINGTON — Author Ken Janjigian puts troops have been facing off against each other Mirror-Spectator Staff a lot of himself into his work. In fact, in his lat- for almost three weeks. Some opposition fig- est novel, A Cerebral Of- ures and other critics of Pashinyan denounced fer (Livingston Press, University of West Alabama, the proposal, accusing him of failing to defend 2020), he combines several of his interests: San Fran- the country against foreign aggression. cisco, old bookstores, the Beat writers and even the Ayvazyan made his first public comments on fear of bridges. his resignation at a farewell meeting with the In a recent interview from his home in the Washing- Armenian Foreign Ministry staff. ton suburbs, Janjigian spoke about some of the topics “The reason for my decision to resign was close to his heart and his methods for writing. to make sure that there are never any suspi- “It is a love affair between Harry and the city and I cions that this ministry could take some steps guess off that, the changes that have happened in San or agree to some ideas, initiatives going against Francisco since the turn of the century,” Janjigian ex- Ken Janjigian our statehood and national interests,” he said in plained. a speech greeted with rapturous applause. He added, “With this book, one thing I decided to do was to pour in the “In general, diplomats are perceived as things I am most passionate about. Wine, Kerouac, San Francisco, the JFK conformist and adaptable individuals keen conspiracy. Let me put all these things in there.” to avoid conflicts,” he said. “I believe that in see JANJIGIAN, page 14 see RESIGNATION, page 3 YEREVAN GLENDALE COMMENTARY ‘I Believe Our Learning Mission Armenia’s Place in the Art and Culture Retools Artsakh New Political Order of Will Save Us’ War Veterans for The Caucasus IT Work Page 2 Page 6 Page 17 2 Saturday, JUNE 5, 2021 ARMENIAN MIRROR-Spectator ARMENIA NEWS from ARMENIA Kocharyan: Armenia’s Prime Minister Should Not Ara Have So Much Power YEREVAN (Panorama.am) — Former President Robert Ko- charyan, the leader of the Armenia Asaturyan bloc running in the upcoming snap parliamentary elections, deplored the parliamentary system of gov- ‘I Believe Our Art and Culture ernment as an ineffective model for Armenia in an interview to the Will Save Us’ Russian RBC TV channel on May 29. By Artsvi Bakhchinyan “I have also publicly spoken out Special to the Mirror-Spectator against the current Constitution. I do not think that the parliamentary YEREVAN — One of my few polymath friends in Yerevan is system of government is an effec- Ara Asaturyan, whom we used to call Arik. A specialist in En- tive model for Armenia,” he told glish, who worked as a translator, he is also a professional pianist, RBC’s Ilya Doronov. who left aside those two professions and followed his true voca- The ex-president touched upon tion – dance, choreography and performing. the most pressing issues of Arme- Asaturyan was born in 1976 in Yerevan, studied at the Yere- nia’s domestic, foreign policies and van Brusov State Linguistic University, Yerevan Komitas State geopolitics during the interview. Conservatory and Yerevan State Institute of Cinematography and Kocharyan underlined that no pres- Theater. In 2011, he took a postgraduate course at the Choreogra- ident of Armenia has had as much phy Department of the St. Petersburg Conservatory. authority as the current head of Since 2005, he has been active in the Yerevan dance scene, government under the constitution. staging a number of big and small performances: “Beyond the “This is inadmissible. In a coun- Virtual World” (Best Performance award of Gisaneh Youth try where the party system is not Theater Festival), “Charents” (music by Grigor Hakhinyan), established, the parties do not have “Dreams about the Homeland” (inspired by folk songs performed sufficient high rating to assume a acapella by Parik Nazarian), “Know That I’m Still Alive” (cho- dominant role in the parliament, it reographic phantasy to the music of Michael Nyman and poems is inappropriate to talk about a par- by Petros Duryan), “Hayrenner” (choreographic phantasy to the liamentary system of government. I music of France-based Armenian composer Lilit Daniyelyan and believe it was a wrong step. I think poems by great Nahapet Kuchak), “Death and the Maiden” (mu- sic by Ludovico Einaudi), “Where, O Death, Is Your Victory?” we need to take half a step or one you are much better in music and languages, so, we don’t want to (co-produced with stage director Grigor Khachatryan), “Hours step back. The prime minister of sacrifice your genuine talents for the dubious future of a corps de of Vision” (produced in cooperation with three other Armenian Armenia should not have so many ballet dancer.” They were both right and wrong. They were right choreographers), “Five Letters” (a ballet made for the Yerevan powers,” said Kocharyan, empha- because even though I haven’t become an outstanding musician National Opera and Ballet Theatre). sizing that no counterbalancing or a high-class interpreter, I have learned and experienced much Ara Asaturyan has staged dances for operas, including “Artsv- mechanisms are in place. The for- more as a personality than I would have learned were I in dance aberd” (Eagles’ Fortress) by Andrey Babaev and “Ring of Fire” mer president stressed the need to only. But they were also wrong because you can’t escape your by Avet Terteryan (both performed in open air in Shushi), “Car- revise the system, adding the issue destiny — sooner or later you will go back to your path. In my men” by Georges Bizet as well as for Astor Piazzolla’s “Maria de should be discussed with other po- case, that happened a bit late, but I don’t mind. While I was a Buenos Aires” tango operetta. litical forces. child, I was really angry with my parents for what they did to me, Together with Grigor Khachatryan and Arman Julhakyan, he but now I am grateful because after so many years I am in dance co-produced a number of ballets – “Hokis” (My Soul), “Amen,” again but with much bigger knowledge and experience — some- Yerevan Keeps Pushing “We Promise” (based on Terry George’s “The Promise”), “The thing one really needs to be a good choreographer.