MARCH 9, 2019 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXIX, NO. 33, Issue 4577 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF Government Expected LA Superior Court Rules in Favor of TCA of US and To Lay off up to 30 Canada, Granting Motion to Dismiss Erroneous Claims Percent of Workers YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The government of LOS ANGELES — A group of Armenians, composed of Petros and Karine Taglyan and two other Armenia is planning to cut jobs at provincial govern- couples, wrongly accused the Central Board of the Tekeyan Cultural Association of the United States ments to make administration more optimal and effec- and Canada (TCA) of various misdeeds in connection with the closing of the TCA Arshag Dickranian tive, Minister of Territorial Administration and School in Hollywood in 2015. They made substantial financial demands for compensation in con- Development Suren Papikyan told reporters. nection with their erroneous claims. “We have carried out studies and found out that On March 1, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Dalila Corral Lyons granted Tekeyan Cultural 40 percent of staffers at provincial governments are Association’s motion to dismiss the complaint of Petros Taglyan and Karine Taglyan and the others, basically doing nothing. An average 30 percent of ruling that the complaint failed to allege any legal wrongdoing by the TCA. cuts will take place,” he said. He elaborated that for instance in the Aragatsotn Province they might lay off only 28 percent of staffers, (PHOTO COURTESY AURORA HUMANITARIAN INITIATIVE) thus the number of staffers at the provincial govern- ment will be reduced from 121 to 87. He said the goal Pashinyan is solely to have more efficient governance. “Experts who are professionals in their sectors should have the chance to work in the state admin- Visits Iran istration system, and not those who at some point in time had a friend or relative,” he said, referring to cronyism practices. For High- Papikyan said they will soon submit a bill to par- liament that will include the cuts in the staffs. Level Talks Dutch Parliament Recognizes 1915 Receives Warm Welcome Armenian Genocide From Local Armenian THE HAGUE (Reuters) — The Dutch parliament Community on Thursday, February 21, passed a motion recog- TEHRAN (Armenpress) — Armenian nizing as genocide the massacre of as many as 1.5 Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited million Armenians in 1915, although the govern- Iran on February 27 and 28, where he Dr. Tom Catena receiving the Aurora Prize in Yerevan, May 2017 ment said it would not become official policy of the met with high officials and Armenian- Netherlands. Iranians. Iranian President Hassan Dr. Tom Catena Brings Inspiration from Nuba The motion, which was opposed by just three law- Rouhani met at the Saadabad Royal makers out of 150, risks further straining relations Palace in Tehran. Mountains to Aurora’s Global Mission between The Hague and Ankara, which have been Rouhani thanked Pashinyan for accept- tense since the Dutch barred a Turkish minister ing the invitation and visiting Iran. BOSTON — If you see him on the street in Boston, 54-year-old Thomas Catena from campaigning in the Netherlands last year. “Welcome to Iran. I congratulate you on may not seem different from any other guy. But Dr. Tom Catena is no ordinary Turkey’s foreign ministry strongly condemned the changes that took place in Armenia person. He was chosen by Time magazine in the Dutch parliament’s approval of the motion and that were demonstrated through a demo- 2015 as one of the 100 most influential people noted the Dutch government’s response to it. cratic way. Our historic relations have By Aram Arkun in the world. He has exerted extraordinary “The government will not follow the judgment of the parliament,” Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag told always been friendly and we want to fur- Mirror-Spectator Staff efforts to provide medical assistance to people ther strengthen and develop them. Iran is in need in Africa and is an inspiring role model Dutch television before the vote. always willing to have good relations and for those who wish to do humanitarian work. In She urged “utmost caution when applying the continue these relations with neighbors, December 2018, he was named as chairman of the Aurora Humanitarian term ‘genocide’ to past events.” namely with Armenia. I am sure that your Initiative. As such, he had come to Boston as part of an outreach tour at the end “This cabinet wants to be very careful about rela- of January 2019, with several university talks and meetings. tions with Turkey, which have been better,” she said. Catena grew up in Amsterdam, a town in upstate New York, as the fifth of seven Relations between the two countries, both mem- siblings. After graduating Brown University, he went to medical school at Duke bers of NATO, plunged last year when the University on a US Navy scholarship. After his internship he served for four years Netherlands deported a Turkish minister who had as a flight surgeon for the Navy. Although he did his military service to finance come to campaign among the Dutch Turkish his education, he ended up liking the sense of purpose and community and if he minority for a constitutional referendum in Turkey. see CATENA, page 8 A second motion passed on Thursday calls for a high-level Dutch government official to attend Armenia’s formal genocide remembrance day on April 24. In the past, the Dutch ambassador has attended. Kaag said the government would consider how TCA of Greater New York Marks Its 50th best to represent the Netherlands. Anniversary with Valentine’s Day Dinner-Dance Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan with INSIDE President Hassan Rouhani By Aram Arkun Special to the Mirror-Spectator visit to Iran will contribute to further developing the bilateral political, econom- LODI, N.J. — The Tekeyan Cultural Genocide ic and humanitarian relations,” Rouhani Association (TCA) of Greater New York, said. under the auspices of the TCA Board of Pashinyan thanked the Iranian presi- Directors of the United States and Canada, Survivor Dies dent for the invitation and the warm celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its reception, and said: “Iran is close to our chapter through a Valentine’s dinner-dance Page 6 country not only in terms of geography, on February 9 featuring international but also friendly relations, and we’ve had Armenian superstar André and DJ Shant numerous occasions to emphasize the (Babikian). The event was held in the ele- importance of these ties. Highly impor- gant banquet hall of the Elan events and INDEX tant changes are taking place in Armenia, wedding center. Arts and Living . 12 which are entirely domestic processes, At the start of the formal program, Armenia . 2 and no foreign power has been involved guests were welcomed by TCA Greater New Community News. 5 in our country’s political processes. This York chapter Vice Chair Vartan Ilanjian, Editorial . 17 International . 3,4 is a principled point for understanding who introduced the chapter’s chair, Hilda the processes that have taken place. I am Hartounian. Hartounian recognized the The 50th anniversary cake see IRAN, page 4 see ANNIVERSARY, page 10 2 S ATURDAY, M ARCH 9 , 2 0 1 9 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia EU Vows Stronger Support For New US Ambassador Arrives in Yerevan ‘Reform Process’ in Armenia YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The new ambassador of the United States to Armenia, Lynne Tracy, has BRUSSELS (RFE/RL) — The European Union will help us move for- fully implement this reform agenda.” arrived in Armenia and is fulfilling her duties, the European Union welcomes the ward in a more resolute and decisive “I don’t think that there are contra- embassy announced on Facebook. Armenian government’s ambitious way,” he told members of the European dictions between our relationships with “Ambassador Lynne Tracy started her work at US reform agenda and is ready to support it Parliament. “The wider the scope of the the European Union and Russia,” he Embassy Yerevan today! Welcome Madam with greater aid, European Council assistance, the faster and smoother the told members of the European Ambassador,” the embassy said, posting photos of President Donald Tusk said after meet- pace of our reforms will be.” Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Deputy Chief of Mission Rafik Mansour welcoming ing with Prime Minister Nikol Speaking after his talks with Tusk, Affairs. “In these two relationships we Tracy at the embassy in Yerevan. Pashinyan in Brussels on Tuesday, the Armenian leader said: Tracy was sworn in as US Ambassador to the March 5. “I highly appreciate the Republic of Armenia on February 19. She is a career “I admire your resolve to bring about European Union’s techni- member of the Senior Foreign Service. Most recent- democratic reforms and economic devel- cal and financial support ly, she served as Senior Advisor for Russia Affairs in opment which will benefit all to our government’s the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the Armenians,” Tusk told Pashinyan at a reform agenda.” He US Department of State. She was Deputy Chief of joint news briefing. “The EU will con- stressed the importance Mission at the US Embassy in Moscow, Russia, 2014- tinue to support Armenia’s journey of new EU “initiatives 2017. towards becoming a consolidated aimed at supporting our democracy and creating a better eco- efforts to develop institu- nomic future for its citizens.” tions and reinforcing our Armenian Women Win “The EU is ready to further support democratic achieve- First Round of FIDE your reform process with enhanced ments.” technical and financial assistance,” he “I am glad that our Team Championship said.