Turkish AuthoritiesLaunch Probe against

HDP MP Baydemir ISTANBUL (Armenpress) — Authorities in

Ankara launched an investigation against OsmanBaydemir, a politician known for recognizing theArmenian Genocide. Baydemir is a member of theKurdish-majority HDP party in the NationalAssembly.

The reason for the probe was an online postmade by Baydemir regarding military operations ofTurkey in Afrin, Diken reports.

Baydemir said on social media: “Afrin is beingbombarded in order not to allow the Kurdish peo-ple to have a status.”

During a parliamentary session, he displayedphotos of Kurdish children who were killed asresult of the operations, and asked: “What’s theirfault? Only being Kurds?”

The prosecution said in a statement thatBaydemir has called the Turkish forces “occupiers,”“insulted the supporters of the operations,” “calledon NATO to intervene in Turkey’s operations,”“urged the people to take the streets.” The investi-gation was launched on articles including incitinghatred and animosity and insulting the Turkishnation, state system and the Republic of Turkey.

In 2014, Baydemir visited the Genocide memori-al in Armenia.

BBC Presents ReportOn Werfel’s Forty Days

of Musa DaghLONDON (Armenpress) — BBC Radio 3 has pre-

pared a nearly 50-minute report on Franz Werfel’sThe Forty Days of Musa Dagh, published in 1933.

The story is about a guerilla army of Armenianvillagers holding out against overwhelming Turkishforces on the mountain of Musa Dagh in 1915,before evacuation by French forces.

BBC Reporter Maria Margaronis notes thatGermany, a former ally of the Ottoman Empire,rejected any guilt by association for the ArmenianGenocide, but the assassination of Talaat Bey, for-mer Ottoman Minister of the Interior and the keyarchitect of the Armenian extermination, who wasgunned down in Berlin in 1921, caused a furor.

The subsequent trial became a major mediaevent.

Werfel, already a noted poet and author, touredthe Middle East in 1929 with his new wife, AlmaMahler, where he encountered Armenian refugeechildren. Their plight was the spark for his work.For both Werfel and its many readers The FortyDays of Musa Dagh was not just an epic tribute toArmenian resistance but a warning. Werfel’s workswere burned and banned after Anschluss and in1938 he and Alma Mahler fled to America. The pro-gram can be heard on http://www.bbc.co.uk/pro-grammes/p05wgvsy

Mirror- SpectatorMirror- SpectatorTHE ARMENIAN

Volume LXXXVIII , NO. 28, Issue 4523

FEBRUARY 3 , 2 018

$ 2.00

INSIDE

The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932NEWS IN BRIEF

Teach forArmenia

Page 3

INDEXArts and Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Armenia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,3Community News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 4,5

Germany Appoints HonoraryConsul in Gyumri

BERLIN — Gyumri has goodreason to celebrate. One of itsmost prominent sons has beenchosen as the honorary consul ofGermany and this will bring rela-

tions between the two countries, on the political,economic and cultural level to new levels.

The official ceremony took place on January26, when the Ambassador of the FederalRepublic of Germany Matthias Kiesler intro-duced the newly appointed honorary consul,Alexan Ter-Minasyan, to a large group of well-wishers. Handing him the Consular License ofthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he announcedthe launch of the consulate in Gyumri.

In his remarks, the ambassador said, “InGyumri, there is already an Honorary Consulfrom Italy and for a long time there was a neces-sity that we had our permanent representative in

see CONSUL, page 5Alexan Ter-Minasyan

By Muriel Mirak-WeissbachSpecial to the Mirror-Spectator

Congressmen Call on USSecretary of Treasury toRenegotiate Double-TaxTreaty with Armenia

WASHINGTON — US Representatives DavidValadao (R-CA) and Brad Sherman (D-CA) are col-lecting signatures on a bipartisan letter urgingtheir Congressional colleagues to request thatSecretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin rene-gotiate the existing, outdated Double Tax Treatywith Armenia, an obsolete Cold War-era accord,recognized today by the US but not Armenia, thatwas negotiated with the now defunct USSR morethan four decades ago, the Armenian NationalCommittee of America (ANCA) announced.

The Valadao-Sherman letter notes that “Theexisting Soviet-era treaty does not reflect theincreasing complexity of a globalized world andthe friendship between the American andArmenian peoples,” then calls upon SecretaryMnuchin to, “prioritize the renegotiation of thedouble tax treaty with Armenia.”

The letter also underscores that “the complexi-ties of the international tax structure should notdiscourage American and Armenian companiesfrom conducting business with each other due todouble taxation. The need for updated guidelinesthat reflect the current state of US-Armenian rela-tions and recently passed tax reform legislationcannot be understated.”

“We want to thank Representatives Valadao andSherman for spearheading Congressional out-reach to Secretary Mnuchin in support of anupdated, working US-Armenia Tax Treaty that will— by ending the threat of double taxation — breakdown a key barrier to the growth of bilateral tradeand investment,” said ANCA Government AffairsDirector Raffi Karakashian. “We join with them inencouraging their House colleagues to supportthe timely negotiation of this mutually-beneficialand long overdue accord.”

The full text of the letter follows:“Dear Secretary Mnuchin, We are writing you

with regards to the current US tax treaty with theRepublic of Armenia. The current tax treatybetween the United States and Armenia is insuffi-cient for the needs of the two countries, as it waslast negotiated with the Union of Soviet SocialistRepublics (USSR) during the Cold War in 1973.We believe the unrealized benefits of an updateddouble tax treaty between Washington andYerevan necessitate immediate negotiations,which could be based upon the frameworks oftreaties recently ratified with other nations. Infact, the Armenian Embassy has said it would be

see TAXATION, page 20

ADL Supreme CouncilPresident VartanNazerian ReceivesGratitude Medal

YEREVAN — Armenian DemocraticLiberal Party (Ramgavar) Supreme CouncilChairman Vartan Nazerian received theGratitude Medal of the Republic of Armeniafrom President Serzh Sargsyan on Sunday,January 28.

The Gratitude Medal is given out tradi-tionally on Army Day, in gratitude for sup-port shown toward the Armed Forces of theRepublic of Armenia.

Nazerian is a resident of Los Angeles.

Vartan Nazerian toasts President Serzh Sargsyan.

Vartan Nazerian receives theMedal of Gratitude fromPresident Serzh Sargsyan.

WYNNEWOOD, Penn. — Antoine S.Bazarbashian passed away peacefully in his sleepon January 23.

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, to Hester and SarkisBazarbashian, Bazarbashian came to the UnitedStates in 1960. His career as a lithographer beganshortly after he immigrated.

He was a devoted father and husband. Hisfamily was his pride and joy in life.

He was well known for his quick wit andcomedic timing.

see BAZARBASHIAN, page 8

Former TCA Central CommitteeMember Antoine Bazarbashian Dies

Speaker Meets WithSlovak Counterpart

YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Speaker of ParliamentAra Babloyan and his delegation met with AndrejDanko, Speaker of the Slovakian Parliament onJanuary 29 in Bratislava. The delegation included Vice Speaker Eduard

Sharmazanov, MP Marina Margaryan, MP AramSargsyan and MP Armenuhi Kyureghyan, theParliament’s press service said. During the meeting Babloyan spoke on the occa-

sion of the 25th anniversary of establishing diplo-matic ties between Armenia and Slovakia, and men-tioned that during these years the countries formedwarm partnership, based on cooperation and politicaldialogue in different areas. “In 2018 Slovakia marks the 100th anniversary of

the first Czechoslovak Republic. I congratulate youon this significant anniversary and wish you welfareand happiness. It is symbolic that this year alsomarks the 100th anniversary of the first Republic ofArmenia. Our people, 1.5 million of whom fell victimto genocide in 1915, only three years later 0 in1918, found the strength to restore its statehoodwhich was destroyed for centuries,” Babloyan said. The sides also discussed issues related to further

cooperation between the two countries.

PM Meets with Heads ofCanadian and UAE

Companies in DavosDAVOS, Switzerland — In the framework of the

World Economic Forum in Davos, on January 25,Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan met with Bodur al-Qasimi, head of the Sharjah Investment andDevelopment Authority (United Arab Emirates).Karapetyan presented the process of reforms in

Armenia, aimed at improving the investment climate,and creating a more favorable business environment.He thanked Qasimi for the renovation program herfamily had implemented several years ago atHaghartsin monastic complex.In turn, Bodur al-Qasimi noted that Armenia is

viewed as an interesting market and a good platformfor entering other major markets. Bodur al-Qasimisaid she was impressed with Armenia’s cultural her-itage and was glad that her company had contributedto the rehabilitation of one of the most beautifulmonasteries in Armenia.Karapetyan’s next meeting was with John M. Beck,

founder, president and chief executive officer ofAecon Group Inc., Canada.The premier presented the reforms implemented

and the business opportunities available in Armenia,as well as a number of public-private partnership-based projects.

Armenia-USParliamentary Group

Meets with Ambassador YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Members of the

Armenia-US parliamentary friendship group led byVice Speaker of the Parliament, Head of the friend-ship group Arpine Hovhannisyan on January 30 metwith US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills, theParliament told Armenpress. The Parliament’s ViceSpeaker attached importance to the continuousdevelopment of relations with the US and furtherdeepening of the cooperation in different spheres, inthis context highlighting the role of interparliamen-tary ties and parliamentary diplomacy. Arpine Hovhannisyan praised US assistance in

democracy development, strengthening of civil soci-ety and implementation of reforms in differentspheres in Armenia. Mills presented the new US national security strat-

egy to the friendship group members. The goalsdefined by the US national security strategy directlytouch upon Armenia the ambassador said, addingthat the guarantor for continuous friendship betweenArmenia and the US. During the meeting the mem-bers of the friendship group also highlighted the sta-ble development of the Armenia-US relations and thedeepening of cooperation.

News From Armenia

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ARMENIA

YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Amid contin-uing criticism from environmentalists,a leading Armenian mining companyhas suspended production operationsat a massive copper deposit in Loriprovince, citing the need to repair itswaste disposal facilities.

The company, Vallex Group, con-firmed on Tuesday, January 30, thatsome of its 1,215 employees working atthe Teghut deposit were sent on anindefinite leave on January 12. A Vallexspokeswoman said more of them willbe told on Wednesday not to report forwork until further notice. She gave nonumbers.

In a separate written statement toRFE/RL’s Armenian service(Azatutyun.am), Vallex attributed themeasure to the need to conduct“planned prophylactic repairs.” It saidit will specifically bring “technologicalparameters” of industrial waste flowinginto a dump near the mine into confor-mity with “new standards” for environ-ment protection.

In recent months, environment pro-tection groups have repeatedly report-ed toxic leaks from the dump contami-nating a nearby river. They haveaccused Vallex of operating with disre-gard for environmental standards.

The Vallex statement dismissed thosereports as “lies,” denying any problemsat the waste dump. It also said that thesuspension of mining and ore enrich-ment at Teghut will last for “twomonths or longer.”

Some of the workers sent home saidthe company management gave themno dates for the resumption of produc-tion operations. They were worriedthat they will not be properly compen-sated for the hiatus. Some also fearedthat the mine would close and they

would lose their jobs.The Teghut operator sought to allay

those fears, saying that it is actuallyplanning to significantly increase cop-per ore extraction.

These plans met with strong resis-tance from some residents of two vil-lages close to the mining site during a

mandatory public discussion organizedby Vallex in August. The villagers saidthat higher pollution levels havealready had negative effects on theirfruit orchards.

One local farmer, Levon Alikhanian,has been locked in a court battle withVallex for nearly 10 years. “We aregoing to collect signatures and sendthem to the prime minister so that theyrevoke [the company’s mining]license,” he said. “That company gotthe license by fooling the government.”

Vallex has also faced strong opposi-tion from the Yerevan-based environ-mentalists. They argue, among otherthings, that open-pit mining at Teghut

will lead to the destruction of hundredsof hectares of rich forest.

The Liechtenstein-registered compa-ny pledged to plant a new and biggerforest in adjacent areas before launch-ing mining operations there in 2014. Italso promised to create 1,300 new jobs,build new schools and upgrade other

infrastructure in the villages.Vallex, which also owns a copper

smelter in the nearby town of Alaverdiand metal mines in Nagorno-Karabakh,defended its track record in a 5-pagereport released last week. It said itscombined operating revenue rose byabout 32 percent to $358 million lastyear thanks to increased internationalprices of copper and other non-ferrousmetals. The Teghut mine generatedover 42 percent of that revenue.

The company employing about 3,500people in Armenia and Karabakh alsoclaimed to have paid $52 million in var-ious taxes, up from $41 million in2016.

Open-pit mining at Teghut copper deposit.

Production Halted at ArmenianCopper Mine

YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Armenia’s nextprime minister, who will take office inApril, will be based in a building inYerevan that has housed President SerzhSargsyan and his staff for the past decade,under a newly publicized government bill.

The draft amendments to an Armenianlaw on “social guarantees” for the coun-try’s top state officials will be construedby some observers as a further indicationthat Sargsyan is planning to becomeprime minister after serving out his finalpresidential term on April 9. The outgoingpresident has still not clarified his politicalplans.

In line with controversial constitutionalchanges enacted by Sargsyan in 2015,Armenia will become a parliamentaryrepublic after the end of his presidency.This means that it is the prime ministerwho will be the country’s most powerfulofficial.

By contrast, the next president of therepublic will have very few executive pow-ers. Under the amendments drafted bythe Justice Ministry, he and his staff willmove into a new presidential palace indowntown Yerevan that has until nowserved as a venue for government recep-tions and intergovernmental meetings.According to Armenian newspaperreports, the Soviet-era building is current-ly undergoing hasty repairs.

The existing presidential palace wasalso occupied by former PresidentsRobert Kocharian and Levon Ter-Petrosian. The bill stipulates that it willbecome the prime minister’s headquar-ters. The latter will be allowed to have upto 600 staffers.

Armenian prime ministers have until

now been based in another building locat-ed in Yerevan’s central Republic Square.That building has also been the venue forweekly cabinet meetings. It is far moreaccessible for street protesters than thecurrent presidential palace.

Under another billawaiting governmentapproval, Armeniawill have one firstdeputy prime minis-ter and two deputyprime ministersstarting from April.The current premier,Karen Karapetyan,has only one deputy.

There is mountingmedia speculationthat Karapetyan willbe appointed firstdeputy prime minister.He has not commentedon those rumors so far.

A senior representative of the rulingRepublican Party of Armenia (HHK)expressed confidence that ArmenSarkissian, a former Armenian prime min-ister currently serving as ambassador toBritain, will agree to become the coun-try’s next president.

Sarkissian met with parliamentdeputies representing the HHK late onMonday at the start of political consulta-tions which he has said will help himdecide whether to accept the HHK nomi-nation for the presidency.

“I gathered from yesterday’s meetingthat it reinforced his [inclination to makea] positive decision,” said VahramBaghdasarian, the parliamentary leader

of the party headed by the outgoingPresident Serzh Sarkisian.

“I am convinced that Armen Sarkissianwill opt for that decision,” Baghdasariantold reporters.

Later on Monday the 64-year-old

ambassador also met with the leaders ofthe Armenian Revolutionary Federation(Dashnaktsutyun), the HHK’s junior coali-tion partner. One of them, ArmenRustamian, said afterwards thatDashnaktsutyun will endorse Sarkissian“in all likelihood” if he decides to run forpresident.

Sarkissian again declined to shed lighton his plans when he briefly spoke to jour-nalists before meeting with senior mem-bers of Armenia’s National Academy ofSciences on Tuesday, January 30.“Yesterday’s meetings were very produc-tive and interesting,” the Armenpressnews agency quoted him as saying. He didnot elaborate.

Armen Sarkissian in Armenia

Presidential Palace to Be Turned Into PM’s Office

S A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 3

ARMENIA

By Aram Arkun Mirror-Spectator Staff

YEREVAN — In the last few decades, many new non-profit pro-grams have been started in Armenia attempting to use as mod-els similar programs in the United States or the West. Teach ForArmenia is one such program which is strengthening Armenia’seducational system.

It is an educational foundation based in Armenia but part ofthe global network Teach For All. Teach For All was started inthe US as a method to use teaching for leadership, and now isused in 46 countries.

Teachers recruited from young professionals both in Armeniaand in the Armenian diaspora are placed for a minimum of twoyears in schools in rural communities. After a five-week summertraining program, they experience teaching and living in a veryunderserved school, and afterwards are expected as alumni tocontribute to Armenia’s systemic development. Essentially, thismodel emphasizes developing long-term leadership capability inthe realm of education.

Every such program has a story, and the story of Teach ForArmenia begins with Larisa Hovannisian. Hovannisian was bornin Yerevan of an Armenian mother and Irish-American fatherwho met and fell in love in Moscow. She grew up largely inMoscow, speaking Russian, but her English is practically devoidof an accent, as she always spoke it with her father and aftergraduating high school went to Wisconsin for college. She stud-ied international business with an emphasis on marketing andgraphic design and, she said, fell in love with social entrepre-neurship.

After graduating she moved to Phoenix through Teach forAmerica (TFA) and spent two years there before packing up togo to Armenia with a new idea in her head. She wanted to com-bine her love for socially driven business with her business back-ground. Hovannisian declared, “I love seeing social innovationand social good come together in one place. The main goal of theorganization [she wanted to establish] will be to serve people andmake our lives better.” She started Teach For Armenia in 2013and its first cohort of teachers began training in 2015.

An interesting and not irrelevant side story is that she marriedArmenian opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian’s son Garin inJune 2016. She says that she feels inspired that they both intheir own fields are working for their country, just as her mater-nal grandparents did a lot for the Artsakh Movement in theirown time. However, she said, “I have never been involved inArmenian politics. I keep myself apolitical. That is difficultbecause I have a direct con-nection with the opposition.Meanwhile, I am workingwith the governmentbecause of my work rightnow. I think that is what Iam supposed to do based onthe position I currently havewith Teach For Armenia.”

Hovannisian said that thescope of the problem inArmenian public schools isvast, with about 35 to 40 per-cent of the schools experi-encing teacher shortages,according to informal obser-vations. The initial goal is todemonstrate that “if greatpeople get together as teach-ers or principals then all kidscan truly unlock their poten-tial.”

Furthermore, she said,“the sole purpose of our fel-lows, through their teachingand their presence, their rolemodeling, afterschool activi-ties, community develop-ment projects, and theirentire existence in theschool, is to set each and every child on an alternative educa-tional trajectory. … We recruit and place not just smart people,but people who have what it takes to defy the odds these kidsare set up against.”

Some schools now have seen that this program works, and arehiring many TFA fellows, and TFA uses the data it is statisticallyobtaining from these schools to show the benefits of itsapproach. She said, “I hope that when we have that in place, andI hope it is not that far off, that we can work with the govt to seehow we can scale that and nationalize it and superimpose it inother regions and schools.”

Providing teachers for the many unfilled positions in a short-term solution. According to Larisa, the long-term approach issimultaneously being pursued by TFA. “We want to develop ageneration of people to enter government and change the rootof the problem so that we don’t have teacher shortages,” sheexplained. TFA cannot solve all the problems, but it can identifythem and help to contribute to solving them, she said, “through

recruiting, training and developing great teachers.” The alumniof the program in turn will launch their own initiatives andbecome the principals of the future. Larisa said, “I think thatthey are what I am really betting on.”

Hovannisian noted that one thing different about TFA thanmost diasporan programs is that it engages within the presentArmenian system and works with the Ministry of Education andother relevant government bodies. She said, “In the beginning itwas very difficult…The Ministry of Education did not reallyunderstand why we were doing what we were doing… I thinkwhat really helped was that though we did not have a precedent

in Armenia, there were precedents in 46 countries around theworld and we were looking at their track records, showing theMinistry of Education why countries that are quickly developingin the right way are prioritizing this model…so with time, it wentfrom a hard no to let us figure this out.”

When asked about the causes of the problems today inArmenia’s educational system, she responded, “The system is

what it is because of a lot of things. Armenia is apost-Soviet state. We are very under-resourced.There is an aging teaching population. It is not aprestigious profession. So many factors affecteducation today, including apathy. The stake-holders are the stakeholders and we just have towork with them and find the goodness in theirheart. It is a very long game. It will not happenovernight.” Concerning corruption, she said,“Maybe this is just the idealism in me, but eventhe most corrupt people ultimately want what isbest for kids. If you lay it out and say when youdo this this is what happens to a child…”

TFA Director of Public Affairs NarekGhazaryan (born in San Francisco) said that theschools are important not only because of theireducational roles but because they are the mostimportant centers of communities outside of indi-vidual homes. He said that the system is decen-tralized, so that students in Yerevan get a differ-ent education from those in other provinces.

TFA started with 14 fellows selected out of 200applicants and contacted school principals to seeif they would participate in the program. Today ithas 52 participating principals and partnerschools in 6 regions in Armenia (not includingArtsakh) with 5,700 students, and no longer hasto solicit open positions. The requests from theschools, according to Larisa, are backorders,which is an indication of TFA’s success. This

year’s annual budget is just under one million dollars, and willincrease next year to over one million, as almost 100 fellows willbe placed. The application process remains selective. Last year,according to Ghazaryan, of 550 people who applied only 41, lessthan ten percent, were accepted as teachers.

One of the biggest drivers of the budget is supporting the fel-lows financially. The schools at which they teach guarantee atleast one-half a work week pay from their own school budgets,but TFA chips in with a stipend since the fellows have to moveto new homes. In all, the fellows make 400 dollars a month,which covers all their expenses. TFA also pays for the online mas-ter’s degree in education the fellows work on while teaching intheir schools if they do not already have a pedagogical degree.

There are about 18 program and operational staff membersworking for TFA, and a second office has been opened inArtsakh. Each “Leadership Development Manager” coaches the15-20 fellows during the duration of their two-year fellowships.A few are from outside of Armenia, and many are from different

regions of Armenia. TFA partners with many organizations who, Hovannisian said,

“like to work with us because our fellows serve as a transparentliaison through which things can get done in an effective way.We bring an army of organizations with us when we send a fel-low to a school. Some may want to renovate a school, and canknow that someone is there to help. Some send food and clothes.This is of course a short-term solution, partnering with relief andaid organizations while hopefully developing the mindset andskills that our students need to take things into their own handsfor their own communities and lives.”

Though all theregions TFA has target-ed are socioeconomical-ly deprived, there areregions additionallywith geographical barri-ers, poor roads andinfrastructure, andissues from being locat-ed at the Armenian bor-der. For such regions,including Tavush, Lori,Gegharkunik, Armavir,Aragatsotn, Shirak andArtsakh, a pilot pro-gram was launched lastSeptember which offi-cially will be startedthis coming September.Larisa pointed out thatwhen people ask whyTFA does not place 500people now, they do notrealize that it takes a lotof time-consumingwork and decisions toensure the quality ofthe result.

Larisa is optimisticabout relations with the

government. TFA’s chief program officer now part of the maineducational council, and, Larisa said, “a main speaker in the con-versations that shape Armenia’s educational policy.Furthermore, she said, “I think there is a real desire in the primeminister’s office to make things happen, and the team he has sur-rounded himself with are young progressive entrepreneurial peo-ple, thinking of ways to make public education better inArmenia.”

The TFA teaching fellows are carefully chosen, based on data.Fifty percent are from urban cities in Armenia and 30-40 percentfrom regions where they share similar socioeconomic back-grounds with the students they are to teach. The latter group,according to data, is more effective in the classroom and able tobuild a better rapport with the children.

While the intent is to build leadership in Armenian society,there is also a small number of diasporan Armenian teaching fel-lows at present, perhaps ten percent of the total. Larisa said,“There is a growing desire for our young diasporans to engagein Armenia’s development. We just want to create the platformfor people to come and have a real way for contributing. If theydesire to have a real way to stay and work in Armenia [after-wards], then why not? Or if they return, and go back to the US,there is a lot to do there too.”

TFA has been doing more outreach in the diaspora recently.Its recruitment team annually visits Lebanon, where there is abig recruitment pool, Moscow, and the US (to California and theEast Coast). There is online recruiting and campaigning andsocial media work. TFA partners with organizations likeBirthright Armenia to get more recruits, since many of its vol-unteers want to stay in Armenia longer.

Financially, TFA has benefited from diasporan support, start-ing with Sam and Sylva Simonian, who provided seed funding.Ruben Vardanian and his wife Veronika Zonabend are importantsupporters, and Zonabend is the chair of Teach for Armenia’sboard. The Armenian General Benevolent Union has providedsupport in the past few years, and the Armenian EducationalFoundation of Los Angeles supports the cost of the online edu-cational program of the fellows.

Wendy Kopp, the founder of Teach for America, had foundedTeach For All, its international version, and she and her teamhelped TFA get through a financial crisis by arranging a grantfrom an anonymous donor to scale the organization and grow atthe proper level. Hovannisian expressed great thanks for thissupport, and stressed that this is the spirit of the internationalnetwork. TFA is not a franchise but part of the network, and dif-ferent parts of that network work together toward their commongoals on this globalized issue.

Armenia can contribute as a laboratory to this world move-ment, Larisa surmised. She said, “There are only 1,400 schools.We can fail and succeed and fail and succeed again very quickly,and see the impact. We can teach the rest of the world howthings function.”

For more information, see teachforarmenia.org.

Teach for Armenia Gives a Boost to Armenia’s Educational System

Scene from schools in Armenia where Teach for Armenia fellows are working

Larisa Hovannisian, founder of Teach forArmenia

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INTERNATIONAL

S A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8

Azerbaijan DeploysCombat Drone in NKRYEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) —

Azerbaijan employed a combat drone againstthe Armenian soldiers of the Nagorno KarabakhDefense Army units on Saturday, January 20, releas-ing a hand grenade in an ordinary mug.“Ironically, Azerbaijan which brags about its $4

billion military budget is using a home-made ‘mili-tary equipment’ in the 21st century, which were usedby the Afghan mujahideens back in the 20th centuryand were later taken up by the Islamic State fight-ers,” the Artsakh (Karabakh) Defense Army said in astatement.Karabakh armed forces have sustained no injuries

or losses as a result of Azerbaijan’s actions.

Erdogan Sues OppositionFigure Who Called for

Commemoration ofArmenian Genocide

ISTANBUL (Panorama.am) — Turkish PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdogan sues Canan Kaftancıoglu, thenewly elected Istanbul chair of the oppositionRepublican People’s Party (CHP) over an alleged“propaganda terrorism and insulting the president.”Local sources report that Erdogan demanded700,000 ($184,500) Turkish Liras in compensationfrom Kaftancıoglu over the claim that she “propa-gandized for the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party)and DHKP-C (Revolutionary People’s LiberationParty-Front)” in her tweets.Speaking at the Justice and Development Party’s

(AK Party) parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday,President Recep Tayyip, Erdogan said Kaftancıogludisrespected the Turkish nation and carried out pro-paganda in previous posts on her official Twitteraccount, which he said speak for themselves.Erdogan, in particular, refereed to the 2012 tweet byKaftancıoglu for commemorating those who losttheir lives in the Armenian Genocide. Commenting on the Twitter posts, Erdogan said,

“She disgraced our nation and history by sayingArmenian Genocide. She says that the state is not amurderer but a serial killer.”

OSCE Chair Vows toAttend to Conf licts

MOSCOW (Panorama.am) — Italy will pay greaterattention to protracted conflicts, including theUkraine crisis, Transdniestrian and NagornoKarabakh settlements during the country’sOrganization for Security and Cooperation inEurope (OSCE) Chairmanship, Angelino Alfano,OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Italy’s Minister ofForeign Affairs told in an interview with Ria NovostiAgency, outlining the priorities of the Italian 2018OSCE Chairmanship.Alfano is paying a working visit to Ukraine and

Russia on January 30-31.Alfano addressed the OSCE Permanent Council,

noting that Italy would continue to support the workof the Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Erdogan Cancels Visit toSouth America

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (Agencia PrensaArmenia) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogancanceled his official visit to Brazil, Uruguay andVenezuela scheduled for early February.The government of Turkey had planned a tour of

South America after meeting with Pope Francis atthe Vatican on February 5. In recent days, manynewspapers reported the dissatisfaction of theArmenian community in Uruguay and possibledemonstrations against the visit. The Armenian National Committee of Uruguay

explained that “the negotiations prior to this eventu-al visit showed that Uruguay continues to be a keyobjective of the denialist apparatus of the Republic ofTurkey due to the Uruguayan state policy of recogni-tion and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.”

International News

YEREVAN — PrimeMinister Karen Karapetyanreceived Ambassador of thePeople’s Republic of China tothe Republic of Armenia TianErlong on January 30.

Mindful of the need todevelop economic interac-tion between the two coun-tries, stressing that theArmenian side is keen toboost and expand coopera-tion with Chinese investors,Karapetyan noted that thetrade regimes and the busi-ness environment availablein Armenia might be con-ducive to new investmentprograms. “I am convincedthat through joint efforts wecan give fresh impetus toChinese capital’s involve-ment in Armenia’s economy,”Karapetyan said.

In turn, Erlong pointed out thatArmenia’s economic performance in 2017provides favorable conditions for furthersuccess and closer economic ties.

“We have good opportunities for thedevelopment of bilateral cooperation. The

trade turnover between our two coun-tries rose by 34.5 percent in January-November 2017 as compared to the sameperiod in 2016, which has added extramomentum to our joint efforts,” Erlongsaid, adding that the Chinese governmentis ready is to deepen and expand cooper-ation with Armenia in the direction of

specific programs.He advised that $15 million had been

allocated for the construction of aChinese school in Yerevan. Besides, theChinese government’s program toreplenish the stock of ambulance vehi-cles in Armenia will be continued thisyear.

Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan and his staff speak with Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic ofArmenia Tian Erlong and his aides

Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan and his staff

Armenia-China Hold Talks on DeepeningEconomic Relationship

ISTANBUL (Public Radio ofArmenia) — An Armenian familythat had fled the ArmenianGenocide 100 years ago and foundsecurity and stability in Afrin,Syria, were among the victims ofthe bombing of the Turkish war-planes in the center of the Rajo dis-trict, Hawar News Agency reported.

On January 24, Turkish war-planes bombed the Rajo area,killing ethnic Armenian RosherKonis, and injuring his motherShamsa Konis, 57, while his sisterHanifa Konis, 25, lost her leg.

The agency quoted HartyonKivork, a relative of the family, assaying: “Their ancestors fled theoppression of the Turkish authori-ties nearly 100 years ago as a resultof the massacres committed by theTurks against the Armenians sothat they headed towards Afrin to

live in peace among their Kurdishbrothers and all other peoples andsects living in the area.”

Hartyon Kivork added, “But theTurkish occupation army hasresumed its massacres which donot differentiate between peopleand stones to commit new mas-sacres against all peoples in Afrinto leave our Armenian family as avictim of the Turkish crimes againwhile we used to live in harmony inour homes to be attacked again bythe Turkish state.”

Turkey launched an air andground campaign into Afrin, aKurdish-controlled enclave innorthwestern Syria on January 20.

The Turkish operation aims tooust from Afrin a militia made up ofan estimated 8,000 to 10,000 fight-ers affiliated with the People’sProtection Units or YPG, a Syrian

Kurdish group that has controlledterritory in northern Syria andproven effective in fighting theIslamic State group.

Turkey considers the YPG to be aterrorist organization and an exten-sion of the outlawed KurdistanWorkers’ Party or PKK, which hasfought for Kurdish autonomy inTurkey.

The Syrian government and awar monitor said on Sunday thatTurkish shelling of the Kurdish-held Afrin region of Syria had seri-ously damaged an ancient temple.

Ain Dara is an iron age templewith remains of large carved basaltblocks and wall reliefs. Pictures cir-culating online, which Reuterscould not independently verify,showed an apparent shell crater inthe site.

Armenian Boy Killed in Afrin after Turkish Attack

S A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 5

INTERNATIONAL

CONSUL, from page 1the second largest city of Armenia for the fur-ther development of Armenian-German rela-tions.” He also pointed out that the GermanForeign Ministry places strong demands onthose who are granted a Consulate position,demands that Ter-Minasyan will fulfill with plea-sure. Ter-Minasyan, he said, has contributed tothe development of the Armenian-German rela-tions for more than 20 years, has supported the“Berlin” polyclinic in Gyumri, and manages theBerlin Art Hotel, promoting and deepening thecontacts between Armenian and Germanartists.

As the position of honorary consul willinclude the regions of Shirak and Lori, it wasmost appropriate that the governor of Shirak,Artur Khachatryan, was on hand. In offeringhis congratulations to the new consul, he said,“We are hopeful that Alexan Ter-Minasyan’sefforts will be directed to strengthening rela-tions, especially with the establishment of newcooperation between Armenian and Germanbusinessmen. I assure you that the Shirakregional administration is ready to lend its sup-port and we welcome all the initiatives that willcontribute to the development of our country,particularly our region.”

In point of fact, the functions of the newly-appointed consul will include economic ties,development and cultural programs, as well asadvisory services.

Creative Diplomacy

The German Foreign Ministry could not havemade a better choice. Alexan Ter-Minasyan is a

most creative diplomat, a man who excels in theart of contacts. Already in 2014, then-PresidentJoachim Gauck had decided to honor him withthe Order of Merit of the Federal Republic ofGermany for his extraordinary efforts in devel-oping German-Armenian relations. As wasnoted on the occasion of his receiving theaward, on May 15, 2014, these efforts began fol-

lowing the tragic earthquake that destroyedlarge parts of the region in 1988. It was in thatsituation that the German Red Cross as well asCaritas arrived in Gyumri, and Ter-Minasyan

was the key person in facilitating and support-ing their work. He functioned as representativeof the Red Cross in Gyumri, which set up aCenter for Mothers and Children, and he han-dled the donations coming from Germany, withscrupulous honesty and efficiency. When thefinancial support from contributions no longersufficed to run the center, Ter-Minasyan came

up with the idea of converting part of the build-ing into a hotel, and thus generated income tosupport the center. The hotel continues its sup-port to the “Berlin” polyclinic to the present

day.Under his management, the Berlin Art Hotel

has become a favorite residence for tourists,who can take advantage of the Shirak Touragency there, to visit and learn the history, notonly of Gyumri, the cultural capital of Armenia,but of the entire region.

The Berlin Art Hotel owes its name to thefact that it functions also as a gallery (Gallery25), and a meeting place for artists, from allcountries.

Ter-Minasyan is well-known as a networker,and has developed his contacts at home andabroad, especially in Germany, to organize artexhibitions, festivals and other cultural activi-ties. Among them is the ARTbogen Center ofGerman-speaking Cultures. A Gold Autumn fes-tival organized at the Berlin Art Hotel featuresGerman films. In winter 2015, Gallery25 orga-nized an art exhibition to commemorate the25th anniversary of German reunification. Aswas mentioned during the award ceremony in2014, “with his enormous knowledge ofGermany, his excellent command of Germanand his social, charitable engagement, he hascontributed greatly to projecting a positive,modern image of Germany.” On that occasion,he was hailed as Germany’s “secret Consul” inGyumri; now it is no longer a secret.

(Material for this article has been taken inpart from the website of the German Embassyin Yerevan: http://www.eriwan.diplo.de/con-tentblob/4228940/Daten/4257114/Laudatio.pdf and photos have been provided by theBerlin Art Hotel. The black-and-white photosare by Sona Andreasyan.)

Germany Appoints Honorary Consul in Gyumri

Honorary Consul Alexan Ter-Minasyan, left, and Ambassador Matthias Kiesler

Russian-ArmenianBusinessmenIncluded in USTreasury ‘KremlinReport’

YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Russian-Armenian businessmen SamvelKarapetyan, Danil Khachaturov andSergey Galitskiy (Harutyunyan) areincluded in the “Kremlin Report”released by the US Treasury Department.

The US Treasury Department releasedthe list of names facing possible sanc-tions by the US which includes the 96richest people in the country and the top104 officials of Russia. The Department,however, stated that inclusion of thesepeople in the list doesn’t suppose apply-ing sanctions or any restrictions onthem. However, their involvement in thelist can hinder US and European banksand other institutional to make dealswith them.

According to Bloomberg, this listincludes businessmen against whomsanctions have already been applied forhaving close ties with Russian PresidentVladimir Putin. The list also includesRussian President’s spokespersonDmitry Peskov.

The list includes a number of high-ranking Russian officials, includingPrime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, whoserved as president from 2008 until2012.

First Deputy Prime Minister IgorShuvalov, Deputy Prime Ministers VitalyMutko, Dmitry Rogozin, ArkadyDvorkovich, as well as Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrov, Defense Minister SergeiShoigu, Economic Development MinisterMaxim Oreshkin, Energy MinisterAleksander Novak, Finance MinisterAnton Siluanov, Internal Affairs MinisterVladimir Kolokoltsev, Transport Minister,Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov and17 more senior cabinet members areincluded in the document.

ISTANBUL (Financial Times) — Police arrest-ed senior members of the Turkish MedicalAssociation on January 30, days after PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdogan branded the group “ter-rorist lovers” for calling for a halt to Ankara’smilitary offensive in Syria. The detentions arepart of a widening crackdown against criticismof Turkey’s incursion into the Kurdish-con-trolled Afrin region of north-west Syria.

More than 300 people have been detained forspreading “terror propaganda” on social mediasince the military operation began this month.Eleven arrest warrants were issued for membersof the doctors’ union, according to the state-runAnadolu news agency, with police searches

launched across eight provinces. The group’s chairman, Rasit Tukel, and other

members of the board were among thosedetained, the opposition MP Ali Seker said onTwitter.

The association’s lawyer, Ziynet Ozcelik, saidthat those arrested faced charges of “propagan-da in support of a terrorist organization, andprovoking the public.” The medical association,which represents 80,000 doctors, is one of asmall number of organizations that have pub-licly voiced opposition to the offensive against aSyrian Kurdish militia. It warned that conflictalways causes damage to public health. “Everyclash, every war, causes physical, psychological,

social and environmental health problems andcauses human tragedy,” it said in a statementpublished last week. It concluded: “No to war.Peace right now.”

After publishing its statement, the associationsaid it been inundated with threats of violencevia telephone, email and social media.

The New York-based Physicians for HumanRights group last week condemned the campaignof intimidation. “It is a bleak commentary on thestate of affairs in Turkey that a group of doctorscan’t make a peaceful statement without beingtargeted with physical threats and condemned bythe head of state,” said Dr. Homer Venters, direc-tor of programs at Physicians for Human Rights.“Medical professionals must have the freedom tocall out threats to public health without fear ofretribution.”

The arrests will fuel concerns in Europeancapitals about freedom of expression in Turkey.

Erdogan has been accused by European offi-cials of becoming increasingly autocratic, par-ticularly after more than 160,000 people werearrested, dismissed or suspended in the wake ofa July 2016 coup attempt. Ankara launched theoffensive in Afrin on January 20, with the aimof clearing the enclave of members of a Kurdishmilitia that it views as a terrorist organization.Five Turkish soldiers have been killed in thecampaign, which is being spearheaded bySyrian rebels trained and equipped by Turkey.

Public criticism has been muted during thefirst 10 days of the operation. There is wide-spread public hostility in Turkey to Kurdish mil-itants in Syria, who are closely linked to a groupthat has waged a violent insurgency insideTurkey for more than 30 years. Ankara fearsthat Syrian Kurdish militants will seek to createan autonomous region south of Turkey’s borderAside from the leftist, Kurdish-dominatedDemocratic People’s party (HDP), Turkey’smain opposition parties have lent their supportto the incursion. So too have most mainstreammedia outlets, including newspapers that areoften critical of the government. On Sunday,Erdogan slammed a group of academics, artistsand journalists who signed a letter criticizingthe operation, accusing them of being “servantsof imperialism.”

“If you are lovers of peace, why did you trai-tors turn a blind eye while a separatist terrororganization killed our police officers?” he said.

Turkish Doctors Arrested After Criticim of Syria Attack

DAVOS, Switzerland (Public Radio of Armenia)— Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan met withLebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on the mar-gins of the ongoing World Economic Forum inDavos on January 25,Government’s PressService reports.

Karapetyan noted thatArmenia and Lebanonhave traditionallyenjoyed strong andfriendly bilateral rela-tions, and the govern-ment of Armenia is keento further strengthenand deepen them. ThePrime Ministers alsohighlighted the role ofthe Lebanese-Armeniancommunity in terms ofpromoting cooperationand strong ties between the two countries.

Karen Karapetyan briefed his counterpart onArmenia’s economic developments and the ongo-ing reforms, noting that quite good economicindicators were recorded last year, and his gov-ernment is determined to advance the process ofreforms.

Touching upon the prospects for cooperation,

the Premier advised that, being an EAEU-mem-ber country, Armenia benefits from GSP+ traderegime and has signed the Comprehensive andEnhanced Partnership Agreement with the

European Union. In addition, our country hasvery good relations with neighboring Iran andmay be interesting for Lebanese businesses andinvestors.

In turn, Hariri said they intend to work closelywith Armenia and the Armenian business circles,and his government is ready to take specific stepsin that direction. Hariri invited Karapetyan tovisit Lebanon, which was accepted with pleasure.

Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan with Lebanese PrimeMinister Saad Hariri

Armenian Premier Meets with LebaneseCounterpart in Davos

6

Community News

St. Vartan ArmenianCathedral Celebrates50th AnniversaryBy Rev. Zaven Arzoumanian, PhD

NEW YORK — Catholicos of All Armenians Vasken I arrived in New York onApril 26, 1968 to consecrate the first Armenian Cathedral in North America.Accompanying him were Bishop Gomidas Der Stepanian, and the Very Rev.Nersess Bozabalian, staff-bearer. At the International Airport in New York theArmenian Pontiff was welcomed by Bishop Torkom Manoogian, DiocesanPrimate, former Primate Archbishop Sion Manoogian, Bishop YeghisheSimonian, Primate of the Western Diocese, Bishop Papken Varjabedian ofWashington, DC, Bishop Vatche Hovsepian, Vicar of the Canadian Diocese, cler-gy from both dioceses, among them the Very Rev. Zaven Arzoumanian ofPhiladelphia, dignitaries and the faithful.The pontifical entourage arrived in the Diocese where the elegant cathedral

was already built and ready for consecration. With the singing of the Hrashaparhymn, the catholicos knocked on the doors of the cathedral ceremoniously andentered the edifice, followed by clergy and hundreds of faithful. The leading pro-cessional cross holding high was the first graduate of the St. Nersess ArmenianSeminary Deacon Raymond Arakelian, now Archpriest Kevork Arakelian of theWestern Diocese.On Sunday of the World Chapel, April 28, 1968, the Armenian Cathedral of

New York was ready for consecration by Vasken I, Catholicos of All Armenians,who had arrived in New York two days earlier. The Godfather of the consecra-tion was Haik Kavoukjian, the senior member and illustrious benefactor of theEastern Diocese. While the catholicos anointed the main altar, the Primate,Bishop Torkom Manoogian, consecrated the 16 pillars of the church, followingwhich, the catholicos established the new church and dedicated its name to St.Vartan, the Armenian general who defended Christianity in Armenia as early as451 AD and fell on the battlefield. The performance of the first Divine Liturgyby Vasken I followed. Present were the former Primate Archbishop SionManoogian, and the Armenian clergy named above. Other dignitaries includedthe Roman Catholic Archbishop Cardinal Terence Cooke, Archbishop LauristonScaife, and Mayor and Mrs. John Lindsey of New York City.Assisting the catholicos on the altar were Manoogian and Der Stepanian

from Holy Echmiadzin, Bozabalian and Arzoumanian. Serving as deacons andacolytes were Reverend Fathers Arnak Kasparian, Shahe Altounian and GarenGdanian. In his sermon the catholicos chose a significant verse from the prophe-cy of Isaiah: “Almighty God of hosts look back and watch, see and visit this vine-yard that you planted by your right hand and take care of it.” While address-ing close to the 1,000 faithful, the catholicos bestowed upon Manoogian therank of archbishop for his efforts in concluding the most significant project inthe life of the American Diocese of the Armenian Church, initiated and pro-moted successfully by his predecessors.

Banquet Honoring Catholicos

The same evening an elegant banquet was given at the main hall of WaldorfAstoria Hotel where the Pontiff was staying. In attendance were 1,500 guestswith church and civic dignitaries, Cardinal Cooke, Archbishop Scaife, andMayor Lindsey, along with bishops and priests from both Armenian Dioceses ofNorth America. Acting as Master of Ceremonies, Alex Manoogian, president ofthe Armenian General Benevolent Union, invited Kavoukjian, Godfather of St.Vartan Cathedral, to offer the first and the only toast “in honor of the most wor-thy Catholicos Vasken I of All Armenians.”

see ANNIVERSARY, page 9

California Sen. PortantinoWarns aboutIncreased AzeriLobbyingSACRAMENTO, Calif. — On January 24,

state Sen. Anthony J. Portantino (D – LaCañada Flintridge) sent out a letter to hisSenate and Assembly colleagues in theCapitol urging them to resist increasedlobby efforts put forth by the Governmentof Azerbaijan. Portantino became alarmed by the

increasing presence of the AzeriGovernment in Sacramento and in LosAngeles. Recently the California Azerbaijan

Friendship Association (CAFA) has begunoutreach to political and academic leadersin a significant public relations and lobby-ing effort. And, last year Azerbaijanopposed Portantino’s initiative to create aformal State Senate Select Committee onCalifornia, Armenia and Artsakh coopera-tion. Portantino has been at the forefront of

promoting efforts in Sacramento toadvance economic relations betweenCalifornia and Nagorno-Karabakh which isalso known as Artsakh. Given Azeri aggres-sion toward the people of Artsakh,Portantino felt it necessary to share hisstrong views and give Senators andAssemblymembers a complete picture ofevents in the region. Portantino representsthe 25th State Senate District which ishome to many Armenians who trace theirheritage back to Artsakh.

“As the proud representative of thelargest Armenian community in the coun-try, I have become quite alarmed by Azerilobbying efforts in Sacramento. I feel it isimportant to proactively guard against itsinfluence. As a legislative body, we mustunite and fight against attacks on humanrights and unprovoked aggression against a

peaceful and sovereign country,” com-mented Portantino.The 25th Senate District has the largest

Armenian American community in any leg-islative district in the country. Portantino isthe chair of the Select Committee onCalifornia Armenia and Artsakh Trade Artand Culture Exchange. He has a long his-tory fighting for the civil rights of theArmenian Community. “The Legislature must strongly condemn

civil rights abuses and attacks by foreigngovernments on innocent people.Accordingly, it must refuse to cooperatewith such governments until there is ademonstrated effort toward reconciliation.Joining the California AzerbaijanFriendship Association would in effect con-done the Azeri government’s acts of vio-lence against the Armenian people ofArtsakh,” concluded Senator Portantino.

Catholicos of All Armenians Vasken I in 1968 at St. Vartan Cathedral

Dr. Yektan TürkyılmazTo Give Lecture onVan VaspurakanArmenians at FresnoStateFRESNO — “Van Vaspurakan Armenians: From

Renaissance to Resistance and Genocide” will bethe topic of Dr. Yektan Türkyılmaz’s presentation at7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 6, in the UniversityBusiness Center, Alice Peters Auditorium, Room191 on the Fresno State campus. The presentation is part of the Spring

Lecture Series of the Armenian StudiesProgram. A welcoming hors d’oeuvres recep-tion will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. immedi-ately preceding the lecture in the UniversityBusiness Center Gallery.Türkyılmaz was appointed the 14th Henry S.

Khanzadian Kazan Visiting Professor in ArmenianStudies for the Spring 2018 semester. Through a brief overview of the turbulent

19th and early 20th centuries ofVan/Vaspurakan Armenians, this lecture willunderscore the ways in which studying this par-ticular location challenges the conventional

understandings regarding Armenian modern-ization, inter and intra-communal relations inthe late Ottoman period and, particularly theGenocide. It will also try to suggest potentialways of opening up new horizons in rewritingthe story of Van in various contexts.The 19th and early 20th centuries indis-

putably marked the most crucial span of timefor Van/Vaspurakan Armenians. The period wit-nessed rapid economic growth, increased socialdiversification and mobilization, and culturalburgeoning. Yet, it was also a time when themost brutal massacres, systematic persecutionand finally the catastrophic total destruction ofsocial life in the area took place. Van/Vaspurakan is particularly salient for

the study of the Genocide. Between August1914 and April 1915 the political barometer inthe province measured the growing tensionsalong the fault line that stretched from theRussian Southern Caucasus and Northern Iranto Istanbul through Van. Drawing on Armenian, Ottoman and Russian

archival documents, periodicals, memoirs, pho-tographic and cartographic materials and sec-ondary sources this lecture will explore the riseand the tragic death of Van in century up to theGenocide.Türkyılmaz received his PhD from the

Department of Cultural Anthropology at DukeUniversity. He taught courses at the Universityof Cyprus, Sabancı, Bilgi and Duke Universitiesaddressing the debates around the notions ofcollective violence, memory making, and recon-ciliation. Türkyılmaz is currently a research fel-low at the Forum Transregionale Studien inBerlin, Germany. Meanwhile, he is working onhis book manuscript based on his disserta-tion, “Rethinking Genocide: Violence andVictimhood in Eastern Anatolia, 1913-1915,”concerns the conflict in Eastern Anatolia in theearly 20th century and the memory politicsaround it.The lecture is free and open to the public.

S A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R

State Sen. Anthony J. Portantino

Dr. Yektan Türkyılmaz

7

Dr. Jonathan Varjabedian H. Şükrü Ilicak

My Dear Son GarabedI Read Your LetterI Cried, I Laughed

Kojaian Family Letters from Efkere/Kayseri to America (1912-1919)

When Garabed and his father, Haroutiun Kojaian, left theirbeloved village of Efkere/Kayseri to immigrate to America in1912 and 1913, they had no idea that it would be the last timethat they would see their family, or their village.

By the end of 1915, they were left with nothing but their mem-ories, and a stack of letters that had been written to them fromtheir loved ones in Efkere between 1912 and 1915.

For the first time, 86 of these letters have been compiled,painstakingly translated, and presented here, both in theiroriginal Armeno-Turkish, and with an English translation.

Two additional letters, from 1919, allow the reader to under-stand what befell the family during the Genocide.

428 pages

The book may be purchased from the publisher at: historpress@gmail.com, and through the Facebook Page for

Histor Press.

S A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R

COMMUNITY NEWS

CINCINATTI, Ohio (Kentucky Today) — ANorthern Kentucky attorney has been nomi-nated by President Donald J. Trump to serve onthe US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, based inCincinnati.The White House announced Tuesday the

naming of John B. Nalbandian, of Union, to thefederal appeals court bench.Nalbandian is a partner in the litigation prac-

tice group of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, ofCincinnati, where he has practiced since 2000.

He is the firm’s lead appellate lawyer and prac-tices complex litigation in State and Federalcourts. He is board certified as a specialist inappellate law.US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

issued a statement on the nomination.“John’s range of experience litigating com-

plex appellate cases in both state and federalcourts has set him apart and has made him anideal choice for this role. An accomplished

lawyer, John has the earned the confidence ofthe legal community and has been recognizedfor his professional work. He will serve ourCommonwealth and our nation well on theSixth Circuit, and I look forward to the Senateconfirming him.”He has represented clients in a wide range of

legal areas, including antitrust, products liabili-ty, intellectual property, environmental, employ-ment, white collar crimes and class actions. Healso has extensive experience in administrativeand international law.Prior to joining Taft Stettinius, he practiced

for five years in the appellate section of a lawfirm in Washington, D.C.In 2010, after being nominated by President

Barack Obama, the US Senate confirmed himto serve as a board member of the State JusticeInstitute, a nonprofit organization establishedby the federal government to improve theadministration of justice in state courts.Then-Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher appoint-

ed him as a special justice to the KentuckySupreme Court, in 2007.He has also served on the Magistrate Judge

Merit Selection Panel for the US District Courtfor the Eastern District of Kentucky, as a BoardMember of the Northern Kentucky Tri-CountyEconomic Development Board of Directors, andas a Board Member of the TelecommunicationsBoard of Northern Kentucky.Nalbandian is involved with issues of impor-

tance to minority communities as a board mem-ber of the Greater Cincinnati Minority CounselProgram, and as a board member of the Asian-Pacific Bar Association of Southwest Ohio.He earned his BS, magna cum laude, from

the Wharton School at the University ofPennsylvania and his JD from the University ofVirginia School of Law, where he was inductedinto the Order of the Coif and served as man-aging editor of the Virginia Law Review.Nalbandian’s nomination must be confirmed

by the US Senate.

Sheriff Koutoujian Participates inPanel on Substance AbuseROCKVILLE, Md. — Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian and Arlington Police Chief

Fred Ryan were among the national experts to participate in a discussion on imple-mentation of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs on Monday, January 29.Koutoujian and Ryan were invited to participate in the dialogue convened by the

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and theBureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) due to their leadership in implementing programs toassist individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). The goal of the convening wasto develop guidance for implementing MAT programs across the criminal justice systemto assist individuals with SUDs.Koutoujian and Ryan are nationally recognized leaders for their efforts to address the

opioid crisis in Massachusetts. In addition to participating in the convening, Koutoujianhas previously presented on the MSO’s Medication Assisted Treatment and OpioidRecovery (MATADOR) program at the White House, while Chief Ryan has testifiedbefore the United States Senate regarding the Arlington Opiate Outreach Initiative.“I want to thank SAMHSA and the BJA for the invitation to participate today,” said

Koutoujian. “As we all seek to stem the tide of the opioid epidemic, nothing could bemore important than learning from one another and sharing best practices. This con-vening provided an opportunity to do both.”“Those with Substance Use Disorders are our neighbors, friends, and loved ones, and

law enforcement stands on the front lines of the battle against this epidemic,” Ryan said.“I am grateful to participate in a dialog with other leaders on this subject, including myfriend and colleague Sheriff Koutoujian.”

Sheriff Peter Koutoujian and Arlington (Mass.) Police Chief Fred Ryan

John B. Nalbandian

John Nalbandian Nominated toServe on Ohio Court of Appeals

BAZARBASHIAN, from page 1Bazarbashian was a dedicated advocate for

the Armenian community in Philadelphia, aswell as across the United States and Canada. Heorganized and directed hundreds of Armeniancultural events for the Philadelphia community.He was the former chairman of the Philadelphiachapter of the Tekeyan Cultural Association,member of the Central Board of Directors ofthe Tekeyan Cultural Association of the UnitedStates and Canada, member of TCA Board ofAdministrators, Executive Committee, memberof the Philadelphia chapter of the ArmenianGeneral Benevolent Union, and a member ofthe District Committee of the Armenian

Democratic Liberal Party of the Eastern UnitedStates and Canada. He was an active parishioner of St. Sahag and

St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church formany years as well as a member of the Knightsof Vartan.During his tenure as Chairman of TCA

Philadelphia Chapter, Bazarbashian andPapken Megerian, who alsopassed away last month, alongwith a dedicated group of mem-bers elevated the cultural life ofthe Philadelphia community by

organizing weekly educationaland cultural activities. EveryFriday the cultural hall of St.Sahag and St. Mesrob church hallsaw guests arriving from Armeniaand diaspora presenting newbooks, giving lectures, reciting,singing and dancing. Writers likeSylva Gaboudikian and VartkesBedrosian, artists like Berdj

Fazlian and Krikor Satamian, singers likeHovhannes Badalian and Rouben Matevosian,Ministry of Diaspora Directors like GarlenDallakian and Hranoush Hagopian, Turkishwriter from Germany Kemal Yalchin, and oth-ers, visited and met with Philadelphia Armeniancommunity thanks to Antoine Bazarbashianand his helpers. In 2015, Bazarbashian was honored with a

lifetime achievement award from the CentralBoard of the Tekeyan Cultural Association. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends,

and the Armenian community in Philadelphia

and throughout the world. With the passing ofBazarbashian and Megerian 28 days apart, thecommunity has suffered a great loss.The funeral service took place on Friday,

January 26 at St. Sahag and St. Mesrob

Armenian Apostolic Church in Wynnewood,with the presence of family members andfriends from Philadelphia community. Very Rev.Oshagan Gulgulian (a graduate of the VahanTekeyan School of Beirut) gave a very powerfuleulogy concentrating on Bazarbashian’s dedica-tion to the community through TekeyanCultural Association, Ramgavar Party, theArmenian Mirror-Spectator weekly and Abakaweekly of Montreal, Canada. The interment wasin Arlington Cemetery. During the Hokejash,the TCA Central Board of Director’s condolenceletter was read by Board member KevorkMarashlian. He is survived by his wife Rose (Yessayan),

sons Armen (Bridget) and Vicken.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to

the Tekeyan Cultural Association, 755 Mt.Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472.

8 S A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R

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Funeral Counselors576 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472, TEL: 617-924—0606

www.giragosianfuneralhome.com

DENNIS M.DEVENEY & SONSCemetery Monuments

Specializing inArmenian Designs and Lettering

701 Moody St. Waltham, MA 02543(781) 891-9876 www.NEMonuments.com

DonationThe Tekeyan Cultural Association, Detroit Chapter, and the Detroit Chapter of the ArmenianDemocratic Liberal Party each donated $100 to the Armenian Mirror-Spectator in mem-ory of Antoine Bazarbashian.

During the ADL Annual Convention in Montreal 2015. Antoine is second from left.

Former TCA Central Committee Member Antoine Bazarbashian Dies

Antoine Bazarbashian receiving award for service to the Tekeyan Cultural Association from Dr.Arshavir Gundjian in Montreal, Canada during 2015 Annual Convention.

Antoine and Rose Bazarbashian

Pictures from Antoine Bazarbashian

Antoine with the then Vicar General of theArmenian Diocese Very Rev. HaigazounNajarian,

From Left Vicken, Armen, Bridget and RoseBazarbashian

ANNIVERSARY, from page 6Two days before the consecration, the

catholicos had invited 13 leading benefactors tomeet with him at a suite at Waldorf AstoriaHotel. The purpose of the gathering was toraise $1 million to secure the immediate expens-es of the new cathedral. Those benefactorswere: Alex Manoogian, Haik Kavoukjian,Dadour Dadourian, Artin Aslanian, PuzantPiranian, Edward Mardigian, Harry Tatosian,Harry Bert Movsesian, Hagop Kambourian,Steve Mugar, Dikran Meserlian, KhorenKholligian and George Bashian. While address-ing during the Banquet on Sunday eveningVasken I extended his appreciation to the bene-factors honoring them with Pontifical Medalsand Encyclicals. An impressive and memorablebook of the consecration was soon publishedwith colorful pictures, along with an LP recordof the Pontifical Mass.The idea for the building a Diocesan

Cathedral in America was first initiated in 1942by the then Primate (1938-1943) and laterCatholicos of the Great House of Cilicia KarekinI Hovsepian (1943-1952). ArchbishopHovsepian had proposed the DiocesanAssembly in 1942 to embark on this most wor-thy project. Follow-up was deemed necessary atthe 1945 Diocesan Assembly by his successorPrimate Bishop Tiran Nersoyan for a decisionto be made regarding the location of the futureCathedral. It was unanimously agreed NewYork City as the location for the Diocesan head-quarters and the cathedral. Major and on-going

campaign during the following two decades cul-minated in the purchase of the location andcompletion of the Diocesan AdministrativeCenter first, and then the Cathedral. Theychose and purchased the property at the cornerof the Second Avenue and 34th Street withadjacent buildings, totaling in 25,500 sq. feet atthe cost of $616,600.The old buildings soon were demolished to

allow the building of the new center in January,1959, when the Primate Archbishop SionManoogian blessed the cornerstone. Followingthe drawings by architect Zareh Sourian, theDiocesan Center was completed the same yearin November. Soon, architect Walker Caine pre-sented the drawings for the cathedral in 1963and the ground breaking took place in May,1965. This writer attended both events. To hiscredit Primate Archbishop Sion Manoogian(1958-1966) was the pioneer of the construc-tions, as he was the founder in 1961 of St.Nersess Shnorhali Armenian Seminary inAmerica.

Construction of the Cathedral

Within the following two years, 1966-1968,the cathedral was completed and was ready forconsecration. The architecture of the edifice fol-lowed the excellent model of the historic 7thcentury St. Hripsimeh Church in Vagharshapat,one of the most authentic and exemplaryArmenian churches in Armenia. The large cupo-la of the new Cathedral rests on four hugemetal arches crossing each other on an eleva-

tion of 120 feet. The cupola itself is 27 feet highwith a diameter of 45 feet. In the interiorauthentic frescoes shine on the four corners ofthe Cathedral, featuring Biblical episodes withsculptures, while the stained glass windowsdepict the eventful life of Our Lord Jesus, hisNativity, Baptism, Crucifixion, andResurrection. Other windows are graced withnational figures, such as, Noah’s Ark rested onMt. Ararat, Saints Thaddeus and BartholomewApostles of Armenia, St. Sandoukht the Virgin,and the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Special win-dows are dedicated to the 451 AD Battle of

Avarair and St. Vartan the General, as well as tothe Holy Translators of the Bible intoArmenian, St. Sahag, St. Mesrob and St.Nersess the Graceful.The following year the Gullabi Gulbenkian

Cultural Center was added to the Diocesancomplex, as well as the Haik and AliceKavoukjian Auditorium, to serve the largeArmenian community of Greater New York.Here we have a most precious legacy for the last50 years promoting the religious and nationalidentity of the American Armenian communityon an international and lasting level.

St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral Celebrates 50th Anniversary

9S A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R

OBITUARIES

HAMAZKAYIN ARMENIAN EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL SOCIETY WASHINGTON DC

AND KNIGHTS AND DAUGHTERS OF VARTAN

PRESENT

GOODBYE, ANTOURA A MEMOIR OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Featuring a presentation by

Houry Panian Boyamian Principal, St. Stephen s Armenian Elementary School

of Watertown, Massachusetts and daughter of author Karnig Panian

Saturday, February 17, 2018, 7:30 p.m. Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church

Arabian Hall

4906 Flint Drive, Bethesda, Maryland,20816

Reception to follow Books available for purchase and signing

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Kansas City Star) —Kansas City Star sports columnist VaheGregorian has been named the NationalSports Media Association’s MissouriSportswriter of the Year for the fifth time.Gregorian has been with the Star since

2013. He holds a master’s degree fromMissouri, has co-authored several booksand was nominated for a Pulitzer in 2000while with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.He and Star colleague Sam Mellinger

were also each named Top 10 columnists inthe country in the large-category classifica-tion of the most recent APSE contest.Also honored by the National Sports

Media Association (NSMA) this week wereKC native Kevin Harlan as NationalSportscaster of the Year, and ESPN’sAdrian Wojnarowski as NationalSportswriter of the Year.Harlan was recognized for his work on

NFL, NBA and college basketball broad-casts. He began his career as the radio andTV play-by-play man for the Kansas CityKings and later worked on KU, Mizzou and

Chiefs broadcasts.Mike Kelly, radio voice of the Missouri

Tiger Radio Network, earned his fifthMissouri Sportscaster of the Year award.Kansas’ Sportswriter of the Year is Bob

Davidson of the Salina Journal; K-StateRadio’s Wyatt Thompson was named theKansas Sportscaster of the Year for thethird time.Sportscasters Woody Durham and

Bryant Gumbel and Thomas Boswell of theWashington Post were named to the NSMAHall of Fame.Vahe Gregorian was born in Beirut,

Lebanon, and his love of football beganwhen he was a child playing inSwarthmore, Pennsylvania’s PopWarner league. He was class pres-ident of Swarthmore High Schoolduring his senior year. He thenmade the varsity football team atthe University of Pennsylvania. Hegraduated in 1983 with a BA inEnglish and continued his studiesat the University of Missouri’sGraduate School of Journalism,the country’s oldest school ofjournalism, where he earned anMA in 1988. In 2004, he was cho-sen as a Knight-Wallace Fellow atthe University of Michigan, where

he focused on history and the demise ofsportsmanship.He is the son of Dr. Vartan and Clare

Gregorian.

Babachanian ElectedGlendale Bar AssociationPresident for 2018GLENDALE — Glendale attorney Sarkis

Babachanian has assumed as the 70th presidentof the Glendale BarAssociation, succeedingArbella Azizian.Babachanian was sworn in

by Burbank Superior CourtJudge William D. Stewart atthe association’s January 10installation dinner at theOakmont Country Club.Also installed were attor-

neys Arpa Stepanian as vicepresident, Michael J. Zuckerman as treasurer andArmine Bazikyan as secretary.Founded in 1949, the Glendale Bar Association

serves Glendale, the third largest city in LosAngeles County, as well as La Cresenta, LaCanada-Flintridge, Burbank, Pasadena and neigh-boring communities.The association is dedicated to enhancing

respect for the rule of law and the professionalpractices of its members. It offers networking andcareer development opportunities, insightful con-tinuing legal education sessions, an arbitrationservice to settle attorney-client fee disputes andcommunity service, including the association’sLaw Day program in which local judges and attor-neys lecture hundreds of local high school stu-dents on law-related topics.

SarkisBabachanian

Vahe Gregorian

Star Sports Columnist Vahe Gregorian NamedTop Missouri Sportswriter for Fifth Time

S A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R10

COMMUNITY NEWS

By Berge Ayvazian

BOSTON and NEW YORK — Armenia hasemerged as a rising star of tech entrepreneur-ship, targeting to be one of the top next gener-ation technology hubs. This was the theme ofthe two #Furture Is Tech networking eveningmeetings in Boston and New York City, devot-ed to the potential for Tech Start-ups andVenture Capital in Armenia. More than 80 young professionals attended

these two inspiring meetups with friends andenthusiasts at the Armenian General BenevolentUnion (AGBU) Center in Watertown on January19, and later at the Microsoft Technology Center,in New York, on January 24.The programs in the two cities featured a pre-

sentation by Ashot Arzumanyan, co-founder ofSmartGateVC, an Armenian pre-seed venturecapital firm. Arzumanyan presented the history and

potential of the Armenian tech community asan opportunity to invest in a promising startup.He emphasized the progress made in theArmenian tech economy and venture capital(VC) investments in Armenia over the pastthree years. A total of $87 million in cumulativedisclosed venture capital funding has beenraised between 2015-2017, by Armenian start-ups including PicsArt, Codefights, SoloLearnand Teamable, led by major VCs includingSequoia, Sutter Hill Ventures, DCM Ventures,Learn Capital, e.venutures and True Ventures.There have also been several notable acquisi-tions of Armenian high tech companies since2010, including:

* Virage Logic being acquired by Synopsys in 2010* Itegrien acquired by vmware in 2010* Monitis acquitted by GFI in 2011* LiveLook acquired by Oracle in 2014* Icon apps acquired by Science in 2014* Memori acruired by Cisco in 2014* Sorcio acquired by Helpsystems in 2016* 6cdm acquired by Moody’s in 2017“ Armenian tech has great team, reliable trackrecord and clear focus on succeeding globally,”he said.SmartGateVC is newly launched venture cap-

ital firm backed by top-tier investors fromSilicon Valley targeting seed stage investmentsin Armenian tech companies in ArtificialIntelligence, Cyber-Security, BlockChain/Quantum Physics and the Internet ofThings. This new fund is designed to comple-

ment larger VCs such as Granatus Ventures andHive Fund both founded in 2014. In addition to Arzumanyan, formerly of

Granatus Ventures, the co-founders ofSmartGateVC include Vazgen Hakobjyan, CTOof Teamable, and Hambardzum Kaghketsyan ofDraper University, leading the Silicon Valleyexecutive entrepreneurship program foundedby Venture Capitalist Tim Draper. SmartGateVC has raised $500,000 to date and

plans to provide pre-seed investments to promis-ing Armenian entrepreneurs and support theirstart-ups through the early stage of their devel-opment. Having attracted a large group of advi-sors and mentors, the new firm has plans to raiseanother $1-2 million this spring to support itsfirst 4-6 portfolio companies.

(Berge Ayvazian is co-founder of theArmenian High Tech Council [Armtech].)

Armenian Tech Start-ups and Venture Capital – Reaching for the Brass Ring

Ashot Arzumanyan at the New York event

Ashot Arzumanyan at the Boston event

Dr. Jonathan Varjabedian H. Şükrü Ilicak

My Dear Son GarabedI Read Your LetterI Cried, I Laughed

Kojaian Family Letters from Efkere/Kayseri to America (1912-1919)

When Garabed and his father, Haroutiun Kojaian, left theirbeloved village of Efkere/Kayseri to immigrate to Americain 1912 and 1913, they had no idea that it would be the lasttime that they would see their family, or their village.

By the end of 1915, they were left with nothing but theirmemories, and a stack of letters that had been written tothem from their loved ones in Efkere between 1912 and1915.

For the first time, 86 of these letters have been compiled,painstakingly translated, and presented here, both in theiroriginal Armeno-Turkish, and with an English translation.

Two additional letters, from 1919, allow the reader to under-stand what befell the family during the Genocide.

428 pages

The book may be purchased from the publisher at: historpress@gmail.com, and through the Facebook Page

for Histor Press.

TORONTO — On the 11th anniversary ofHrant Dink’s assassination, the Armenian com-munity of Toronto gathered at St. GregoryArmenian Catholic Church to honor his legacyand remember his message for humanity andlove.Journalist, Filmmaker, and Professor at

Carleton University, Kumru Bilici, describedHrant Dink as follows: “He fought for every-one...there were no Turks, Kurds or Armenianswhen it comes to injustices. He deeply caredabout freedom of expression and believed thatthere is nothing that we cannot solve throughdialogue, freely expressing our views and lis-tening to one another. I thank you all for hon-oring this incredible human being, our MartinLuther King.”Dr. Payam Akhavan, a noted human rights

lawyer and professor at the McGill School ofLaw, served as the keynote speaker of theevent. Akhavan eloquently explained the com-plexity of Turkish civil society, where ethnicnationalism has been defining “identity” byexcluding and demeaning others.

“When we stoke the fans of hatred, the con-sequence is ethnic cleansing and genocide. ...All great evils begin with words that demeanand dehumanize others,” he said.This is exactly what Hrant Dink

fought against. His mission was to find theshared humanity amongst all citizens of Turkey.For Hrant, there were no Turks, Kurds, Alevis,Jews, Greeks, Yezidis or Armenians when itcame to injustices. His mission was to destroythe “us vs. them” notion and help Turkey tobecome a true democracy.Father Elias Kirijian, founding pastor of St.

Gregory the Illuminator Armenian CatholicChurch and the host of the event, opened theevent by asking the audience to take a momentand get to know the person sitting next tothem. This was a kickstart of the celebrationand a wonderful way to put Hrant’s messageinto practice.Megan Reid, Outreach Coordinator of the

Zoryan Institute, then painted a picture of

today’s political environment in the UnitedStates, Turkey and Europe of rising populism ofreligious, ethnic and racial exceptionalism incontrast to upholding universal human rightsviolations.Raffi Bedrosyan, Special Advisor for Turkish

Affairs to the Zoryan Institute andRepresentative of the Bolsahay CulturalAssociation, took the audience through a jour-ney of Hrant’s life and showcased how intellec-tuals, novelists, journalists, filmmakers andfriends were profoundly impacted by Hrant’smission. He concluded his presentation by shar-ing Hrant’s core question:“Will we act like those responsible for the

great atrocities of the past, or will we learn fromthose mistakes and write new pages worthy ofcivilized humanity and the elimination of us vs.them?”As part of the local observance, this event

was organized by the Zoryan Institute and theBolsahay Cultural Association with the part-nership of the Armenian Association of

Toronto, The Armenian General BenevolentUnion of Toronto, the Canadian-ArmenianBusiness Council, Hamazkayin ArmenianEducational and Cultural Society KlatsorChapter, the Mekhitarian Alumni Association ofToronto, the Nor Serount Cultural Associationand the Tekeyan Cultural Association.

11S A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R

COMMUNITY NEWS

Greg Sarkissian of the Zoryan Institute

Celebrating the Life of Hrant Dink in Toronto

Raffi Bedrosyan speaks.

Rakel Dink on video

Fr. Elias Kirlijian

Prof. Payam Akhavan

Dr. Payam Akhavan

12 S A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R

COMMUNITY NEWS

• We increased the print edition of the paper from 16 to 20 pages

weekly.

• We improved the paper quality used in printing the paper.

• We have begun to increase our coverage of events in various parts

of the world through special correspondents.

• We redesigned our website (www.mirrorspectator.com), which now

offers more functionalities: you can see videos, comment, and con-

tact us directly. You can directly input free calendar notices for your

events. You will also shortly be able to pay with credit cards for your

subscriptions or make gifts online.

• We are now sending out emails twice a week with links to new arti-

cles and videos from our website. Please send us (info@mirrorspecta-

tor.com or through our website) the email addresses of your friends

so that they too can enjoy this free service.

Thank you for your support. We had a great 85th anniversary symposium and

gala, and, as long as you continue to support us, we will work to further

improve the Mirror both in its print and digital version.

We want to let our readers know that we have been working hard over the

past year to bring you more news and services.

Feel free to visit us in our Watertown Baikar Building headquarters, or call,

write or email us with your comments and suggestions.

The Armenian Mirror-Spectator hopes your New Year will be a great one—and that

along the way we can continue to keep you informed about developments in the

Armenian world. Keep your friends and family in the loop by buying them a print

subscription, and send us their emails to get weekly notices.

www.mirrorspectator.com

13T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O RS A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8

Arts & Living

Armenian Arts of GlendalePresents ‘Turmoil’ by

Jack AvetisyanGLENDALE — The Armenian Arts of Glendale is presenting a solo show from

first-generation American-Armenian artist Jack Avetisyan. An emerging talent inthe Los Angeles area, Avetisyan’s work explores the inner conflict resulting fromthe challenge of honoring cultural mores while forging a personal identity apartfrom traditional values. The two-day only show opens with a reception from 7–10p.m. on Friday, February 2, and will be on view 4–8 p.m. on Saturday, February 3.and by appointment till February 17.“Turmoil” is Avetisyan’s first solo show, encompassing an evolving body of work

that began in 2016, and markedly different from his work as a commercial graph-ic designer and illustrator of a previously published children’s book, Heart of aLion. Professionally, he alternates between theclean structured designs that corporate clientsdemand, and the loose, expressive style of hispersonal work. Initially focused on the femalefigure, his paintings have gradually become enig-matic, more reflective self-portraits — a forayinto self-deconstruction and the reassembly of anew, individualized identity. His evolving focus has become an observation

on the duality of life and the continuous chal-lenge to better oneself, striving to find the bal-ance between individuality and preserving hisArmenian culture. Using a visceral, assertivestyle, Avetisyan delves deeply into the conflictbetween cultural conformity and individualism.In this personal journey, as he explores realismin his figurative pieces, and the theoretical in hisabstract work, one senses the inner turmoil he is trying to dispel.While always drawn to art, Avetisyan was captivated by the experimental story

forms and themes in 20th-Century American literature at a young age. Whileattending the Otis College of Art and Design, he realized the same ideas wereprevalent in Postmodern art, and began incorporating those concepts into hiswork using figurative distortion and other expressionist techniques. Today, his fineart pieces can be found in private, corporate, and institutional collections.Armenian Arts is a cultural center devoted to educating the public about

Armenian contributions to humanity. Armenian Arts is a division of KnowledgeTruck, Inc., a nonprofit California organization that celebrates the Armenian iden-tity by showcasing American-Armenian contributions to American civilization andhumanity as a whole.

Constantine OrbelianCongratulates GrammyAward WinnersLOS ANGELES — Constantine Orbelian,

who was nominated for a Grammy Award forBest Conductor on a Solo Vocal Album,extended his congratulations to BarbaraHannigan for winning the Grammy in the cat-egory. Hannigan won the Grammy for herrecording of Crazy Girl Crazy: Music byGershwin, Berg and Berio.The Grammy Awards were presented at the

60th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony,which was held on January 28 at MadisonSquare Garden in New York City and televisedlive for a global audience.Orbelian had received a Grammy nomina-

tion for his recording of Georgy Sviridov’sRussia Cast Adrift. The landmark recordingfeatures the late baritone Dmitri Hvorostovskyand the State Symphony Orchestra of St.Petersburg. This year’s Grammy nominees also included

composer Tigran Mansurian, whose Requiemwas nominated for the Grammy Award in twocategories: Best Choral Performance and BestContemporary Classical Composition. TheGrammy for Best Choral Performance waswon by conductor Donald Nally for the workBryars: The Fifth Century; and the Grammyfor Best Contemporary Classical Compositionwas won by Jennifer Higdon for her ViolaConcerto.Orbelian, who was in attendance at the

Grammy Awards ceremony, afterwards stated,“I congratulate Barbara Hannigan for winningthe Grammy Award in the category of BestConductor on a Solo Vocal Album. I had feltprofoundly humbled by the honor of beingnominated for this category, and today I shareBarbara Hannigan’s joy for being announcedthe winner. I also convey my warmest con-gratulations to Tigran Mansurian for his pres-tigious Grammy nominations. Although hedid not win a Grammy this year, his nomina-

tion is an extraordinary milestone forArmenian music, the Armenian people, and allof us at the Yerevan Opera House. “Making great music is our lives’ passion,”

Orbelian continued. “And when one’s work isrecognized with a Grammy nomination or win,that work becomes all the more gratifying andworthwhile. I would like to take this opportu-nity to convey my heartfelt gratitude to theRecording Academy for nominating TigranMansurian and myself for Grammy Awards; mywonderful family and family of friends fortheir unconditional love and support; the out-standing musicians of the State SymphonyOrchestra of St. Petersburg; and the produc-ers, technical personnel, and the Delos labelfor making the recording of ‘Russia CastAdrift’ possible. Last, but certainly not least, Iwould like to express my fondest appreciationfor Dmitri Hvorostovsky, whose golden voiceand extraordinary artistry will live on foreverin our hearts and souls.”Mansurian, recognized as a People’s Artist

of the Republic of Armenia, is a leading com-poser of classical music and film scores. Orbelian is an internationally acclaimed

pianist and conductor, and an Honored Artistof the Russian Federation. Since June 2016,he has helmed the National Opera and BalletTheater of Armenia (the Yerevan OperaHouse) as its General Director and ArtisticDirector.

SAS Recognizes‘Best ConferencePaper Award’Recipients for2016LOS ANGELES — The Society for

Armenian Studies announced recently therecipients of its 2016 “Best Conference PaperAward.” Recognized are co-winners JenniferManoukian for her paper “Translating theColloquial Armenian of Late-NineteenthCentury Constantinople in Zabel Yessayan’sThe Gardens of Silihdar, and PiruzaHayrapetyan for her paper “The ArmenianGanj-Hymn – An “Originally Armenian” or a“Borrowed” Genre: Reshaping the Debate.”The SAS Executive Council will award each

of the winning recipients a $500 prize. Eachyear SAS awards $500 for the best paper pre-sented by a graduate student at a conferencein a calendar year. A committee appointed bythe Executive Council judges the papers.Manoukian’s paper was a critique of her

translation of Yessayan’s The Gardens ofSilihdar, which was written in WesternArmenian and set in the 19th centuryConstantinople. The memoir is “interspersedwith dialogue written in the sociolects ofYessayan’s family and neighbors, defined bycode-switching between non-standard formsof Armenian and Turkish.” Manoukian’s cri-tique explores the possible uses of TheGardens of Silihdar for sociolinguists, whilealso interrogating the position of translationfor non-territorial, diasporan languages likeWestern Armenian. Manoukian is a PhD student in the

Department of Near Eastern Languages andCultures at the University of California, LosAngeles and a literary translator fromWestern Armenian. She received her master’sdegree from the Department of MiddleEastern, South Asian and African Studies atColumbia University and her bachelor’s

degree from the Department of French atRutgers University. Her book-length transla-tions include The Gardens of Silihdar (2014)and The Candidate by Zareh Vorpouni (2016). Hayrapetyan delivered her paper at the

14th Graduate Student Colloquium inArmenian Studies (February 12, 2016,University of California, Los Angeles). Herpaper dealt with Ganjs which are Armenianhymns dedicated to church feasts and saints.These were recited and sung in the ArmenianDivine Office. In her paper Hayrapetyan posesthe question of the “original and literary con-nection of the ganj into a wider literary con-text.” Her paper concentrated on two literary

see AWARDS, page 15

One of the works from “Turmoil” by Jack Avetisyan

A work by Jack Avetisyan

Constantine Orbelian with the late DmitriHvorostovsky

Jennifer Manoukian

By Jen Chaney

LOS ANGELES (Vulture) — On January 25’sseason-two finale of “Great News,” anchormanChuck Pierce (John Michael Higgins) fought tokeep his job and stay on the airwaves. Which iswhat “Great News” may need to do, too.NBC has not announced whether it plans to

renew or cancel this half-hour comedy, createdby 30 Rock alum Tracey Wigfield, who alsoplays weather weirdo Beth, and executive pro-duced by three more people known for theirwork on the “Liz Lemon Show:” Tina Fey,Robert Carlock, and David Miner. But it’s nosecret that the ratings for “Great News” havebeen unimpressive, especially compared to itsNBC Thursday night counterparts, includinglead-in “Will & Grace.”I don’t understand why people aren’t watch-

ing, but I sincerely hope NBC gives “GreatNews” at least one more season. It’s not neces-sarily a groundbreaking show — its comedy issteeped in the hyperspeed tradition previouslyestablished by shows like “ArrestedDevelopment” and (duh) “30 Rock.” It’s alsonot a mindforker like “The Good Place” or areboot like “Will & Grace” and 80 percent ofthe shows currently being developed for televi-sion, nor is it a limited series stacked withOscar-winning actresses or affiliated in any waywith Ryan Murphy. But “Great News” is a con-sistently funny, occasionally topical, terrificcomedy that had a sense of its own identityfrom the first second of its pilot and has neverwavered from it.It was excellent from the jump and, like its

protagonist, the frazzled but determined KatieWendelson (Briga Heelan), has continued to doreliably strong work even when that work was-n’t necessarily being acknowledged for its bril-liance. We need shows that are as confident intheir gleeful absurdity as Great News is, espe-cially right now, when the actual news is anhourly attempt to persuade Americans toincrease the dosage on their anti-anxiety meds.(Is it possible that people aren’t watching thisshow because they are they turned off by theword “news”? Is that what we’ve come to?)“Great News” moves according the same

rhythms as a daily newsroom: Everything hap-pens very fast, to the point where it’s tough toabsorb it all. As is true of other Fey-Carlockworks, “30 Rock” and “Unbreakable KimmySchmidt,” some of the sharpest lines on theshow are tossed off like casual asides, but areusually funnier than the high jinks lesser sit-coms spend entire episodes building toward. Ilaughed for at least two straight minutes duringlast week’s episode when Carol (Andrea Martin)noted that she was wearing a blazer from“Chico’s Urban Menopause collection.”In the finale — called “Early Retirement,”

which has a real cancellation-conscious ring toit — as Katie pointed to a series of TV newsshows reporting the same story, she landed onone outlier: Fox, where Sean Hannity was tack-ling the important story “Hillary Clinton MakesWeird Face at Waiter.” This was hilarious on itsown, but doubly so considering that the visualgag landed on the same night that real-lifeHannity tried to distract viewers from breakingnews about President Trump’s attempt to fireSpecial Counsel Robert Mueller. As theOctober episode about workplace sexual harass-ment established, “Great News” has a way ofbeing accidentally current simply by displayingits intelligence and willingness to jam a thumbin various American cultural eyes.Of course, the show wouldn’t be nearly as

smart without a cast as aces as this one. One ofthe pleasures of “Great News” is seeing veteranpros like Martin and Higgins, who usually playsupporting roles, getting the opportunity to bethe leads, while watching actors like Heelan andNicole Richie, who plays vacuous “Breakdown”co-anchor Portia Scott-Griffith, fully demon-strate their comedy chops on a more high-pro-file stage.But my favorite thing about “Great News” is

its interest in generational differences and itscapacity to milk them for humor without takingoverly lazy potshots at the young or the old.Other sitcoms have wandered into this arena

before — CBS’s “The Great Indoors” is a recentexample. But few have done it with as muchinventive, equal-opportunity precision as “GreatNews” does.Throughout both seasons, Chuck has blasted

the generation coming up behind him, clearly

out of fear. “One false move and they’ll replaceyou with some hotshot young newsman whoeats sriracha and drinks Lululemon,” he com-plained in the season-one episode “ChuckPierce is Blind.” In the finale, though, hepunched above his age, too. “[Tom Brokaw]

never got a chance to say how he really felt: thatthe Greatest Generation was actually kindastupid and racist.”As often as “Great News” mocked Carol for

being completely unsavvy about technologyand office life, or busted on Portia for havingher head too far up her Snapchat (“I did a jour-nalism,” she cheerily announced in theepisode), it also routinely demonstrated thatboth junior and senior members of a newsroom— or for that matter, any staff — bring some-thing valuable to the table and are better whenthey learn from each other. The idea that Carolis working at “The Breakdown” as an intern atfirst seems like a gimmicky jumping-off pointfor a sitcom elevator pitch. But subtly, withoutever succumbing to sentimentality — because,blech, “Great News” would never do that — thisshow has been sending the message that you’renever too old to reinvent yourself, even if yourChico’s Urban Menopause blazer might suggestotherwise.The final moment of the season-two finale

had a happy, loose-ends-all-tied vibe thatsmacked of a series finale. Carol even finally gota paying job, at long last, on The Breakdown, anoutcome that implies that people should nevergive up on what they want, regardless of theobstacles that seem to stand in their way. Here’shoping NBC has that same attitudeabout “Great News” and doesn’t send it intoretirement just yet.

14 S A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R

ARTS & LIVING

Katie (Briga Heelan) and Carol (Andrea Martin), standing for truth, justice, and journalism on GreatNews. Photo: Jordin Althaus/NBC

A Plea to Save ‘Great News,’ One of the Funniest Shows on TV

AWARDS, from page 13connections ganj – k‘aroz and ganj – Syriachymns, madrash� and memr�. Based on a struc-tural analysis of these genres, her paper“demonstrates the extent of the ganj’s literarydependence on these genres as a poetic formrevealing both common anddistinct structural features.” Hayrapetyan received her

BA (2005) and first MA(2007) degrees from theYerevan State UniversityDepartment of ArmenianPhilology. She is also a grad-uate of the Central EuropeanUniversity (CEU) in Budapestwhere she received her sec-ond M.A. in Medieval Studies(2015). She is currently adoctoral candidate in theDepartment of MedievalStudies at CEU and anexchange fellow at theDepartment of Byzantineand Modern Greek Studies atthe University of Vienna. Sheworked as a manuscript cata-loger and junior codicologistat the Matenadaran(Research Institute ofArmenian Manuscripts) inYerevan (2008-2014).SAS President Bedross

Der Matossian congratulated both recipients.“This year we have received many highly-quali-fied papers in the competition which demon-strates the sophisticated level of a new genera-tion of graduate students in their respectivefields dealing with Armenian Studies. We hope

that this trend continues for the coming years,”said Der Matossian.The Society of Armenian Studies is an inter-

national body, composed of scholars and stu-dents, whose aims are to promote the study ofArmenian culture and society, including history,

language, literature, and social, political, andeconomic questions; to facilitate the exchangeof scholarly information pertaining toArmenian studies around the world; and tosponsor panels and conferences on Armenianstudies.

15S A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 , 2 0 1 8 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R

ARTS & LIVING

SAS Recognizes ‘Best Conference PaperAward’ Recipients for 2016

Piruza Hayrapeyan

HACIENDA HEIGHTS, Calif. — The immigrant’sstory is always a fascinating one. What couldmake someone uproot their life and leave theirhomeland for a strange new place? For MaryTerzian, book author and freelance writer, it wasfor the chance to have the full life she hoped foras a woman; a meaningful career and a collegeeducation.Born into an immigrant family (migrated from

Turkey) in Egypt, Terzian has written two awardwinning memoirs in English about her life. Bothhave been well received by the press and led herto become an in-demand speaker. Asone Amazon.com reviewer of her latestmemoir Politically Homeless, states: “Terzian’sbook reflects the universal struggles of immi-grants who have lost their homeland and have tore-start life elsewhere.” Her story is an inspirationto girls and women everywhere. The book will also be featured in Marquis Who’s

Who, yet she remains soft and humble. “I neveradvertise myself but still get recognition,” shesays.Terzian’s books are genuine, her personal story

as a woman born at a time when “a girl did notleave home till she had a ring on her finger.”Women were not expected to go to college orwant more out of life. Higher education was con-sidered superfluous for a woman destined to be ahousewife. Although Terzian was the top of herclass in school, and could have easily acquired ascholarship, her parents forbade her to attend col-lege. It was the prevalent attitude then, in the1950s. She dared to move on.Terzian began her career as a secretary but did-

n’t want to settle for that. Sister Visitation at herHigh School taught the students “Don’t ever saynever when you encounter a roadblock Face itwith I can, and I will.” It’s a motto she continues

to live by.Terzian eventually secured a position with the

United Nations in Alexandria which enabled herto quit home honorably. After a few years, thanksto her knowledge of French, she was assigned tothe UN Operations in the Congo. This latterassignment enabled her to travel extensively inthree continents, and gain the experiences thatshe relates, like the story of eating crocodile meatfor dinner or flying with chickens. Terzian’s biography mentions how she grew up

surrounded by rich languages like Arabic, Turkishand Greek, in addition to her own Armeniantongue, and the French and English of her prima-ry education. These languages cultivated her loveof words. Her first memoir, The Immigrant’sDaughter, focuses on early life, cultural roots, andaspirations. Politically Homeless takes the storyforward to her arrival in the US (with the supportof the American Embassy in Beirut). That wasback in 1967. She since achieved her dream of acollege education (at California State University inLos Angeles, with a BS in business administra-tion.) Writing remained a sideline until retirement,when she found time for her true calling.Politically Homeless was published by Author

House. The front cover says a lot about her five-year odyssey across three continents. The excep-tional experiences, related in Terzian’s uniquevoice, make for an exciting read. CUTV News Radio spotlight Mary Terzian in an

interview with Doug Llewelyn on January 22nd at3pm EST. The interview is now postedat http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cutvnewsra-dio/2018/01/22/cutv-news-radio-spotlights-mary-terzian-author-of-politically-homeless. Listento the show on BlogTalkRadio.For more information

visit www.maryterzian.com

CUTV News Radio Interviews MaryTerzian, Author of Politically Homeless

T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O RS A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 816

ARTS & LIVING

Grilled Chicken, Spinach, and Mushroom Saladwith Lemon DressingINGREDIENTS2 large grilled, boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced (or store-bought rotisseriechicken, about 2 cups, diced or shredded)4-6 cups fresh spinach, washed, torn into pieces, or choice of assorted greens1 large cucumber, peeled and diced2 cups sliced mushrooms1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half, or 2 medium tomatoes, cut into chunks�1 each large red and green bell pepper, cut into chunks or sliced and grilled1 large red onion, cut into chunks and grilled�1/2 cup Kalamata or black olives, chopped�Fresh mint, parsley, and oregano, chopped�6-8 oz. Feta cheese, crumbled2 medium avocados, sliced or dicedCroutons or pita chips (crushed)Toasted pine nuts, almonds or walnuts

LEMON DRESSING:1/2 cup olive oilJuice of two large lemons1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped2 cloves garlic, crushed2 tablespoons red wine vinegar1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard1 teaspoon lemon zestDash of sugarKosher or sea salt and black pepper

PREPARATION:Combine dressing ingredients in a glass container or bowl and mix; check sea-

sonings, cover, and chill before serving.Combine the chicken and spinach together in a large bowl; add the cucumbers,

mushrooms, tomatoes, grilled bell pepper and red onions, and olives, and toss. Addthe mint, parsley, and oregano to taste, and toss again. Add some dressing, thecheese and diced avocado, and toss again.Garnish salad with croutons, pita chips, and choice of toasted nuts, if desired, and

serve extra salad dressing on the side. Serves 2-4.

*Christine's recipes have been published in the Fresno Bee newspaper, Sunsetmagazine, Cooking Light magazine, and at http://www.thearmeniankitchen.com/

Recipe Corner

by Christine Vartanian Datian

LOS ANGELES — A full-day symposium fea-turing academics and service providers focusingon trauma transmission among Holocaust andArmenian Genocide survivors and their descen-dants will take place at the Museum ofTolerance on February 7. The program, titled “Inheriting Genocide:

Lessons from Intergenerational Transmissionof Trauma in Holocaust and ArmenianGenocide Survivor Populations,” is organizedby the University of Southern California (USC)Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, theJewish Family Service of Los Angeles, theJewish Federation of North America and theMuseum of Tolerance. Salpi Ghazarian, director of the USC Institute

of Armenian Studies, and Holocaust survivorLya Frank, will share their personal stories ofinheriting genocide and trauma in the day-longprogram. Opening remarks will be made by Charles

Kaplan, research professor and associate deanof research at the USC Hamovitch Center forScience in the Human Services. He will be fol-lowed by Swedish-born Israeli psychologist Dr.Natan Kellermann and psychiatrist Dr. AndreiNovac. During the second part of the symposium,

marriage and family therapist Christie

Tcharkhoutian will give a talk on clinical inter-ventions for descendants of the ArmenianGenocide.The program will continue with a panel titled

“Voices from the Trenches.” The panel will featureservice providers Cally Clein of the JewishFederation & Family Services, Dr. Selina

Mangassarian from Harbor UCLA Medical Center,Sheila Moore of the Jewish Family Service, and clin-ical psychologist Dr. Charles Pilavian.Registration is required for symposium atten-

dees at http://inherited-experience.eventbrite.com. Admission is free. The program willtake place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on

February 7 at the Museum of Tolerance, 9786West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. Free under-ground parking is available at the museum. Light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Three Continuing Education Units available fortherapists and social workers. For inquiries, write to Armenian@usc.edu.

One of the permanent exhibits at the Museum of Tolerance

‘Inheriting Genocide: Lessons from Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma’To Be Held at Museum of Tolerance

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Dr. ChristinaMaranci’s 2015 book Vigilant Powers: ThreeChurches of Early Medieval Armenia (Brepols)became the first recipient of the Karen GouldPrize of the Medieval Academy of America(MAA) in January. According to the announce-ment, the book “is a closely-observed, beauti-

fully written, and deeply evocative architecturalanalysis of a culture at a global crossroads. Withmeticulous scholarship, Maranci exploresArmenia’s creative engagement with theByzantine, Sassanian, and Umayyad empires,underscoring the fluidity of cultural frontiersbetween them.”The volume analyzes the medieval Armenian

cathedrals of Zvartnots (Zuart‘noc‘) and Mren,and the princely church at Ptghini. As theaward announcement notes, “Sadly, each of thethree Armenian churches is imperiled in thetwenty-first century by political and militarytensions, as well as by seismic activity and nat-ural erosion. Her book is also shaped, therefore,by a pressing sense of urgency about the sur-vival of this unique Armenian patrimony.”In response to the award, Maranci declared,

“The personal and professional recognition bythe Medieval Academy of America makes mevery happy; I am even happier that they haverecognized an Armenian subject as worthy ofthe award.” Both Sirarpie Der Nersessian andNina Garsoian were elected fellows of the MAA,but this appears to be the first time that a book

primarily on an Armenian topichas been recognized by the MAA.The Karen Gould Prize, estab-

lished by an endowed gift fromLewis Gould in 2016, is awardedannually for a book or monograph(conference proceedings and col-lected essays are not eligible) inmedieval art history judged by theselection committee to be of out-standing quality. To be eligible,the author must reside in NorthAmerica and be a member in goodstanding of the Medieval Academyof America.Karen Gould (1946–2012) was

an art historian specializing inmanuscript illumination and wasthe author of The Psalter andHours of Yolande of Soissons(Speculum AnniversaryMonographs) (Medieval Academy

of America, 1978).The prize estab-lished in her nameconsists of a certifi-cate and a monetaryaward of $1,000 tobe announced at theannual meeting ofthe academy eachspring. Maranci’s Vigilant

Powers previouslywon the 2016

National Association ofArmenian Studies andResearch Dr. Sona

Aronian Book Prize for Excellence in ArmenianStudies. Maranci is Arthur H. Dadian and AraOztemel Professor of Armenian Art andArchitecture at Tufts University. Her 1998 doc-toral dissertation at Princeton University istitled “Medieval Armenian Architecture inHistoriography: Josef Strzygowski and hisLegacy.”

Dr. Christina Maranci

Maranci’s Vigilant Powers Receives Karen GouldPrize of the Medieval Academy of America

17T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O RS A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8

FEBRUARY 10 — Hye Hearts Dance. Second big annualevent. Back By Popular Demand! 8pm - ??? LIVEMUSIC featuring Harry Bedrossian (oud, vocals), MalBarsamian (clarinet), Bruce Gigarjian (guitar), CharlieDermenjian (dumbeg). Continuous dancing with DJ ChrisHabibian. Hosted by the Tri-Church Cultural Committee.Holiday Inn, 1 Bright Meadow Blvd., Enfield, CT (just offInterstate 91). Hotel $89 room rate. 860-741-2211, men-tion “Hye Hearts” Adults $45 advance, $50 at the door.Students & Adults 80+ $30 advance, $35 at the door.Children 12 & under free. Mezzeh included. Cash Bar.Reservations for up to tables of 10. To purchase tickets:https://hyeheartsdance2018.eventbrite.com or mailchecks (made payable to TCCC) to: Gary Hovhanessian,81 Cope Farms Rd., Farmington, CT 06032. RSVP &Questions/Info: David Jermakian 413-727-2586, davidjer-makian@gmail.com and Gary 860-690-5959 or gary-hov@aol.com. Tri-Church Cultural Committee includesmembers of the Armenian Church of Holy Resurrection,New Britain, CT and St. George Armenian Church,Hartford, CT and St. Mark’s Armenian Church,Springfield, MA.

FEBRUARY 1 — Thursday, 7:30 p.m.: William C. Rempel,The Gambler: How Penniless Dropout Kirk KerkorianBecame the Greatest Dealmaker in CapitalistHistory, NAASR Center, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA02478. Contact NAASR at 617-489-1610 orhq@naasr.org.

FEBRUARY 10 — Saturday, 12 noon to 3 p.m., panel dis-cussion on the “State of Turkey’s Academia andAcademics for Peace.” MIT Room 3-270. Speakers, aca-demics themselves who had to endure the consequencesof government repression in various ways, will addressthe current threats to academic freedom and freedom ofspeech in Turkey from a historical perspective. Students,scholars, journalists, activists, politicians and all con-cerned individuals to join us in this conversation to col-lectively think about ways to defend academic freedomand strengthen solidarity with academics in Turkey.Speakers: Nazan Bedirhanoglu, Binghamton University;Ates Akyurtlu, Retired Professor, Hampton University;Zeynep Gönen, Framingham State University; Moderator:Kaan Agartan, Framingham State University. The event isfree and open to public. Refreshments will be served.https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-state-of-turkeys-a c a d em i a - a n d - a c a d em i c s - f o r - p e a c e - t i c ke t s -42521599248https://www.facebook.com/events/287448558450467/

FEBRUARY 10, 2018 — Poon Paregentan Dinner Dance- Family Kef Night, Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church,180 Old Westford Rd., Chelmsford. Featuring JasonNaroian Ensemble: Jason Naroian – Vocals and Dumbeg,Joe Kouyoumjian – Oud, Ara Jeknavorian – Clarinet, andDave Anisbigian — Guitar, and. Children Activities - 5 pmand Dinner/Dancing at 6 p.m. Paid in advance ticketsmust be received by February 6: Adults $25, Students (6-12 years old) $10, and 5 & under, free. At the door:Adults $35 and Students $15. For reservations, contactMaria Kazanjian (617) 240-3686 or Ria.tk@verizon.net.

Tables of 8 can be reserved in advance with full paymentChecks made payable to: Sts Vartanantz ArmenianChurch.

FEBRUARY 13 — Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at WatertownFree Public Library. Budgeting and credit scores 101.Come learn about creating a budget worksheet, how toimprove and maintain your credit score. Hosted byArmenian International Women’s Association NewEngland and CFA Society Boston. Free and open to thepublic. Registration recommended at aiwaneweng-land@gmail.com.

MARCH 4 — Women’s History Month Celebration: Dr.Hasmik Khalapyan, of the American University ofArmenia, will discuss “Women’s Activism During theWestern Armenian Renaissance,1860-1914,” presentedby the Armenian International Women’s Association(AIWA) and the National Association for ArmenianStudies and Research (NAASR), 2:30 p.m. at NAASR, 395Concord Ave., Belmont. Open to the public free ofcharge. Info: 617-926-0171 or info@aiwainternational.org

MARCH 8-11 —The Global Cinema Film Festival ofBoston (GCFF) announces its 2018 Official Selections.The 3rd annual global event will be held at the StudioCinema, 376 Trapelo Road, Belmont, MA. Festival kicksoff on March 8, at 6 p.m. with Red Carpet Event and filmscreenings until 10 p.m. Film screenings will continuefrom Friday, March 9, through Sunday, March 11, 2018

from 12 to 11 p.m. For more info visit @ www.world-w i d e c i n e m a f r a m e s . c o m .globalcinemafilmfestival@gmail.com

MARCH 11, 2018 — “Jazz and Art for YerazArt” onSunday, 5 p.m., at Anoush’ella Saj Kitchen, 35 W NewtonSt., Boston. More information will follow.

APRIL 11 — A recap on the status of the documentaryproject “Neighbors in Memory,” accompanied by apanel of community members shedding light on the stateof Armenian-Turkish relations as they live and witness it.Wednesday, 7 p.m., Capitol Theatre, 204 Mass. Ave.,Arlington. Screenings, discussions and refreshments. Formore information: gonca59@gmail.com

MAY 5 — Save the date! Annual Meeting, ArmenianInternational Women’s Association (AIWA). Detailsto follow. Contact: info@aiwainternational.org or 617-926-0171.

MAY 11 — Welcome His Holiness Karekin II, SupremePatriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, toCelebrate with Rev. Father Mampre A. Kouzouian on the60th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood.Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston, 145Brattle Street, Cambridge. Hrashapar Service in theSanctuary followed by a Celebration in the Charles andNevart Talanian Cultural Hall. Details forthcoming.

APRIL 14 — Saturday, St. James Great Gatsby Gala! ARoarin’ 20s Celebration! Live Jazz & Armenian Music,Passed Hors D’oeuvres, Mezza and Dessert Stations andmore. St. James Armenian Church – 465 Mt. AuburnStreet, Watertown, 8 p.m., Tickets $100. Purchase onlineat www.stjameswatertown.org orcontact info@sthagop.com.

FEBRUARY 17 — Saturday, 7:30 p.m., presentation ofthe book Goodbye, Antoura: A Memoir of theArmenian Genocide by Houry Panian Boyamian, princi-pal, St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School,Watertown, MA, organized by Hamazkayin ofWashington DC and Knights and Daughters of Vartan.Soorp Khach Armenian Church Arabian Hall, 4906 Flintdrive, Bethesda, Md. Free Admission, Reception to follow.FEBRUARY 18 — Sunday, 1 p.m., presentation of theplay “Vartanantz” written and directed by NairaTashjian, St. Mary Armenian Church hall, 4125Fessenden Street, NW, Washington, DC, organized byKnights and Daughters of Vartan. Free Admission andReception.MARCH 10 — Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Benefit theatricalpresentation for the teachers of Knights of VartanSchool in Armenia. Taleen Babayan’s “ Where Is YourGroom? II” At Northern Virginia Community College,Annandale Campus, Ernst Community Cultural center,8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. Tickets $30. Bycredit card go to paypal.me/DaughtersofVartanUS or callTakuhi at (301) 219-4041.

Calendar items are free. Entries should not be longerthan 5 lines. Listings should include contact information.Items will be edited to fit the space, if need be. A photomay be sent with the listing no later than Mondays

at noon.

CC AA L E N D A RL E N D A RMASSACHUSETTSCONNECTICUT

MASSACHUSETTSMASSACHUSETTS

The Hye Hearts Dance will take placeon February 10 in Connecticut, host-ed by the Tri-Church CulturalCommittee, at the Holiday Inn, 1Bright Meadow Blvd, in Enfield. Thedance will feature musicians HarryBedrossian, pictured above, MalBarsamian, Bruce Gigarian andCharlie Dermenjian and DJ ChrisHabibian. To purchase tickets:https://hyeheartsdance2018.eventbrite.com

ARTS & LIVING

WASHINGTON, DC

PARK CITY, Utah (Deadline) — Sev Ohanian had a goodSundance Film Festival. In January, “Search,” the thriller heco-wrote and produced, landed the biggest money of the fes-tival so far with a $5 million worldwide rights deal from SonyPictures Worldwide Acquisitions. And at a Park City cere-mony, Ohanian was awarded the Sundance Institute /Amazon Studios Producers Award for Narrative FeatureProducer. The awards honor bold vision and a commitmentto continuing work as a creative producer in the indepen-dent space.Ohanian first came to Sundance with 2013’s “Fruitvale Station,”

the acclaimed film which launched director Ryan Coogler and starMichael B, Jordan to the A list and collaborations “Creed” and theupcoming “Black Panther.” He returned with AndrewBujalski’s “Results,” on which he was executive producer, and CleaDuvall’s “The Intervention,” as producer.“Search” takes place entirely on computer screens and stars

John Cho and Debra Messing. Ohanian co-wrote the film with

director Aneesh Chaganty and produced alongside TimurBekmanbetov, Natalie Qasabian and Adam Sidman.The film, which won the Alfred P. Sloan Film Prize, focus-

es on the relationship between a father and his high schoolfreshman daughter. After parenting mainly throughiMessages and quick FaceTime chats, David is initially moreannoyed than concerned when a series of his texts go unre-turned, but he soon realizes Margot has gone missing. As adetective searches for clues on the ground, a desperateDavid goes a different route, cracking open the laptop sheleft behind as he tries to locate clues to find her before it istoo late.Ohanian’s two-minute short film, a Google Glass spot

called “Seeds,” got over 1 million YouTube views in 24hours. Chaganty was asked to join the Google Creative Labin New York City, where he spent two years developing, writ-ing, and directing Google commercials. He quit his job tomake this film.

Sev Ohanian

‘Search’s Sev Ohanian Wins Sundance Institute/Amazon Studios Producers Award

18 S A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R

COMMENTARY

The Hatsbanian Case and OthersCOMMENTARY

By Edmond Y. Azadian

Sarkis Hatsbanian was a tragic hero. He was born in Turkeybut he had a life full of adventure to avenge the ArmenianGenocide. He combined his erudition with the spirit of a revo-lutionary and he sacrificed his life for the cause along the way.

He moved from Turkey to France for his education. As hedeveloped his awareness of his Armenian identity, he decided toweaponize his knowledge to fight the injustices committed bythe Turks against the Armenians. As he stated many times in hispublic comments, he arrived in Armenia from France with a one-way ticket. He joined the ragtag Karabakh army to fight theAzeris and he became one of the legendary heroes of the battleof Kelbajar. Then, like many Karabakh veterans, he engagedhimself in Armenia’s civic and political life after the war of lib-eration. He was articulate and outspoken and a vitriolic critic ofthe current regime in Armenia, where he ended up in jail as hehad gone too far in his actions.

The part of his life which is not fully known to the public wasthe role that he played as Hrant Dink’s counterpart in Armenia.As much as he hated Turkey’s criminal past, he was very muchin favor of cooperating with the progressive elements of Turkishand Kurdish societies.

He made his share of contributions to awakening the dormantArmenians in Turkey. He led a group of Turkish and Kurdishactivists to Tzitzernakaberd on the Genocide Centennial to shedtears in memory of Armenian martyrs. He was also engaged ina monumental intellectual project which would even scare off awell-equipped academy. He found translators and scholars totranslate into Turkish the compatriotic history books of manyregions in historic Armenia, such as Van, Gesaria and Adana,among others. Many Turks who read those volumes wereshocked that such a vibrant Armenian cultural life existed beforethe Genocide on the territory they inhabited currently.

That was an ongoing project for him when he was stricken bycancer and rushed back to France,where he passed away in January,impoverished and soliciting fundsfrom the public for living and med-ical expenses.

The opposition in Armenia triedto make his funeral a cause cele-bre by forcing the authorities toallow his burial at Yerablur mili-tary cemetery, where fallen heroesare buried. The authorities, realiz-ing the potential politicization andfallout of the case, authorized hisburial there so that he could joinhis comrades in arms who had fall-en during the Karabakh war.

By all accounts, Hatsbanianremains a controversial figurewith all the rest of the well-mean-ing heroes languishing in jails inArmenia today.

Jirayr Sefilian and other mili-tants who are members of SasnaTzerer group are on trial in Armenia because in their zeal to seethe homeland prosper, they broke the law. These militants enjoygreat popularity in Armenia, especially when viewed in the con-text of rampant popular discontent. These cases provide alsoammunition to the political opposition to fight the regime. Inthe eyes of the majority of the people, they are patriots whohave been unjustly punished and are honest in their intentionsbut as poet Gevok Emin said, honest people may also err hon-estly. The case of those militants is viewed in Armenia on twolevels: black or white. No one dares to step into the gray area,where the truth often resides.

There is a misconception with all revolutionaries that afterthey overthrow a regime, they have a built-in entitlement to ruleover the nation. But history has disproved that notion time andtime again. The leaders of the French Revolution of 1789, suchas Danton, Robespierre and others, ended up sending eachother to the guillotine along with an estimated figure of 16,500other victims who suffered the same fate. The leaders of theRussian Revolution, Lenin and Stalin, after executing their rev-olutionary comrades, plunged the entire empire into a blood-bath. The same thing happened with Mao Zedong’s revolutionin China, which caused millions of deaths during the so-calledCultural Revolution. Cambodia’s Pol Pot was no different. Evenafter almost 60 years into Castro’s revolution, Cuba is still starv-ing.

Incidentally, there are some historians who maintain thatMustafa Kemal Ataturk might have been the one exception, thehero of the Galipoli campaign who ended up being a nationbuilder, founding the modern Republic of Turkey. The truthhowever, is that in actuality it was the German generals whowon the battle, only allowing the phony hero to take the credit.

Ataturk then recruited Ittihadist murderers as a base for his“modern” republic.

I personally witnessed a tragic example of this historic blood-letting. Following the uprising of the Karabakh movement,when independence was in progress, former advisor to PresidentLevon Ter-Petrosian, Prof. Gerard Libaridian introduced me toone of the brilliant intellectual leaders of the KarabakhCommittee, Hampartsum Galstyan, who later became the mayorof Yerevan. At that time, Galstyan assured me that all the lead-ers of the movement were like brothers and he held his hand ina fist. I was exhilarated but worried. I said, “I hope this timearound you disprove history, because all previous revolutionshave ended up in terror or bloodshed, most of the time the lead-ers eliminating each other.”

Lo and behold, Galstyan was the first victim, and no cause orculprit was discovered in his assassination, to this day. Of course,the Karabakh Committee eventually splintered, with each mem-ber going his own way.

Therefore, it has become a historic adage that revolutionariesnever or seldom become efficient peacetime rulers. The miscon-ception for our heroes in Armenia is there. Because they havehonestly fought for liberation of Karabakh, they believe theyhave won the privilege of imposing their position and views onthe civilian authorities. They certainly have won an honorableplace in society, but they have to know that comes with a price.A case in point is Samvel Babayan, the former minister ofdefense of Karabakh who proved himself to be a hero in the warof liberation. But in peacetime, he turned into a villain, plottingto assassinate former president of Karabakh Arkadi Ghukassian.He was tried and jailed but under public pressure, he wasreleased only to be caught in yet another assassination plot andcurrently is serving another jail term.

When the leaders of Sasna Tzerer were put on trial, there wasa public outcry that they were being treated unfairly becauseArmenia lacked civil liberties as they do in Europe. The editorof the daily Aravot, Aram Abrahamyan, a keen observer of thescene in Armenia, and no apologist for the authorities, retorted

in one of his daily columns, “Try to storm a police station in aEuropean or American city and murder a cop and see where youend up.”

In any country subject to the rule of law, citizens are wellaware of their rights and responsibilities and they know everyinfraction has a commensurate punishment. But in our society,especially in Armenia, emotions run high, sometimes stifling rea-son.

The misplaced hero worship is not new in our history. It wasonce taken up by one of our eminent satirists, Yervant Odian, ina book titled The Parasites of Revolution. Many persecutedArmenians who had fled the Ottoman Empire had found refugein the affluent Egyptian-Armenian community. There were manyformer freedom fighters among the refugees who enjoyed thelargess of the community. But there were also some phony oneswho had never wielded a weapon but manufactured stories ofheroic deeds to win the admiration and the generosity of thepeople, perhaps not too alike another folk hero, HovannesToomanyan’s Kaj Nazar. And many times, they had their waywith credulous Armenians. Odian, in his witty style, warned thepublic against those fake heroes. They try to share the honor oftrue heroes who are not always braggarts.

People who have put their daily lives in harm’s way for a goodcause deserve honor and respect. But they should not take forgranted their license to act as they wish, without considerationgiven to rules. Fighting on the battlefront should not be con-fused with the right to rule a country. General Antranik was atrue revolutionary and he graciously received the respect andadmiration of people yet he never gave in to the temptation toassume the mantle of a political ruler.

True heroes know well their place in society and in history.

Established 1932

An ADL Publication

EDITOR

Alin K. Gregorian

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Aram ArkunART DIRECTOR

Marc Mgrditchian

SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST:Edmond Y. Azadian

CONTRIBUTORS:Florence Avakian, Dr. HaroutiunArzoumanian, Philippe Raffi Kalfayan,Diana Der Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian,Kevork Keushkerian, Harut Sassounian,Hagop Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian

CORRESPONDENTS:

Armenia - Hagop AvedikianBoston - Nancy KalajianNew York/New Jersey - TaleenBabayanBerlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach

Contributing Photographers:Jirair Hovsepian

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1509

By David Minie

Twice each year, my thoughts turn to theArmenian Genocide. On April 24, the anniver-sary date of the 1915 massacres orchestratedby the Turkish government. And on January 27,when 45 years ago Gourgen Yanikian assassi-nated two Turkish diplomats in Santa Barbarato avenge the genocide.

Yanikian, age 78 and a former Fresno resi-dent, was charged with murder, and I was hisprosecutor.

The aging Armenian had lured the diplomats

to a cottage at Santa Barbara’s exclusiveBiltmore Hotel, promising gifts of art treasuresfor their government. Instead, he pulled a Lugerpistol from a hollowed-out book and emptied itat them. He then called the reception desk,announced he had killed “two evils,” and satcalmly on the patio awaiting arrest.

Yanikian’s purpose was to create an“Armenian Nuremberg” — a show trial to callworld attention to the Genocide, as theNuremberg trial had done with Nazi warcrimes. And perhaps to be acquitted. Yanikian’shope was not unreasonable.

In 1921, a German jury had acquittedSoghoman Tehlirian of murdering Talaat

Pasha, the Turkish official most responsible forthe Genocide. Tehlirian later settled in Fresno,and his tomb is the centerpiece of Fresno’sMasis Ararat Cemetery.

Talaat had been sentenced in absentia todeath for “crimes against humanity,” and hadfled to Germany. Tehlirian found Talaat andshot him to death on a Berlin street. Asplanned, Tehlirian pled not guilty, and his trialwas reported worldwide.

Tehlirian testified about the rape and murderof his sisters, the beheading of his mother andthe killings of his brothers. It took a jury lessthan two hours tofind Tehlirian notguilty. The New YorkTimes headline read,“They Simply Had toLet Him Go.”

Fifty-two yearslater, in a SantaBarbara courtroom,Yanikian sought his“ A r m e n i a nNuremberg,” and anacquittal. As prosecu-tor, it was my duty toconvict him.

The trial proceededwithout personal ran-cor. I have a photo-graph of Yanikian, hisattorneys and me, standing together, smiling,during a court recess. And another, with theinscription “to our admired and respectedDistrict Attorney and friend.”

Yanikian’s attorneys told the judge they want-ed to call as witnesses eminent historians andelderly Armenians who had survived theGenocide. And survivors were available. Buseddaily from Southern California, they sat silentlyin the courtroom among family members, readyto recount unspeakable horrors.

One of Yanikian’s attorneys, VaskenMinasian, asked me to allow the testimony. Hegave me a copy of The Cross and the Crescent,about the Tehlirian trial. In it he wrote: “Thetragedy in Santa Barbara has brought destinyand God to your doorstep,” and he urged me to

“bring forth an indictment against genocide.”He added, “You stand to become an immortalsymbol of justice around the world.”

This was heady stuff, and I faced a dilemma:to allow a parade of eye-witnesses to theGenocide, risking an acquittal, or to block theevidence to obtain a conviction. I knew suchevidence would likely lead to “jury nullifica-tion,” where a jury disregards the law andacquits for a perceived greater justice, as theTehlirian jury had done.

I took the safer path, and the judge sustainedmy objection to the witnesses. But I could not

in good conscience block the testimony ofYanikian himself, no matter how it inflamed thejury. He commanded the witness stand for sixdays and described in detail, without objection,the Armenian genocide.

Yanikian told how, as a boy of 8, he watchedmarauding Turks slit his brother’s throat, andof the slaughter of 26 other family members. Hetestified in Armenian, translated by AramSaroyan, former Fresno grape shipper, SanFrancisco attorney, and uncle of author WilliamSaroyan.

Jurors were moved to tears by Yanikian’s tes-timony, but they were denied the corroboratingtestimony the defense hoped would sway theirdecision. The Yanikian jury, unlike the Tehlirian

see DOCUMENTATION, age 20

S A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R

COMMENTARY

19

My TurnBy Harut Sassounian

New Biography Portrays KirkKerkorian, Not Trump, as ‘theGreatest Deal Maker’

William Rempel, a veteran investigative reporter, just wrotea comprehensive biography of industrialist and philanthropistKirk Kerkorian published by Harper Collins. The book istitled, The Gambler: How Penniless Dropout Kirk KerkorianBecame the Greatest Deal Maker in Capitalist History.

Rempel has meticulously pieced together the details ofKerkorian’s phenomenal and extremely private life throughwar records, business archives, court documents, recollec-tions and recorded memories of longtime friends and associ-ates.

Although both are billionaires and casino owners,Kerkorian and Donald Trump had very little in common.Rempel wrote: “Fellow casino owner Donald Trump calledKirk ‘the king’ and told friends: ‘I love that guy.’ However,Kirk was Trump’s polar opposite in style and temperament.Kirk was soft-spoken and understated with a paralyzing fearof public speaking. He wished, he said, that he ‘could talk likeTrump.’ Kirk also wanted his name on nothing — not on build-ings, not on street signs, not even on his personal parkingspot at MGM Studios. And Kirk never defaulted on a loan andalways regarded his handshake as a binding contract.”

When Kerkorian’s new multi-billion dollar CityCenter hotel-casino complex at the heart of Las Vegas ran into financialtrouble in 2009, Rempel wrote that Trump initially expressedsome sympathy: “I love Kirk and hope it works out for them.”Trump then turned around and called the CityCenter project“an absolute catastrophe” during an interview on CNN’s

“Larry King Show.” Trump later stated: “It will be the biggestbust in the history of real estate…too bad.” Of course, Trumpwas wrong in his prediction. Kerkorian, once again, bouncedback on his feet and CityCenter became a great financial suc-cess!

While Kerkorian was on the Forbes magazine’s billionaires’list in 1989, Trump was also initially on that list. However,soon after, Forbes dumped Trump from its list of billionairesexplaining that “they had been misled by incomplete infor-mation provided by Trump…. The future US president’s networth was then, said the editors, ‘within hailing distance ofzero.’”

A press release issued by Harper Collins describedRempel’s biography of Kerkorian as the “rags-to-riches storyof one of America’s wealthiest and least-known financialgiants, self-made billionaire Kirk Kerkorian — the daring avia-tor, movie mogul, risk taker and business tycoon who trans-formed Las Vegas and Hollywood to become one of the lead-ing financiers in American business.”

One of the key advantages of this biography is the exten-sive coverage of Kerkorian’s philanthropy for the Armenian-American community and the Republic of Armenia. In thepast two years, I spent several hours with author WilliamRempel to brief him about Kerkorian’s contributions toAmerican-Armenian charitable organizations and major pro-jects in Armenia. Rempel described me in the book as:“Publisher of the California Courier, an English-languageArmenian weekly based in Glendale, was also president of theUnited Armenian Fund [now Armenia Artsakh Fund] and thedriving force behind Kirk’s Armenian charity efforts.” In real-ity, Kerkorian himself was the driving force behind his chari-table giving! He really cared about the Armenian communi-ty’s well-being and Armenia’s prosperity.”

Although Kerkorian remains a very well-known and highlyrespected name among Armenians worldwide, many non-Armenians are unaware that he was an Armenian-American.Fortunately, Rempel’s biography devotes three chapters toKerkorian’s Armenian heritage and philanthropy.

Chapter 12 of the book is titled: “The ArmenianConnection.” It describes Kerkorian’s chance meeting in LasVegas with Manny Agassi in 1963, a waiter at Tropicana hoteland a fellow Armenian originally from Tehran, Iran. Manny

became a close friend of Kerkorian and named his future son,Andre Kirk Agassi, who became a famous tennis player.Rempel also described Kerkorian’s business dealings withGeorge Mason (Elmassian), his longtime stockbroker, and thefounder of the California Courier newspaper in 1958.

In Chapter 31, Rempel described the tragic earthquake ofDecember 7, 1988, in Northern Armenia and how Kerkorianagreed to join the United Armenian Fund in sending over 150airlifts for the next 25 years to transport $700 million ofhumanitarian aid initially to the survivors of the earthquake,and subsequently to the entire population of Armenia andArtsakh (Nagorno Karabakh). The biographer Rempel alsodescribed how the United Armenian Fund was founded, acoalition of the seven largest Armenian-American charitableand religious organizations, including Kerkorian’s LincyFoundation. Alex Yemenidjian was Chairman of the UnitedArmenian Fund and Harut Sassounian was its president.

Chapter 36 is titled: “Genocide and Generosity.” Itdescribed Kerkorian’s first-ever visit to Armenia in 1998 onhis private jet accompanied by Harut Sassounian. The chap-ter relates conversations about Turkey and the occupiedArmenian lands during the flight to Armenia and discussionsto fund new projects by Kerkorian’s Lincy Foundation. I wassubsequently appointed Vice Chairman of the LincyFoundation to oversee $242 million of infrastructure projectsin Armenia and some in Artsakh. This revealing book alsoincludes amusing anecdotes about Kerkorian’s uncomfortablestay in an old Soviet-style mansion which forced him to switchto the Marriott Hotel, and his traumatic visit to the ArmenianGenocide Museum in Yerevan!

Kirk Kerkorian’s biography is the fascinating story of aunique human being. He was a brilliant businessman, anextremely modest philanthropist, a true American as well asa true Armenian. As a last indication of his kindness and gen-erosity, he departed this world in 2005 at the age of 98, leav-ing his entire fortune of $2 billion to charity, in addition tothe $1 billion he had already donated to American andArmenian charitable causes through the Lincy Foundation.

I recommend that every Armenian buy a copy of Kirk’sbiography and suggest it to their non-Armenian neighbors,friends and colleagues. Kerkorian’s incredible accomplish-ments bestow a great honor upon Armenians worldwide.

To the Editor:Why do we continue to praise Woodrow

Wilson? It seems because of ignorance.(“Armenia Embassy Honors WoodrowWilson for Genocide Relief Efforts,” January13, Page 8.)

It is true that in 1916, two days were setaside to have a fundraising drive forArmenian orphans in Armenia. Too little,too late.

Woodrow Wilson was delusional in thathe thought himself as a “Jr. Jesus.” (See, forexample, William C. Bullitt and SigmundFreud. Woodrow Wilson: A PsychologicalStudy. New Brunswick & London:Transaction Publishers, 1999.)

He was one of the principal characterswho prevented the US from declaring waron the Ottoman Empire, in 1917. Then, in1920, he drew new boundaries for therepublic of Armenia.

A mindless act, which resulted in thedeaths of thousands Armenians who hadsurvived the genocide. For his new map of

Armenia, it would require the need of thou-sands of American troops which the U.S. didnot commit. After his new map, the Turksdecided to destroy any Armenians who wereleft and, therefore, there would be no popu-lation to occupy the new territory. One canimagine if today, the U.S. governmentdeclared that New York and Connecticut beturned over to the Armenians what wouldhappen. It could be that theCongregationalists were more concernedwith their holdings in Asia Minor in terms ofbuildings, schools and hospitals with an esti-mated value of $40 million, according toJames Barton, of the Near East Relief. Didthe Congregationalists recover any of thismoney? Those unemployed mendicantsfound a home in Asia Minor to preach theirbeliefs, someone should have told them thatthe Apostles Thaddaeus and Bartholomewhad already evangelized Armenia 1500years before the advent of Martin Luther.

–Walter C. Bandazian, Ph.D.

Praise for Woodrow Wilson Is Misplaced

LETTERS

Valley Prosecutor Misses Chance to Document Armenian Genocide

Attorney James Lindsay, defendant Gourgen Yanikian, District AttorneyDavid Minier, attorney Vasken Minasian in 1972.

S A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R20

For Your Internal Newsof Armenia

Log on to www.AZG.amIn English, Armenian, Russian

and Turkish

Congressmen Call on USSecretary of Treasury toRenegotiate Double-TaxTreaty with ArmeniaTAXATION, from page 1‘willing to conclude such an accord on the

basis of the latest US Model Income TaxConvention of 2016.’

“The complexities of the international taxstructure should not discourage Americanand Armenian companies from conductingbusiness with each other due to double taxa-tion. The need for updated guidelines thatreflect the current state of US-Armenian rela-tions and recently passed tax reform legisla-tion cannot be understated. As Members ofCongress, we respectfully urge you to priori-tize the renegotiation of the double tax treatywith Armenia. The existing Soviet-era treatydoes not reflect the increasing complexity ofa globalized world and the friendshipbetween the American and Armenian peo-ples. Furthermore, it is vital we provide busi-nesses from both countries the ability andincentive to invest in one another”

Valley Prosecutor MissesChance to DocumentArmenian genocideDOCUMENTATION, from page 19jury, followed the law and gave me what Iasked: two first-degree murder verdicts. Therewould be no nullification. Yanikian was sen-tenced to life in prison. He was granted com-passionate release to a care home in 1984,over objection of the Turkish government,and died of cancer two months later.

Yanikian failed to get his ArmenianNuremberg, and “The Forgotten Genocide,”denied to this day by the Turkish government,was never proved in a court of law by the tes-timony of eyewitness survivors.

Looking back, I regret I hadn’t the courageto allow such evidence, and trust the jury tofollow the law. And attorney Minasian’s wordsstill haunt me: “… bring forth an indictmentagainst genocide.” History’s darkest chapters— its genocides — should be fully exposed, sotheir horrors are less likely to be repeated.

Notwithstanding Turkish denials, the historicalevidence of the Armenian genocide is so abun-dant that 48 American states, and at least 25nations, have memorialized and condemned it.

Valadao Pushes Resolution onGenocide

Not so the American government. For years,Congressional Resolutions condemning theGenocide have been defeated after intense pres-sure from Turkey, where American military basesexist at Turkish pleasure.

Passage of the current version, HouseResolution 220, “would be a critical steptowards ensuring an event like the Armeniangenocide never takes place again,” saysHanford Congressman David Valadao, a co-sponsor.

But H.R. 220 has languished in the ForeignAffairs Committee for 10 months, andchances for passage are remote. The Housewill doubtless take the safer path, as I did inthe Yanikian trial.

And once again, truth will fall victim toexpedience.

(David Minier of Fresno is a former dis-trict attorney of both Madera and SantaBarbara counties, and a retired Superior

Court judge who sits frequently by assign-ment in Valley courtrooms. This column

originally appeared in the FresnoBee.)

YEREVAN (Panorama.am) — Women willbe granted equal rights and opportunities ifthey decide to pursue the military as theirprofession, Armenian Defense Minister VigenSargsyan said in his speech at a solemn cere-mony dedicated to the National Army Day.

“Although the military profession is con-

sidered a man’s realm, Armenian girls alsosee the opportunity to prove themselves inthat sphere. Naira Arshakyan from Shirakregion is one of the best cadets of the[Vazgen Sargsyan] Military University. Shehas pursued this profession following theexample of his brother, Captain Vazgen

Arshakyan: she has decided to become herbrother’s comrade in arms. [She] has chosena very difficult profession, and I am con-vinced she will succeed in it,” Sargsyan said.

The minister stressed that Armenian menwill never hesitate a moment to defend theirhomeland from adversary’s encroachments.“But I want you to be equally convinced thatif you pursue the military profession, we willguarantee equal rights and opportunities forwomen serving in the military,” the topArmenian official stressed.

Sargsyan also added that all the possiblesteps are underway to strengthen the feed-back with the army, to facilitate the commu-nication between a soldier and his family andto ensure the protection of human rights inthe army.

In the minister’s words, the reconstructionof the main campus of the Vazgen SargsyanMilitary University will kick off this yearthanks to the Izmirlian Foundation’s signifi-cant donation. “In the not-too-distant future,our ranks will be replenished by young offi-cers, who are studying at civic universitiesand have chosen “I have the Honor” pro-gram, and our army will gain new impetusboosting its combat readiness,” the ministersaid.

Military Women to Be Guaranteed Equal RightsAnd Opportunities, Defense Minister Says

Putin Gifts Netanyahu Original LetterFrom Schindler

MOSCOW (Panorama.am) — Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu received a giftfrom Russian President Vladimir Putin, an original letter from Oskar Schindler, theGerman industrialist who saved more than 1,000 Jews during the Holocaust, Fort RussNews reported citing RIA.

Netanyahu, who paid a one-day visit to Moscow last week, is reported to be touched bythe gift and is going to transfer it to the “Yad Vashem memorial complex in Jerusalem,the world’s largest center for studying the history of the Holocaust and preserving thememory of the victims.

“As a gift, President Putin handed Prime Minister Netanyahu an original letter fromOskar Schindler to his wife at the end of the meeting. The head of the government wasvery touched by this gift, timed to coincide with the International HolocaustRemembrance Day,” said the Israeli press service.