Mirror-Spe RMENIAN ctator · 2019-11-07 · $2.00 The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the...

Aronian Receives PrizeBATUMI, Georgia (Panorama.am) — Armenian

grandmaster Levon Aronian has stood out with hisstrong performance at European Team ChessChampionship ended in Batumi, Georgia, beingawarded with individual medal. According to thereport by Chess Federation, Aronian scored 5 outof 8 points in front of Board 1, securing silvermedal. Russia’s Dmitry Andreikin took the gold onthe first board, the source said.The Armenian team placed fourth with 13 points

at the competition.

Foreign Minister inSweden for EU LectureYEREVAN (Armenpress) — Foreign Minister of

Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan participating oNovember 5 in a lecture dedicated to the 10thanniversary of the European Union’s EasternPartnership at the Swedish Institute ofInternational Affairs, Armenian MFA spokeswomanAnna Naghdalyan announced on Facebook.“FM of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, together

with FM of Ukraine Vadym Pystaiko, participates in“EaP10 Lecture: A talk with FMs of Armenia andUkraine” at Swedish Institute of InternationalAffairs.Mnatsakanyan presented Armenia’s foreign poli-

cy priorities and prospects of relations with theEuropean Union,” Naghdalyan said.

Armenia Lands 8thAmong Countries withMost Internet FreedomYEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Armenia has

improved its standing in a fresh report assessingthe state of internet freedom and personal libertiesin 65 countries, prepared by Freedom House, aWashington-based think tank.Ranked Free in the 2019 edition of the survey,

Armenia scored 76 out of 100 in the global inter-net freedom ranking, to land in eighth place.Armenia rose from “partly free” to “free” in

2018.According to the Freedom on the Net report,

positive changes were unleashed in Armenia bythe 2018 Velvet Revolution continued in 2019 aswell.In particular, the report says, “violence against

online journalists declined, and the digital newsmedia enjoyed greater freedom from economicand political pressures.“Developments in Armenia in 2018 demon-

strated once again that digital technology canhelp generate dramatic democratic change.Citizens effectively used social media.”Neighboring Georgia (with a score of 75) is

also ranked Free, Azerbaijan has dropped to joinTurkey, Iran and Russia in the Not Free domain.

INSIDE

NEWS IN BRIEF

Tribute to

VeteransPage 5

INDEXArts and Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Armenia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,3Community News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Mirror- SpectatorMirror- SpectatorTHE ARMENIAN

Volume LXXXX, NO. 17, Issue 4610

NOVEMBER 9 , 2 019

$ 2.00

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

Charents’ Iconic CreationBecomes Accessible in 35Languages

By Gayane GhazaryanSpecial to the Mirror-Spectator

YEREVAN – On October 20, a presentationof the newly published Yes Im AnoushHayastani [Ode to Armenia] by YeghisheCharents, a book containing the translation ofthe famous poem of this name translated into35 different languages, took place next to theAram Khachaturian Opera and Ballet Buildingas part of the Aurora Humanitarian Forum of2019. The audience included one of the great-est modern Armenian composers, TigranMansourian, as well as the grandchildren ofCharents and of his best friends, poet AvetikIsahakyan and painter Martiros Saryan.

see CHARENTS, page 20

Gohar Charents

Biggest Yazidi Temple in the WorldOpens in ArmeniaAKNALICH, Armenia (The Independent) — In the sleepy Armenian lakeside town of

Aknalich, crowds gathered for the opening of a new temple on September 30. Inside thevast vaulted stone building, musicians dressedin ivory colored cotton garments and rolledheadscarves processed in a circle. Some chant-ed sacred hymns, while others played the drum

and flute. Those gathered around them danced shoulder to shoulder. These musicians are known as qewwals, singers of the ageless, orally transmitted

sacred songs from the Yazidi religion.Yazidis are a Kurdish-speaking religious minority, whose main population is con-

centrated in northern Iraq. In 2014, Isis militants killed, kidnapped and displacedthousands from their community. Today, this ancient minority is extremely fragileand scattered across the globe.Yazidis agree on the ancient roots of their religion, but not on the details of these

origins. The religion is monotheistic, and their principal saint is the 12th-centurySufi mystic Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir, who was buried in a temple in Lalish, the reli-gion’s main pilgrimage site in northern Iraq. Academics also point to connectionswith ancient Iranian religions. see TEMPLE,page 6

By Alin K. Gregorian Mirror-Spectator Staff

BELMONT, Mass. — On the blusteryafternoon of Friday, November 1, theNational Association for Armenian Studiesand Research (NAASR) finally unveiled itsairy and sparkly new building, erected onthe site of its previous center.Hundreds of well-wishers and supporters

gathered outside for the opening program,which included comments from the personfor whom the building is named, Dr. VartanGregorian.Yervant Chekijian, chairman of the

NAASR board, got the program started. Hehighlighted some of the building’s new fea-tures, including the main door, crafted byan artisan in Armenia.

Ara Krafian, chairman and president ofthe firm SMMA, which provided the archi-tectural and engineering services for thenew building, spoke next. The new 15,000-square-foot building, he said, came about asa result of the “courageous Board ofTrustees and relentless Yervant,” addingspecial thanks to Executive Director SarahIgnatius and Director of Academic AffairsMarc Mamigonian.The new building, he said, is much more

efficient, larger and full of natural light.In addition, the floor-to-ceiling glass walls

on the third floor have etchings of tradi-tional Armenian design.Ignatius expressed her delight that the

day of the unveiling had finally arrived. “Iam incredibly proud to be here. All of youare part of this building,” she said.She paid special tribute to the man for

whom the building is named, Dr. Vartan

Gregorian, and expressed her joy that thebuilding would be a place for the community.“They can come and study and have

meetings with colleagues,” she said.During a tour of the building she added

that the building will have wi-fi hotspotssee OPENING, page 10

NAASR Unveils NewHeadquarters

The custom-made stunning door

(JIRAIR HOVSEPIAN PHOTO)

Dr. Taner Akçam,left, holds certifi-cate from Knightsand Daughters ofVartan, next toVice GrandCommanderKevork Oflazianand GrandCommanderSteven R. Adams

(VARTAN ESENYAN PHOTO)

Taner Akçam, HonoredBy Knights andDaughters of VartanCalls for Creation of Genocide Research Center

SEE STORY ON PAGE 8

By Lemma Shehadi

S A T U R D A Y, N O V E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 9 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R2

ARMENIA

Catholicos Karekin IIMarks 20th AnniversaryECHMIADZIN (Panorama.am) — The 20th

anniversary of the enthronement of Karekin II,Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenianswas marked on November 3 at the Mother See ofHoly Echmiadzin.A divine Liturgy was celebrated in the St. Gayane

Monastery. Following Divine Liturgy, a specialPontifical prayer service was offered. DiocesanPrimates from Armenia and the Diaspora, brother-hood members and pilgrims were in attendance forthe services. The 20th anniversary will be officially celebrated

next year when the renovation of the MotherCathedral will be completed.

US Increases Funding toArmenia

YEREVAN — The United States Embassy inArmenia announced that the US Government has fur-ther increased assistance funding to Armenia in2019. The figure for this year is more than $60 mil-lion, which represents a 40-percent increase over lastyear’s amount.The funding includes projects managed by not only

the Department of State and the US Agency forInternational Development, but also the Departmentof Energy, the US Forest Service, and theDepartment of Defense.These funds include US government support to bol-

ster Armenian democratic development in a widevariety of areas, including anti-corruption, security,energy, education, English language, forest service,human rights, civil society, and the strengthening oftransparent and accountable government institu-tions, including the law enforcement, justice andjudicial sectors.“The United States has sought to support the

development of democratic processes and institu-tions in Armenia for the last 27 years, and we cer-tainly do not intend to change that now, at a timewhen democracy in Armenia is stronger than ever,”US Ambassador Lynne M. Tracy said. “That is whywe are proud to announce more than $60 million inassistance funding to Armenia this year.”Since 1992, the US government has provided more

than $2 billion in assistance to Armenia.

Senior GovernmentOfficial Resigns

YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The head of a governmentagency regulating Armenia’s real estate marketresigned on Friday, October 18, citing policy differ-ences and “dilettantism” of senior officials in chargeof urban development in the country.The official, Sarhat Petrosyan, is a well-known

architect and public figure who was appointed ashead of the Cadaster Committee in the wake of lastyear’s “Velvet Revolution” in which he actively par-ticipated. The committee maintains a state registryof real estate and registers property deals.“I do not agreed with our government’s policy and

existing approaches in the area of urban develop-ment which I believe encompasses the cadaster sec-tor as well,” Petrosyan said in a statement.“Despite the unprecedented upswing registered in

the real estate market [since the revolution] we haveregressed in the area of urban development,” he said,accusing the current and former heads of the gov-ernment’s Urban Development Committee of imitat-ing meaningful activities.Petrosian complained that he has had only minor

influence on government policies. “As head of a gov-ernment agency and urban development architect byeducation, I can no longer tolerate dilettantism andsectarianism bordering on corruption,” he said.He also thanked Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan

for appointing him to the post and engineering lastyear’s “incredible change” in Armenia.“I continue to regard the changes of 2018 as one

of the most important achievements in the modernhistory of the Armenian people which must be pre-served, developed and spread,” concluded the state-ment.Pashinyan’s office did not immediately react to the

announcement of Petrosian’s resignation.

News From Armenia

YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Judge VaheGrigoryan has urged the Armenian parlia-ment to step in to resolve what hedescribes as a crisis in the ConstitutionalCourt whose chairman’s legitimacy is dis-puted by the government.Grigoryan, whom parliament elected

judge of the Constitutional Court earlierthis year, immediately called for the elec-tion of a new chairman of the high court,arguing that this is the requirement of anew constitution adopted through anationwide referendum in 2015.The claim was backed by the

Armenian government as PrimeMinister Nikol Pashinyan accusedConstitutional Court head HrayrTovmasyan of having struck a politicaldeal with former President SerzhSargsyan to “privatize” the country’shighest court shortly before constitu-tional amendments were to fully takeeffect in April 2018.Tovmasyan hit back at the accusa-

tions, claiming political persecution.Last month members of theConstitutional Court rejected the par-liament’s demand to remove Tovmasyanand elect a new chairman.Also last month Armenia’s law-

enforcement authorities launched aninquiry into a possible “usurpation ofpower” by a “group of officials” thatallegedly accompanied Tovmasyan’selection as chairman of theConstitutional Court in March 2018. Aformer senior official has been arrestedand charged as part of the investigationbut not legal action has yet been takenagainst Tovmasyan, who claims consti-tutional immunity and insists he can beprosecuted and arrested only with theConstitutional Court’s consent.Talking to RFE/RL’s Armenian

Service (Azatutyun.am) on Sunday,November 3, Grigoryan said that in thesituation like this the onus is on the par-liament to enforce the constitutionalamendments that he insists imply theelection of new judges in theConstitutional Court. “I strongly believethat the best way to solve the issue of theconstitutionality and democratic legiti-macy of the Constitutional Court envis-aged by amendments adopted in theDecember 2015 referendum is to electnew judges to that court, which does notexclude nominations from among the

existing members if they so desire. I havespoken openly about this. This will com-pletely solve the problem,” he said.The Constitutional Court has nine mem-

bers. Only two of them, includingGrigoryan, were elected after 2015 consti-tutional amendments were fully enforced.Grigoryan now believes that new judgesshould be elected in compliance with thenew constitution, as besides him andArman Dilanyan all others have the statusof members rather than judges of theConstitutional Court in accordance withthe old constitution.Other members of the Constitutional

Court do not share this approach.Alvina Gyulumian, who has sat on theCourt since 2014, says: “There are novacancies in the Constitutional Court atpresent.” Earlier, in an interview withRFE/RL’s Armenian ServiceGyulumian said that she saw no “crisis”in the Constitutional Court, but rathera “conflict between personalities.”Still, Grigoryan insists that it is the

parliament that must play a key role in“resolving the crisis.” “The NationalAssembly of the Republic of Armenia isthe holder of the parliamentary sover-eignty of the republic, and the crisis inthe Constitutional Court is viewed fromthe point of view of the protection ofdemocracy in Armenia and the elimina-tion of constitutional security issuesthat are directly related to the constitu-tional powers and responsibilities of therepublic’s parliament,” he said.Grigoryan added that he has pro-

posed some intermediate solutions.“The recognition of the status quo andthe elimination of all status differencesbetween the members and the judges ofthe Constitutional Court, which natu-rally exist and are recognized even bythe chairman of the VeniceCommission, up to filling the vacanciesof new judges by nominating new can-didates and electing judges. The solu-tion can also be found by amendingsome provisions of the Constitution andby various other means,” he said.Late last month, Gianni Buquicchio,

the head of the Council of Europe’sVenice Commission, expressed seriousconcern over what he described as theArmenian government’s “open conflict”with the Constitutional Court andcalled for a renewed “normal opera-

tion” of Armenia’s constitution.In a statement released on October

29, Buquicchio said all branches of thecountry’s government should respecteach other’s “prerogatives, obligationsand competences” set by Armenian law.“If this is not done, if there lacks

democratic culture and maturity, thefunctioning of the state institutions iscompromised and the democratic, civiland economic progress of the society isjeopardized,” warned Buquicchio.“I call on all sides to exercise

restraint, mutual respect and construc-tive institutional cooperation in orderto de-escalate this worrying situationand re-establish the normal operationof the constitution of Armenia,” thehead of the Venice Commission said.

Parliament Urged to Resolve ‘Constitutional Court Crisis’

YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — SamvelAleksanyan, a wealthy businessmanwho was for years closely linked toArmenia’s former leaders, inauguratedthree new textile factories in the pres-ence of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyanon Friday, November 1.Pashinyan toured their premises in

Yerevan, welcoming the expansion ofAleksanyan’s textile business firstlaunched a few years ago. He said theArmenian government is ready to assistin its further growth “within the frame-work of its legal instruments.”A government statement on

Pashinyan’s participation in the cere-mony said that the new factoriesemploy around 1,000 people and thatAleksanyan plans to create 2,000 morejobs there. The tycoon will also open totwo similar plants outside Yerevan nextyear, said the statement.Aleksanyan, 51, is one of Armenia’s

richest men who has long controlledthe lucrative imports of sugar, cookingoil and other basic foodstuffs to thecountry. He also owns the country’slargest supermarket chain.Aleksanyan, who is commonly known

as “Lfik Samo,” used to have close tiesto former President Serzh Sargsyanand his Republican Party of Armenia(HHK). He was a parliament deputy rep-resenting the HHK from 2003 to 2018,

playing a major role in the party’s elec-tion campaigns.Opposition politicians and media for

years claimed that he enjoyed privilegedtreatment by the government in returnfor earning the HHK and Sargsyanvotes in Yerevan’s Malatia-Sebastia dis-trict, his stronghold. The blue-collar dis-trict was notorious for vote buying, vio-lence and other election-related irregu-larities reported by the Armenianmedia.Pashinyan repeatedly lambasted the

“oligarch” when he was in opposition to

the former regime. In March 2016, forexample, he charged on the parliamentfloor that Aleksanyan may be evading“tens of millions of dollars” in taxesthrough a fraud scheme allowed bySargsyan. Aleksanyan denied thoseclaims.Aleksanyan defected from the HHK

faction in Armenia’s former parliamentin June 2018 just over a month afterSarkisian was overthrown in the “VelvetRevolution” led by Pashinyan. He hasnot been openly involved in any politi-cal activities since then.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian (C) visits new textile factories opened by businessmanSamvel Aleksanian (R), Yerevan, November 1, 2019.

Armenian Tycoon Expands Textile Business

PM Receives UN DelegationYEREVAN (Panorama.am) — Prime

Minister Nikol Pashinyan received a del-egation led by UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and PeacebuildingAffairs Rosemary A. DiCarlo onOctober 29.Welcoming DiCarlo to Armenia,

Pashinyan stressed the importance ofclose cooperation between theGovernment of Armenia and the UN.Pashinyan praised the United Nations’assistance provided to the country onthe way to implementing institutionalreforms, including the Electoral Codeamendments. He emphasized theimportance of amending the ElectoralCode in a way to ensure fair and trans-parent elections. He stressed that theArmenian government intends to pushahead with the reforms aimed at devel-oping and strengthening democracy.DiCarlohailed the ongoing democ-

ratic reforms in Armenia and reaf-firmed the United Nations’ willing-ness to work more closely with theArmenian government. RosemaryDiCarlo congratulated the PrimeMinister on Armenia being elected amember of the Human Rights Counciland wished the Armenian colleaguesevery success.

S A T U R D A Y, N O V E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 9 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

My ForestArmeniaLaunches In YerevanYEREVAN — The official launching and press conference of

My Forest Armenia was held on October 25 at the TufenkianHistoric Yerevan Hotel. Armenia’s Deputy Minister of theEnvironment Vardan Melikyan, gave a supportive speech dur-ing the event. My Forest Armenia was created with the aim of planting

trees to capture carbon because certain CO2 emissions, forexample, from air travel, have no clean alternative yet. Facedwith the threat of climate change, everyone needs to act tomitigate global warming and reduce CO2 emissions. If thegoal is to arrive at 0 emissions by 2050, we all need to startacting now. My Forest Armenia offers the possibility to everyone, private

individuals, companies, institutions or associations, to offset theircarbon footprint by planting trees in Armenia. My Forest Armeniawill focus solely on increasing forest coverage. Indeed, aside fromcapturing carbon, the role of forests are hugely important for anycountry. Forests produce oxygen, lower temperatures, increasehumidity, prevent soil erosion, stop desertification, preserve biodi-versity, increase fauna and flora, help rural communities, andmuch more. My Forest Armenia will grow its seedlings in its own nurs-

eries in Tavoush and Lori. Particular attention will be givento ensure that young saplings are properly watered and main-tained in the crucial six years after planting ensuring a highsurvival rate. The medium-term objective is to plant 400,000trees per year. That represents an area of 200 hectares of

reforestation every year. Although it is an ambitious number, it should be put in per-

spective. Armenia’s forest coverage is only 11.2%. At 30.000 km2, 1%

represents 300 km2 or 30.000 hectares. At 200 ha per year,it would still take 150 years for Armenia’s tree coverage toincrease by 1%. On the My Forest Armenia website, aside from explanations

about nurseries and future reforestation projects, there is acarbon calculator to help calculate one’s carbon emis-

sions...and offset them by making a corresponding paymentto plant trees. My Forest Armenia is partnering with the Agrarian

University of Armenia for science and research. Furthermore,students will participate in different projects in the fields andforests. The Ministry of the Environment and its subsidiaries, Hay Antar

and Dilijan National Park are partners as well. My Forest Armeniais partnering with COAF in Debet for one of its nurseries. For moreinformation, see www.myforestarmenia.org.

YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Culture officials inArmenia have been under fire over a govern-ment-funded play that sparked a controversy inthe country after artists conducted its streetrehearsal in Yerevan over the weekend.A group of young artists that has worked on the

modernist play purportedly based on early 20th-century Armenian poetry staged the open-air exper-imental performance near a metro station in thecenter of the Armenian capital on Saturday,November 2. The play called “Emotion and Bell”was apparently met angrily by some of the conser-vative public. One young man who protested theplay attacked one of the performers with zelyonka(“brilliant green”) dye that takes days to wash off.He was detained by police.The video of the performance went viral,

causing an uproar on social media, with someaccusing the performers of promotingSatanism, “non-traditional” sexual orientationand unpatriotic behavior.The group who are not known to the general

public in Armenia said they presented “a mod-ern synthesis of dance and poetry — an experi-mental rendition of futurist poetry by Armenianpoets Charents, Gevorg Abov and AzatVshtuni.” Members of the group did not wish toelaborate or comment on the incident.The news that the play had become possible

due to a government grant added to the con-troversy, unleashing more criticism from oppo-sition circles.The Ministry of Education, Culture, Science

and Sports, which had allocated 2.7 milliondrams (about $5,650) for the play, said theapplication for funding submitted by the artistsindicated that it would be based on the worksof 1920s Armenian poets.Minister Arayik Harutiunyan said the min-

istry will be able to evaluate the efficiency of itsspending after the artists present the results oftheir project.Decisions to finance projects like this are

made by an artistic council set up upon theminister’s order. “It is hard to set concrete cri-teria for a cultural project and specialists arrive

at conclusions based on their experience andknowledge,” the minister explained.Among the specialists that had given a posi-

tive conclusion for funding the play were aYerevan State Conservatory lecturer, severalopera, ballet and variety artists as well as adeputy minister.Explaining the process, Harutiunyan said:

“Culture is not mathematics and predicting aprecise result is difficult. We should allow forsome mistakes. Things are redressed after mis-takes and the given direction or field only ben-efits from this.”The minister said that he himself was dis-

mayed to see some of the plays financed by theministry, but took it in its stride. “This is a con-

stant process,” he explained.Prominent Armenian actor, director and pro-

ducer Armen Elbakian said that censorship cannever be good for the arts and only time canshows what is true art and what is not. “It is notwe who should prohibit someone to do some-thing or make them think the way we think,”he said.Hasmik Khachunts, a pro-government mem-

ber of the Yerevan City Council who is one ofthe artists involved in “Emotion and Bell,”refused to speak on the performance, sayingthat she was only a performer, while questionsabout the contents of the work should bedirected to the choreographer who is currentlyoutside Armenia.

Meanwhile, lawmaker Naira Zohrabyan, ofthe opposition Prosperous Armenia Party,added her voice to the chorus of criticism.Zohrabyan, who is a theater critic, described

what happened near the Republic Squaremetro station in Yerevan as vulgarity that hasnothing to do with arts. “I will raise the issue ofwhy taxpayer money has been allocated for thisvulgarity,” she said.The lawmaker who chairs the parliament’s

standing committee on human rights alsoclaimed that the performance violated a num-ber of conventions on human rights protection.“Because, especially if I am with my child, andI want to take the metro, I will be forced towatch something that I don’t want to watch,”

Street Performance of Government-Funded Play Raises Eyebrows

By Marine Khachatrian

YEREVAN (RFE/RL) – A deputy chief of theArmenian police has been sacked for publiclyobjecting to a bill that would allow politicalappointees to run the law-enforcement agency.Armenian law has until now required the

heads of the police and the National SecurityService (NSS) to be high-ranking career offi-cers. Legal amendments drafted by the opposi-tion Bright Armenia Party (LHK) and passed bythe parliament in the first reading last monthwould remove this requirement. They stipulatethat any Armenian national who is aged 25 orolder and has lived in the country for the lastfour years could be appointed as police or NSSchief by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.Colonel Hovhannes Kocharyan, the deputy

chief of the national police service, toldreporters on October 22 that the police opposethe proposed amendments because they arebased on “political expediency.”

“The view of the police does not correspondto that of the authors of this bill,” Kocharyantold reporters. He dismissed the authors’ argu-ments that the police will be more accountableto the parliament if they are run by outsiders.President Armen Sarkissian relieved

Kocharyan of his duties on October 24 in adecree requested by Pashinyan. The prime min-ister’s spokesman, Vladimir Karapetyan, saidthe police official was fired because of makinga “political statement.”“The prime minister has stated on many occa-

sions that the police and army servicemen muststay away from politics and must not makestatements of political character,” Karapetyantold RFE/RL’s Armenian service.The National Assembly was widely expected

to pass the LHK bill in the second reading ear-lier on Thursday. However, it failed to do soafter last-minute objections voiced by VladimirVartanyan, the pro-government chairman of theparliament committee on legal affairs.Vartanyan said that the bill needs to undergo

some changes before it can become a law. He

did not elaborate on those changes.The police and NSS chiefs, Valeri Osipyan

and Artur Vanetsyan, were forced by Pashinyanto resign last month for still unclear reasons.Both agencies have been headed by interimheads since then. Pashinyan has yet to decidewho will run them on a permanent basis.

Hovhannes Kocharyan, deputy chief of theArmenian police, at a news conference inYerevan

Senior Police Official Fired For ‘Political Statement’

T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R4 S A T U R D A Y, N O V E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 9

INTERNATIONAL

Turkey Sentences, ThenFrees, 2 JournalistsJailed in Crackdown

ISTANBUL (New York Times) — A Turkish courtsentenced two journalists to about 10 years inprison for aiding a terrorist group but also orderedthem released Monday, November 4, in view of timeserved, in one of the most prominent cases of jour-nalists jailed in the crackdown after the 2016 failedcoup.The release of the journalists, Ahmet Altan and

Nazli Ilicak, was welcomed by human rights andpress freedom groups but was not taken as a signthat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had eased hisaggressive prosecution of political opponents anddissenters.Tens of thousands of people have been detained in

the last three years in cases that the government haslinked to the coup attempt and to Fethullah Gulen, acleric whom Turkey has accused of instigating it.Altan and Ilicak denied the charge that they had

aided a terrorist group or had any involvement in thefailed coup. Altan was sentenced to 10 years and sixmonths, and Ilicak to eight years and nine months;they were released under judicial control, a condi-tion that requires them to report regularly to a localpolice station.The court on Monday also acquitted Altan’s broth-

er Mehmet Altan, a journalist who had already beenreleased from jail.The European Union has put intense pressure on

Turkey to improve its judicial record and releasemany of the dissidents, journalists, lawyers and polit-ical figures who are currently held in jail. Turkey’sbusiness institutions have also lobbied for the samein an effort to ease the strain on the country’s econ-omy.Altan and Ilicak were previously sentenced to life

without parole in a decision that was eventually over-turned by the Supreme Court. They then faced a sec-ond trial on lesser charges; the case is expected tocontinue to the appeal courts, and likely to theSupreme Court.Gulen lives in exile in Pennsylvania and has denied

any involvement in the coup.

Azerbaijan MakesAnother Incursion into

Georgian territoryTBILISI (PanARMENIAN.Net) —

Azerbaijan has strengthened its position on newheights on the peak of the Babakyar (Papakar)mountains, which are situated within Georgian terri-tory, according to an analysis released on November5 by bellingcat, an investigative website.The Babakyar mountains include territory from all

the three South Caucasian countries - Azerbaijan,Armenia and Georgia.But this is not the first time Azerbaijan is

encroaching into Georgian territory.PanARMENIAN.Net reported back in January

2017 that Azerbaijan had built defense facilities andstrongholds which sank into the territory of Georgia,beginning from the crossroad of Armenia-Georgia-Azerbaijan border and stretching to the Red Bridgecheckpoint. Some 6,5 km long, the area coversaround 800-1000 hectares.Armenian political scientist Samvel Meliksetyan

revealed back then that Papakar peak, a key militarypoint, is situated in the territory of Georgia, theAzerbaijan border lying south of the mountain. Butthe Azerbaijanis have gone some 400 meters deep inthis area and established a system of strongholdsthat fully lie on the territory of Georgia.Azerbaijani media outlets reported back in April

2019 that strategic heights on the border withArmenia have been taken under their government’scontrol.Azerbaijan’s Chief of Staff of the State Border

Service, Major General Elchin Ibrahimov, mentionedin his statement that Azerbaijan has “advanced onthe contact line in several directions and gained afoothold in strategically important heights”. In view-ing freely-available satellite imagery on GoogleEarth, however, it can be seen that the Azerbaijanimilitary advance occurred within Georgian territory.

International News

By Muriel Mirak WeissbachSpecial to the Mirror-Spectator

POTSDAM, Germany — In the exten-sive literature of the ArmenianGenocide, memoirs of single survivorsplay a special role. Each story is differ-ent, and yet all share certain character-istics; the trauma of the events, separa-tion from loved ones, uncertainty andfear regarding the future. Among thesurvivors are many whose names havegone down in history. At the same time,there were hundreds of thousands oforphans, many of whom ended up inTurkish families, and their identitieswere lost in time. The more fortunatemanaged to retain their identities asArmenians, and to find new homesabroad.Heinrich Melidonian was one such

orphan, who was born in the OttomanEmpire and ended up in Germany andFrance. Dr. Hayk Martirosyan has recon-structed his fascinating research on thebasis of the young man’s writings and ofresearch into archives in Germany.Martirosyan, who is a scientific collabo-rator at the Lepsiushaus in Potsdam,presented the results of his efforts in alecture there on October 31.Heinrich Melidonian, born in 1901,

was given that name on the request ofSister Paula Schäfer and baptized bythe Protestant Father RichardBrunnemann. The infant had beentaken in by the orphanage of theGerman Hülfsbund für ChristlichesLiebeswerk im Orient (DHCLO), a relieforganization in Marash. Thanks todonations given by “foster” parents inGermany Deacon Otto Clarenbach and

Pastor Kuhlo, Heinrich could live andreceive medical care in the orphanageuntil 1915. The Germans had sent up hospitals,

orphanages and schools in variousArmenian villages during the Hamidianmassacres (1894-1896), a few of whichsurvived the genocide that began in1915. The Marash orphanage was oneof them. Despite the support it receivedfrom the German Consul in Aleppo,Walter Rössler, it came under pressurefrom the Ottoman authorities and hadto give the children to relatives, if theyhad any, or to Armenian families whoreceived financial support from theorphanage. Heinrich was one of theseso-called “Kostenkinder” and lived witha certain widow Turwand for a while.Later, when he was allowed back into

the orphanage, deportation orderscame down; he was sent off with otheryoungsters to work on the Baghdad rail-way, but, sick with malaria, had to besent back. In this way, he survived themassacres and in late 1918 began an

odyssey which took him to Cilicia, andthen Adana and beyond. Thanks to hisyears in Marash, where he learnedGerman, Turkish and English, he wasbetter equipped than others to seekwork, which he found as a translator. In

1920, he accompanied children underthe care of Near East Relief who wereevacuated from Adana to Cyprus. Therehe was able to attend the AmericanCollege, before going with the childrenon to Tarsus, where he studied at theAmerican St. Paul’s college.Again, due to political events, he had

to flee, this time to Smyrna (Izmir).When their ship was stopped and theTurks hauled passengers out to killthem, he and other children managed tosurvive by hiding. “I promised Him,”Melidonian later wrote, “that I woulddevote my entire life to Him, if he savedme from this mortal danger.” In Smyrnahe was able to study at the Americancollege and in 1922 was confirmed inthe Protestant church. During the mas-sacres in Smyrna in September 1922, he

and other students were arrested andreleased only in May 1923, in the con-text of negotiations of the LausanneTreaty. From there he travelled toGreece, then to France, from there toEngland, then Canada, and when not

allowed to settle there, returned toFrance. In 1927, thanks to the media-tion of his “foster” parents, he wasadmitted to the Johanneum ProtestantSchool in Wuppertal-Barmen, thenentered a course at the KarlshöheDiaconate Institute. He became a dea-con but was not allowed to work as apastor in Germany. He collaboratedwith the YMCA in various cities.In the late 1930s Melidonian began to

write about his experiences. Past, … butNot Forgotten! Memoirs andExperiences of an Armenian Orphanand the Missionary Station at Marash inAsian Turkey was one book; ByDangerous Cliffs was another; and Lightafter Darkness yet another. In theseworks, Martirosyan said, “he describedhis wanderings through the OttomanEmpire and the difficult life of theorphan and prisoner that he led. Thesebooks,” he added, “are still very impor-tant today as memoirs of an eyewitnessduring the genocide with very detaileddescriptions and images.”Melidonian also published a book

reporting on a visit to the Holy Land,and spoke about his experiences invarious cities in Germany. In 1939 hepublished an intriguing work, titled,Discussions with an ArmenianChristian, in which he hoped to makeArmenians in Germany known.Martirosyan said that the authorposed questions, like, “Who are theArmenians?”, “Where is Armenia?”,“Are the Armenians Christians?”,“Why were the Armenians persecut-ed?” Although he did not succeed inbecoming a German citizen, he con-tributed to making his people and thestory of their plight known to theGerman public.Martirosyan concluded by saying that

Melidonian is one of the few orphanswhose life story is documented in atleast five European archives. “Hundredsof thousands of Armenian orphansdied,” he said, “were killed, or disap-peared without a trace. Melidonian’sexample shows how much effort, andoften also luck, one needs, how manydisappointments one has to overcomeand how hard one has to fight, to beable to stay alive.”

Memoirs of an Orphan

Dr. Hayk Martirosyan (Photo courtesy of Ulrich Rosenau, Lepsiushaus, Potsdam)

Dr. Rolf Hosfeld, Academic Director Lepsiushaus (Photo courtesy of Ulrich Rosenau)

5

Society for ArmenianStudies Holds 45thAnniversary Banquet

WINNETKA, Calif. – On Saturday, October12, 2019 the Society for Armenian Studies(SAS) held its 45th Anniversary Banquet at theOrganization of Istanbul Armenians BanquetHall in Winnetka, California. The banquet wassponsored by the Organization of IstanbulArmenians (OIA). Over 130 people attended thebanquet, including members of the greater LosAngeles community, as well as participants ofthe Society for Armenian Studies45th Anniversary International Conference onthe Armenian Diaspora that took place October12-13 at the University of California, LosAngeles. Academic community members of theUniversity of Southern California and UCLA,which were among the co-sponsors of the SASconference, also attended the banquet.

Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian (Director ofthe Armenian Studies Program at CaliforniaState University, Fresno) served as the masterof ceremonies of the banquet. SAS PresidentDr. Bedross Der Matossian (University ofNebraska-Lincoln) welcomed the guests andthanked the Organization of IstanbulArmenians (OIA) for hosting the45th Anniversary Banquet. In his remarks Dr.Der Matossian outlined the initiatives that theSAS has undertaken since 2018. These new ini-tiatives included awarding of new SAS Traveland Research Grants to graduate students,establishing the SAS podcast series, starting aSAS Publication Series, establishing the NinaG. Garsoïan Graduate Research Grant forAncient and Early Mediaeval Armenian History,and the beginning of e-Entries of the Societyfor Armenian Studies (e-SAS), a website thatwas recently launched.

Furthermore, Der Matossian announced thatthe Journal of the Society for ArmenianStudies (JSAS) will henceforth be published bythe prestigious Brill publishing house. He con-cluded his remarks by outlining the future pro-jects of the SAS.

Prof. Houri Berberian, Meghrouni FamilyPresidential Chair in Armenian Studies andDirector of the Armenian Studies Program at theUniversity of California, Irvine, spoke on behalfof the Armenian Studies Chairs and Directors ofthe United States. She highlighted the new col-laborative initiatives that have begun betweenthe Armenian Studies Programs and Chairs, aswell as the new directions and vision of the fieldof Armenian Studies.

In a musical tribute to the 150th anniversaryof the birth of Komitas, musicians GregHosharian and Martin Haroutunian playedinterpretations of Armenian folk melodies.After the musical interlude SAS ExecutiveCouncil member Dr. Dzovinar Derderian readfrom letters sent by former SAS presidentsRichard Hovannissian, Dennis Papazian,Dickran Kouymjian, Ronald G. Suny andJoseph Kechichian.

Der Matossian then awarded the SocietyArmenian Studies (SAS) “Lifetime AchievementAward” to past presidents. Among the awardeespresent at the banquet were Prof. Kevork B.Bardakjian, Marie Manoogian Professor ofArmenian Language and Literatures at theUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and Prof.Barlow Der Mugrdechian. Dr. Der Matossianhighlighted the unconditional support thatProf. Der Mugrdechian has rendered to theSociety for the past several decades.

Der Matossian also awarded a “LifetimeAchievement Award” to Dr. Khachig Tölölyan(Professor of English and Comparative Literatureat Wesleyan University) and founding editor ofthe Diaspora: A Journal of TransnationalStudies, a Zoryan Institute publication.

Dr. Vahram L. Shemmassian (Director ofthe Armenian Studies Program, CaliforniaState University, Northridge) gave the con-cluding remarks.

Archbishop Levon Zekiyan, the ArmenianCatholic Archeparch of Istanbul concluded the ban-quet with his congratulatory words and a prayer.

Community NewsS A T U R D A Y, N O V E M B E R 9 , 2 0 1 9 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R

Zohrab CenterDirector AddressesSAS ‘Diaspora andStateless Power’Conference

NEW YORK — Scholars from Armenia,England, France, Germany, Holland, Mexico,Portugal, and the United States attended theSociety for Armenian Studies (SAS) confer-ence at UCLA on October 12-13. Dr.Christopher Sheklian, director of the Krikorand Clara Zohrab Information Center, repre-sented the Eastern Diocese of the ArmenianChurch of America.

Under the theme “Diaspora and ‘StatelessPower,’” speakers addressed the subject of“social discipline and identity formation”throughout the Armenian diaspora in the20th century. Papers topics ranged from thestatus of Syrian-Armenians in the Republic ofArmenia, to historical accounts of Armeniansin Mexico, Lebanon, and the Soviet Union.

The gathering was also an occasion to cel-ebrate the society’s 45th anniversary — andto honor the pioneering work of KhachigTölölyan, a scholar of worldwide diasporas.Tölölyan gave the keynote speech: “From theStudy of Diasporas to Diaspora Studies.”

Sheklian’s contribution — “RecentImmigration to Established ArmenianCommunities: The Role of the Church inShaping Immigrant Identity” — was based onhis ongoing research.

“I’m thrilled by the prospect of collabora-tive projects between the Zohrab InformationCenter and the Society for ArmenianStudies,” said Sheklian, who was recentlyelected to the SAS executive council.

A 45th-anniversary banquet was held onOctober 12, at the Organization of Istanbul

Armenians Hall in Los Angeles. Current SASPresident Bedross Der Matossian acknowl-edged the founders of the SAS and high-lighted some of society’s latest initiatives.

(See related story on the same page.)Longtime SAS members and distinguished

scholars Kevork Bardakjian, KhachigTölölyan, and Barlow Der Mugrdechianreceived “Lifetime Achievement Awards.”

The event was co-sponsored by theCalouste Gulbenkian Foundation, theRichard Hovannisian Endowed Chair inModern Armenian History (UCLA), theNarekatsi Chair in Armenian Studies (UCLA),the Meghrouni Family Presidential Chair (UCIrvine), the Institute of Armenian Studies(USC), the Armenian Studies Program(California State University, Fresno), theArmenian Studies Program (CSUNorthridge), and the National Association forArmenian Studies and Research (NAASR).

Harry Keshishian with Edward DerKazarian (David Medzorian Photo)

Armenian American Veterans ofGreater Boston Banquet HonorsOldest Member Harry Keshishian

WATERTOWN — On October 27, the Armenian American Veterans of GreaterBoston celebrated its 67th anniversary with a Membership AppreciationBanquet, honoring its oldest member Harry Keshishian, soon to be 98 yearsold in December. The event, which follows a recent annual tradition, was heldat the newly renovated Oakley Country Club.

This Armenian American Veterans organization was formed in 1952, becamea part of the Amvets National Organization, a couple of years later, and wasknown as the Cpl. Paul S. Marsoubian Amvets Post 41, until a couple of yearsago when it became affiliated with the AGBU.

Eighty members and guests attended including invited widows of deceasedmembers and enjoyed a delicious menu and music by Leon Janikian and hisband that played many Armenian favorites as the crowd got up and danced.

Post Commander George Haroutunian officiated the event as MC. He toldabout the scholarship program for members of Amvets family and invitedHarold Partamian, Scholarship Committee Chairman, to report results to date,totaling $170,500 awarded since inception of the plan in 2017 to 50 studentswho are family members of Amvets past and present. He urged that all those

who qualify as immediate familyapply in the next cycle if theyhave not already done so, whichruns from Jan 1 to Apr 30, 2020.

Haroutunian then mentionedthe various donations made dur-ing the past year to charities,which included: St. Stephens’Armenian School ScholarshipFunds, Armenian MissionaryAssociation of America (AMMA)celebration for its 100th year inthe US, Armenian Heritage Park,National Association forArmenian Studies and Research(NAASR) for their grand openingof their new headquarters,Holiday meal for 350 frontlinesoldiers in Armenia on the Armyholiday January 28 (which makesthe third year for this project),Armenian Women’s Resource

Center in Yerevan, Armenian Nursing Home for additional Hoyer lifts, NewEngland Home for Veterans, VA Veterans’ Fund at the VA Hospital, AraratYouth Conference Center, Armenian Veterans of the four-day war housing dam-aged during the war, and Orphans of the 4 day war. These donations have beenmade possible by the funds received from the sale of the building on GroveStreet.

Haroutunian introduced his executive committee, consisting of himself asCommander, First Vice Commander Edward DerKazarian, Second ViceCommander, Robert Kaprielian, John Sahagian Finance Officer, and JackMedzorian, Vahan Berberian, and George Haroutunian as Trustees.

The event was co-managed by Ed DerKazarian and Walter Nahabedian andhis wife, who planned and managed all the details of the event. Credit was givento Vahan Berberian, who ran the event for a number of years.

see VETERAN, page 7

Post Commander George Haroutunian(David Medzorian Photo)

Dr. Christopher Sheklian of the EasternDiocese’s Zohrab Center (left) with Dr. HratchTchilingirian of Oxford U., at the Society ofArmenian Studies conference in L.A., Oct. 12-13.

TEMPLE, from page 1This arid and sparsely populated Armenian

province might at first seem like an unusualplace for such a temple and ceremony. YetYazidis are the biggest minority in Armenia,where over 80 percent of the population isChristian and ethnic Armenian. In the last cen-sus in 2011, the Yazidi population in Armenianumbered at 35,000.

“We don’t have a homeland, but our tradi-tions are safe here in Armenia,” says TemurAkmiyan, a villager from the province.

The qewwals live only in the Yazidi heartlandof northern Iraq. But they havecome here to Armenia for theopening of Quba Mere Diwane,the biggest Yazidi temple in theworld, and only the third mod-ern temple outside of Iraq.

“We’ve come to sing sacredsongs and play music to conse-crate the temple. There are nosacred singers in Armenia,that’s why we’re here,” saysQewwal Ziad.

Event organizers estimatedthat over 20,000 people attend-ed the opening day, from for-mer Soviet Union countries aswell as Europe. A delegationfrom Iraq included members ofthe Yazidi spiritual council andYazidi military men.Representatives of theArmenian church, governmentofficials, army veterans and theheads of Yazidi organizations in the US andGermany also attended.

For the visitors from the Yazidi diaspora com-munities of the former Soviet Union, thisencounter with the Iraqi qewwals could be thefirst in generations. Throughout the morning,people approached them to take group pic-tures. As they processed inside the temple,crowds gathered to film the ceremony.

Yazidis have no holy book, and the religion’ssacred texts were passed on orally by members oftheir religious castes, who keep the details of thereligion a secret. In the past, this oral tradition waspreserved by close-knit tribal communities. Buttoday this religious knowledge has weakened as aresult of ongoing migration, modernity, and con-flict in Iraq, Syria and Turkey.

In Yazidi creation stories, the world was createdby light. As such, followers pray facing the sun,believing sunlight to be an emanation of God. Theirarchangel, melak el tawus, takes the form of a pea-cock. They do not accept converts, and are requiredto marry within the religion in accordance to thestrict caste system. Their population numberstoday, estimated to be around 700,000 globally, aredangerously dwindling.

Until recently, Yazidis did not build templesoutside of their heartland in Iraq. As well as thetemple at Lalish, hundreds of smaller shrinesalso exist in Iraq close to Yazidi villages.

“For a religion that does not have a book,these shrines helped preserve the religion, serv-ing as points of confluence and pilgrimage fortheir communities,” explains Tyler Fisher, ofthe University of Florida, who researches thereconstruction of Yazidi temples in Iraq.

Now scattered, Yazidis of the former SovietUnion are the first among the community’sever-growing diaspora to build modern temples.A smaller temple with a single spire was firstopened in Aknalich in 2012. This was followedby a temple and religious center in Tbilisi, thecapital of Georgia, which opened in 2015.These three temples were recognized by theYazidi high spiritual council in Iraq, accordingto their organizers.

Yazidi living in Anatolian provinces of theOttoman Empire – which today is easternTurkey – began migrating to Armenia in the19th century. And then in 1915, entire Yazidivillages fled genocidal campaigns against non-Muslim minorities of the collapsing OttomanEmpire, settling in Armenia.

Up to 1.5 million Armenians are thought to havebeen killed in these campaigns. Under the SovietUnion, religion was banned, but Kurdish-speakingcommunities of Armenia and Georgia, who werepredominantly Yazidi, received support to developtheir culture, language and folklore.

The absence of buildings for worship was par-

ticularly felt in the Caucasus. Yazidi communi-ties were cut off from their main pilgrimagesite, Lalish, in northern Iraq for over 100 years.

“I’ve never been to Lalish, we know it from oursongs and its stays in our hearts,” says AnahitSharuef, a Yazidi poet from a nearby village.Instead, Yazidi rituals in the Caucasus centeredaround the home and their cemeteries.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, thechurch has played a powerful role in Armeniaand Georgia, further weakening the religiousminority’s sense of identity. Many Yazidis oftenvisit churches to light candles, and kept

Christian iconography in their homes. In the home of Armenian Yazidi villager Murad

Usoyan, I spotted images of the Virgin Mary. “She’sthe Khatuna Fekhra, our Yazidi angel,” he explains.“Our religions have many parallels.”

Further, economic hardship in post-SovietArmenia is weakening the community’s presence.Like many Armenians, Yazidis began migrating toRussia and Europe after the collapse of the SovietUnion. By 2011, the Yazidi population of Armeniahad dropped by 30 percent. Today, many isolatedvillages in which Yazidi traditions were preservedare mostly empty.

“If we don’t build temples outside of Iraq, wewill lose our religion and our culture,” saysRuslan Jawoyan, an Armenian-born Yazidi liv-ing in Moscow, who was at the opening.

On the week of the opening, a small temple-like shrine was inaugurated in the isolated vil-lage of Sorik on the Armenian-Turkish border,and another religious building was nearingcompletion in the village of Riya Taza in theAparan region of Armenia.

Yazidi temples consist of one or two conicalspires, or quba, each representing a Yazidi saintor angel. The spire has 12 or 24 ridges, and itends in a circle symbolizing the sun. The tem-ple’s base is rectangular or square, with eithera flat or vaulted roof.

Hussein Hajji Othman, an Iraqi Yazidi writerwho has come to Armenia for the opening, explainsthe spiritual significance of this architecture.

“The temples are built from the ground tothe sky. The bottom has four corners, repre-senting chapters of peace. Above it, the spiresimulates the sun beams. Everything above thespire is sunlight. Yazidis say that the sunlight isgoodness, it is the source of life.”

With its eight spires, the temple at Aknalich devi-ates from this traditional model. A central spiresymbolizes the Yazidi archangel Melak Tawus. It issurrounded by seven smaller spires, each dedicatedto an angel. At the top of the entrance is the elab-orate stone carving of a sun – a modern inventionmade specifically for this temple.

The temple’s Yerevan-based architect, ArtikGhulyan, was influenced by ancient Armenianchurches, whereby a central dome is surrounded bya series of smaller ones. Ghulyan introduced mod-ern elements, such as a series of triangle-shapedmotifs along the outer walls, which symbolize sunrays. “It recalls the ancient Mesopotamian culturesof Iraq,” he says.

The spire of Yazidi temples is topped with abrass icon, which is traditionally shaped as acrescent moon or a hand. However, all eightspires at Aknalich are topped with a brass sun.

Inside are seven large sun-shaped chande-liers, and the icon of a peacock made of semi-precious stone. Colorful satin fabrics were laid

out on an altar-like table facing the peacock.The visitors gathered around the table, kissingthe fabric or tying knots to it. A visionary spir-itual leader from Iraq known as a kochekblessed the visitors.

Yazidi temples are often connected to a bur-ial ground. “Where a village does not have atemple, they will construct a small shrine bytheir cemeteries,” says Fisher. Likewise, thefirst temple at Aknalich was built adjacent to alocal Yazidi cemetery.

The grounds also serve as a memorial park forArmenian and Yazidi history. With its stone monu-

ments dedicated to war heroesand intellectuals, it is reminis-cent of Soviet-era memorialparks. It includes a sculptureand tombstone for the Yazidiwar hero Janghir Agha, who ledvictorious battles against theTurks in Armenia in 1918. Anda monument to the “Armenianand Yazidi Friendship” bringstogether the symbol of a Yazidipeacock with a Christian cruci-fix.

A new monument com-memorating the genocide of2014 was unveiled on theopening day. It is the sculp-ture of Yazidi activist NadiaMurad, a former Isis captiveand Nobel Peace PrizeLaureate. Visitors placedwhite flowers at the foot ofthe sculpture and prayed.

The new temple is also part of a wider trendin post-Soviet states, whereby successful busi-nessmen from the diaspora build religious edi-fices in their home towns and villages. The eco-nomic and political vacuum following the col-lapse of the Soviet Union, as well as lawlessnessand organized crime, spelt extreme poverty formost and riches for the very few. Over 200 newchurches are said to have emerged in Armeniasince the 1990s.

The temple’s sponsor, the Moscow-basedbusinessman Mirza Sloyan, who owns a shop-ping mall in Moscow, was born near Aknalich.“This enormous building is my latest project,”he says, pointing back towards the temple thatwas still under construction, just days beforethe opening.

In response to the Isis attacks in 2014, he alsofounded the All Russian Yazidi Congress inMoscow, and the online video channel Lalish TV,which covers Yazidi news and culture globally.

No expense was spared. “We lost track of thebudget long ago,” says Hamlet Boghossian,who supervised the stone work. A stonemason-ry workshop was installed next to the templegrounds, to carve the marble that was import-ed from Iran. “The temple will stand for hun-dreds of years,” says Boghossian.

“So many of our temples were destroyed inIraq by Isis militants in 2014. That’s when Idecided we should have a bigger temple here,”says Sloyan.

Sloyan, who is now in his mid-70s, becameinterested in the Yazidi religion and culture inhis later adult life. “Our language is so complex.For example, we have a different word for howhumans sit, how dogs sit, how lions sit – andmany other animals” he says. “The more Ilearn, the more it fascinates me.”

Today, Sloyan maintains relations with Iraq’sLalish Brigade, a Yazidi militia that is support-ed by the Iran-backed paramilitaries, known asthe Hash’d Al Shaabi. The brigade’s leader, AliSerhan Issa, was among the official guests fromIraq at the opening.

Building the temple in Armenia was essen-tial, Sloyan says.

“Armenia is the safest country in the worldfor the Yazidi people. I’m happy I built it here,facing Mount Ararat. My grandchildren willalso be proud.”

“This is an important and historic day for theYazidi people,” says Barfa Tamoyan, an Armenian-born Yazidi now living in France. Despite the heatof the opening day, she wears a voluminous blackball gown and velvet heels to mark the special occa-sion. “We have built a temple in a country that isnot our homeland. I hope we’ll have temples inEurope in the future.”

In the gardens, well-known Yazidi bands fromRussia and Germany played ceremonial songs,while crowds continued to pour in an out of thetemple, filming the event on their phones, andtaking selfies and group photos with friendsand family.

In lyrics composed for the opening day,Aydin Amara sings, “Come to the temple to aplace of prayer and worship. To the Yazidi tem-ple, from which heaven blows.”(This article was edited for space considerations.)

6 S A T U R D A Y, N O V E M B E R 9 , 2 0 1 9 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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Biggest Yazidi Temple in the World Opens in Armenia

Statues line the walkway outside the temple (RFE/RL photo)

Armenian AmericanVeterans of GreaterBoston Banquet HonorsHarry KeshishianVETERAN, from page 5

Haroutunian then introduced HarryKeshishian, who was a mentor to Haroutunianwhen he was a teenager, in building scale mod-els of flyable airplanes. Keshishian told abouthis experience in during World War II. He is agentle, modest person with a strong love for hisnational heritage and comrades in arms.

Haroutunian read off the names of the mem-bers who had died during the past year and askedfor a moment of silence in their memory. Thesedeceased brothers were: Jack Achmakjian, JackEordikian, Elliot Vanetsian, Nishan Berberian,Edward Orchanian, Sr., Samuel Zouranjian,Charles Kasparian, and Peter Talanian.

— Jack Medzorian

7S A T U R D A Y, N O V E M B E R 9 , 2 0 1 9 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

Jack Medzorian (David Medzorian Photo)

Harold Partamian (David Medzorian Photo)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. The ArmenianStudent Association (ASA) Gold MedalAward is recognized as the highestScholastic Award within the ASA. Anymember of the ASA who is an undergrad-uate student and is at least a sophomorein an accredited college or university with-in the United States is eligible for consid-eration for this award.

Selected to receive the award this yearis Matthew Madanian Reppucci ofBelmont, Mass. He is a biopsychology(pre-med) student at Tufts University.

Applications for the Gold Medal Awardscan be obtained at: www.asainc.org.Deadline for submitting applications anddocumentation is March 15, 2020.

ASA Silver Medal AwardsThe ASA Silver Medal Award

Committee selected eight (8) high schoolseniors to receive the Silver Medal Award.

• Aram Barsom Assadourian, Hoboken,NJ , High Tech High School, he will beattending Villanova University

•Sareen Nairi Balian, Chevy Chase,MD, National Cathedral School,Washington, DC, she will be attendingColumbia University;

•Matthew Agostino Brunelli, Ashburn,VA, he will be attending BridgewaterCollege

•Amara E. D’Antuno, Mapleville, RI,Burrillville High School, she will beattending Salve Regina University

•Ava Samara Gallagher, Hampton NH,The Governor’s Academy, she will beattending Rensselaer PolytechnicInstitute

•Olivia C. Kooloian, North Providence,RI, North Providence High School, shewill be attending Catholic University

•Rebecca Anne Masoian, Pawtucket,RI, Tolman High School, she will beattending Johnson & Wales University

•Mark E. Shaghalian, Cranston, RI,Cranston West High School, he will beattending Bryant University.

The Silver Medal Awards are givenannually to high school seniors who havedemonstrated outstanding scholastic abil-ity.

Applications for Silver Medal Awardscan be obtained at: www.asainc.org.Deadline for submitting applications anddocumentation is May 1, 2020.

ASA Announces Awards BOSTON — The Knights and Daughters ofVartan in Boston are inviting the public to jointhem on Sunday, November 17 in honoringJack Medzorian for a lifetime of service toArmenians, both here in theUnited States and especially inArmenia itself.

Ararat Lodge Number 1 andArpie Otyag Number 9 willhost the event which will beheld in Keljik Hall at the SaintJames Cultural Center inWatertown, beginning at 5p.m. The gala celebration willinclude dinner followed by aprogram of anecdotes, enter-tainment and tributes fromArmenia. The party will comejust two days after Medzoriancelebrates his 93rd birthday.

As a Knight of Vartan,Medzorian has served innumerous positions includingtwice as Lodge Commander orSbarabed. He and his wife Evahave together made nearly 100 trips toArmenia since 1972, many of which have beenfor humanitarian purposes in which they deliv-ered medical equipment, educational suppliesand funding to rural areas where suchresources were and are badly needed.

He is also a co-founder with his wife of the

Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City Association(CYSCA) and has been instrumental in bringingArmenian students to America to both visit andstudy.

Jack Medzorian has alsoserved the National Associationfor Armenian Studies andResearch (NAASR) where heserves on the Board ofDirectors, the ArmenianGeneral Benevolent Union(AGBU), tThe Counsel ofArmenian Executives and theArmenian American Veterans ofGreater Boston, formerly theCpl. Paul Mesrobian AMVETSPost 41, of which he is a found-ing member. He is also a formersuperintendent of the SaintJames Armenian ChurchSunday School.

He and his wife have fourchildren. Their son David is amember of Ararat Lodge andtheir daughter Ruth is a mem-

ber of Arpie Otyag. All friends are invited to come and join in the

festivities on November 17. Tickets may be pur-chased by going to https://squareup.com/store/knights-of-vartan-ararat.

For further information contact DavidMedzorian at [email protected].

Jack Medzorian

Gala Banquet to Honor Jack Medzorian


By Aram Arkun Mirror-Spectator Staff

FAIR LAWN, N.J. — Historian of theArmenian Genocide Taner Akçam was honoredat a banquet organized by the Knights andDaughters of Vartan Times Square ArmenianGenocide Commemoration Committee onOctober 25 at St. Leon Armenian Church’sAbajian Hall.

Akçam holds the Robert Aram and MarianneKaloosdian and Stephen and Marian MugarEndowed Chair of Armenian Studies at ClarkUniversity and is one of the first Turkish schol-ars to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide andwrite extensively on it.

Dr. Vartan Abdo served as master of cere-monies at the well-attended event. Very Rev. Fr.Sahag Yemishian, gave the invocation, whileguests were welcomed by Hirant Gulian, ban-quet chairman and organizer.

Gulian said, “People often ask me why areyou so ardently working for the recognition ofthe Armenian Genocide. The Republic ofTurkey will never recognize it.” He said that hewould respond, “Nothing pursued, nothinggained. …The world will forget the ArmenianGenocide only if we let them forget. Our causeis alive, we are alive, and we are determined toachieve our goal and believe me, we will.”

As part of this effort, Gulian stated, “Todaywe have translated [Akçam’s 2018 book] KillingOrders into 10 languages. There are 5 more togo. That means over 800 million people havethe opportunity to read Killing Orders in theirrespective languages. Our goal is to reach fourbillion people – b for billion — by 2021, andwithout your help, we cannot do it.” This out-

reach will include India, China and Japan. Hesaid he believed that the day was coming whenthe Republic of Turkey would recognize theArmenian Genocide.

Gulian announced that Dikran Cherchian, 99-years-old, was present. He is the son of VahramCherchian, who taught art classes in theAmerican Robert College in Istanbul and creat-ed the famous signature of Mustafa KemalAtatürk. Cherchian came to the stage to con-gratulate Akçam in person.

Honoring Legacies of Andonian andGuerguerian

Master of ceremonies Abdo praised Gulian’sdedication to the Armenian cause and the sup-port of his wife Ruby before the memories ofAram Andonian (1875-1952) and Rev. Krikor

Guerguerian (1911-1988)were honored. Andonian,journalist and historian,escaped the deportationsand managed to obtainand publish telegrams byTalat Pasha and otherYoung Turk leaders afterthe war. He directed theArmenian GeneralBenevolent Union’sBoghos Noubar PashaLibrary in Paris between1928 and 1951 and savedmost of these telegramsduring World War II’sGerman occupation ofParis. Rev. Guerguerianfound and preserved manydocuments pertaining tothe Armenian Genocide,which now are being digi-

tized and made available online (https://com-mons.clarku.edu/guerguerian-archive/).

Abdo asked all to rise in honor of these twosenior scholars. Dr. Edmund Guerguerian,nephew of Rev. Guerguerian, was given a cer-tificate of recognition by Tigran Sahakyan, co-chair of the Times Square Armenian GenocideCommemoration Committee, and KevorkOflazian, Vice Grand Commander of theKnights. Dr. Guerguerian kept his uncle’s filesfor decades. Akçam’s book Killing Orders was

based largely on the latter. A video presentation was screened with

excerpts of Akcam’s speech at the ArmenianGenocide Centennial commemoration at TimesSquare in New York in 2015, expressing hisshame and apology for the terrible crime of thegenocide and condemning its denial, and high-lights of the messages about Akçam publishedin the commemorative booklet the Knightspublished for this banquet. The bookletincludes messages from Minister of ForeignAffairs of the Republic of Armenia ZohrabMnatsakanyan, US Senator Charles E.Schumer, US Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.,New Jersey Governor Philip D. Murphy, USAmbassador John M. Evans, Gladys Berejiklian,Premier of New South Wales, Australia,Armenian church leaders at the highest levelsstarting with Catholicos of All ArmeniansKarekin II, leaders of Armenian organizations

like the Armenian General Benevolent Union,Facing History and Ourselves, and variousscholars and intellectuals from around theworld.

Academics and Clergy Praise Akçam

Prof. Thomas Kühne of Clark Universitypraised Akçam’s work, and pointed out the par-allels in their work, with him a German study-ing the Holocaust and Akçam a Turk studyingthe Armenian Genocide. Kühne was chairmanof the Clark search committee which ended upchoosing Akçam. Kühne addressed the latterand said, “In you we had identified a perfectcandidate for the position…what better way tofight Turkish denial than to appoint a Turkish

scholar. This award today proves the wisdom ofour choice.”

Professor Eric D. Weitz of the City College ofNew York said that Akçam was a great friendand teacher, who trained as a sociologist butbecame a great historian. As such, unlike thedenialists opposing him, he bases his work onevidence and sources. Weitz coined the phrase“the Sherlock Holmes of Armenian Genocideresearch” when talking to a New York Timesreporter, and never imagined, he said, that itwould become so popular.

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, DiocesanLegate and Ecumenical Director of the EasternDiocese of the Armenian Church of America inWashington, DC, proclaimed his thanks to themany Turks who are suffering and working forpeace and justice. He then exclaimed thatTaner Akçam deserves to get the Nobel PeacePrize.

Khatchig Mouradian, the first doctoral stu-dent of Akçam at Clark University, said that oneof the things that really moved him is theacknowledgment of the role of mentors andscholars who had paved the way, such asAndonian, Rev. Guerguerian and VahaknDadrian, in Akçam’s case. In turn, Mouradiansaid he was happy to acknowledge TanerAkçam’s help to him. Scholars like Akçam, hesaid, do not just produce new scholars, but alsoprovide an example of engagement in the life ofthe community and world, shaping societyaround them.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

COMMUNITY NEWS

Akçam, Honored By Knights and Daughters of Vartan,Calls for Creation of Genocide Research Center

Dr. Taner Akçam, left, being thanked by Bishop Daniel Findikyan, with Dr. Mary Papazian, seated atright (Vartan Esenyan photo)

Dr. Edmund Guerguerian receives certificate from Kevork Oflazian,left, and Tigran Sahakyan, right (Vartan Esenyan photo)

Hirant Gulian (Vartan Esenyan photo) Dr. Khatchig Mouradian (Vartan Esenyan photo)

Dr. Vartan Abdo (Vartan Esenyan photo)

Dr. Ümit Kurt (Vartan Esenyan photo)

Dr. Thomas Kühne (Vartan Esenyan photo)

Dr. Eric Weitz (Vartan Esenyan photo)

Akçam, Honored By KnightsAnd Daughters of Vartan FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Dr. Ümit Kurt, another student of Akçam atClark, thrilled the audience by speaking inArmenian. Kurt acknowledged Akçam’s person-al guidance and help from the very start of hisdoctoral career. He stressed Akçam’s personalwarmth, morality and humanitarian nature. Hispleasant nature and encouragement made Kurtwant to work all the harder.

Dr. Mary Papazian, president of San JoseState University, California, was the keynotespeaker. She said that it was not a foregone con-clusion for someone like Akçam to come to theplace he is at today. His sense of justice led him,when young, to work for the Kurds in Turkey,

and for true democracy. This led to prison, andhis famous escape to Europe, where he contin-ued his education. He chose to do serious aca-demic work to bring the truth out in the open.As always, he wanted to bring about a betterTurkey.

The encouragement of Vahakn Dadrianplayed a key role in Akçam’s academic develop-ment, Papazian said, and also led to Papazianand her husband Dennis hosting him during hisfirst weeks in Detroit.

Papazian explained, “The wonderful thingabout Taner, as I said, is that it never was abouthim. It was never about the accolades. Tanerwould actually be more comfortable goingthrough life without the accolades we are giv-ing him. He is a truly humble man who is doingthe work because it is the right work to do,because the story has to be told, because truthstill is the foundation for building a just andhonest society….It is our obligation as a com-munity to say thank you, but it is not a thanksthat he is seeking.”

Papazian concluded that Akçam’s work caneventually bring harmony and peace to the cur-rent Republic of Armenia, when Turkey acceptsthe truth concerning the Armenian Genocideand no longer fear Armenians.

Akçam Gives Thanks, Calls forCreation of Research Center

Akçam took the podium to thank all thosewho organized the banquet, starting withHirant Gulian. He said that ironically the cele-bration of his work that night was a byproductof the Turkish government’s longstanding poli-cy of denial. Furthermore, the silence of themajority of the Turkish people makes his voicein contrast strong, he said. He continued,emphasizing that he longs for the day thattruth-telling is no longer anything out of theordinary.

Akcam said the simple answer to why he doeswhat he does was his father, who said that ifyou see injustice, don’t ignore it—you must bethe first one to speak out. His father also wouldsay that if you are not willing to pay the pricefor what you have written, don’t write it.

Akçam said that he was arrested five times asan activist for social justice in Turkey and expe-rienced torture. When he began to research theArmenian Genocide, he received death threats,was subjected to physical attacks, and even inthe US had to deliver lectures under policeguard as the inevitable price for standing up forhis beliefs, as his father taught him. He saidthat it was thanks to the help of many, many

people along the way that he was able to standbefore the audience this night.

The first person Akçam mentioned wasProfessor Vahakn Dadrian. He then notedDennis and Mary Papazian, Fatma MügeGöçek, Greg Sarkissian, Stephen Feinstein, EricWeitz, his colleagues at Clark University andthe creators of the chair he holds now. The sup-port and love of the Armenian community haveenergized him, he said, over the years, alongwith numerous friends in Turkey whose nameshe could not mention for the sake of their safe-ty. Akçam continued to name many Armenianindividuals and organizations whose supportwere important for him.

He highlighted the name of Hrant Dink, whowanted to live in Turkey as a fully equal citizenof Armenian background together with MuslimTurks. Dink wanted the truth of the ArmenianGenocide acknowledged and some measure ofjustice achieved, Akçam said, so that a sharedfuture could be created for Armenians like him

in Turkey. Dink was murdered because he wasan Armenian and because he spoke the truth,Akçam said.

The denial policy of over a century must beeliminated, Akçam exclaimed. As an academic,his duty is to wage a “war of enlightenment”against this by advancing existing and creatingnew institutions. There is a huge denialistindustry operated by the Turkish governmentwhich exploits universities. The side of truth isbadly underfunded.

An Armenian Genocide research center isbadly needed for the truth to prevail, Akçamsaid. There are many Armenian history chairs,Clark has a great program, but there is not evenone Armenian Genocide research institute inNorth America in an American university. Incomparison, roughly 250 Holocaust programsand institutions exist.

While denialism can not only be defeated aca-demically and it must be politically defeated,Akçam said, the power of knowledge is criticaltoo. The creation of a research center is the nec-essary next step in this process, he concluded.

Award and Conclusion

Grand Commander of the Knights of VartanSteven R. Adams and Vice CommanderHoplazian presented Akçam with the LifetimeAchievement Award.

Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Primate of theDiocese of the Armenian Church of America(Eastern) gave the closing remarks and bene-diction. He thanked the Knights and Daughtersof Vartan for their leadership in the ArmenianChurch, and stated that Akçam’s award was avery well-deserved distinction, not only on thebasis of his scholarship but because all his workhas been in service to the truth. He said that,“We also know that it is his fearless commit-ment to the truth that sets him apart from oth-ers.”

Findikyan concluded: “Seeing such an indi-vidual gives us hope that the larger problems ofhistory confronting us and confronting all peo-ple can be approached indeed in a spirit oftruth and generosity, and that those largerproblems can ultimately be resolved. ProfessorAkçam, the Armenian people will always honoryour dedication and conviction and we willalways cherish your warm spirit of friendship.”

9S A T U R D A Y, N O V E M B E R 9 , 2 0 1 9 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

Dr. Mary Papazian (Vartan Esenyan photo)

Taner Akçam

By Rob Fucci

CONCORD, Mass. (Concord Journal) — Sophie Gechijianadmits her first days as an entrepreneur were quite scary.

The Concord native, who works as an electronic trader inBoston, felt she could make a difference for those who cravenutrition bars. But without a background in business, sheknew it could be a rough road.

“I decided to jump in and start teaching myself,” she says.“I’m figuring out every hurdle and challenge as they come.”

Those first hurdles and challenges happened on October2018 when she launched her nutrition bar company, f(x)foods. Pronounced “function foods,” Gechijian said the goalis to make nutrition bars that “serve a greater function thanjust filling you up.”

The Concord-Carlisle 2012 graduate says it was hard to

find a good nutrition bar on store shelves that met herrequirements. She wanted a bar that was functional, tastyand healthy. She often searched for a bar that would fuelher brain, but those typically came away with an unappeal-ing taste.

“There are tons of bars on the market,” she says, “but noone seems to be satisfied with the current offerings.”

What’s that name again?

Concord native Sophie Gechijian is an admitted mathnerd.

So when it came to time to name her nutrition bar busi-ness, she used that math background she honed as a stu-dent at Northeastern University.

“It’s a calculus term,” she says of f(x), which is pro-nounced “function foods.” “I was thinking about a name Iwanted ... the whole purpose was to have a snack with a bet-ter function than just filling you up. The math nerd in me

wanted to spell it in the calculus way. I learneda lot of people don’t’ think that way.”

The explanation of the company name can befound on the nutrition bar packages.

Gechijian began making her bars in 2018 inher parents’ kitchen. During nights and week-ends, she researched and experimented withingredients, bringing in samples of her granolabar recipes to work for her coworkers to cri-tique each day.

From there, she rented commercial kitchenspace and now outsources production, whichallows her to scale and grow her distribution.

Despite continuing to work her 8-to-5 financejob, she’s able to put in 25-30 hours for f(x)foods, which has allowed her to expand thebusiness.

Her first product was Brain Food. She saysit’s a soft and chewy bar made with just 11ingredients known to fuel your brain properly.The main ingredients include almonds, darkchocolate and coconut.

Her second product is Heart Food, which is similarlymade with only cardiac-friendly ingredients.

Her ultimate goal, she says, is to create a national brandand disrupt the nutrition bar industry.

“I am selling in over 20 places around Boston in compa-nies, fitness studios, coffee shops, boutique markets andonline,” she says. “It doesn’t feel like work because it’s somuch fun to build my own company.”

To learn more about f(x) foods, visit https://fx-foods.com/.

An f(x) bar and some of the hearty ingredients that go into them

Making Food Functional: Concord Native out to Transform Nutrition Bar Industry

Sophie Gechijian


COMMUNITY NEWS

OPENING, frompage 1for people to come in and use the building for study purposes.

Of course, the building will host the Mardigian Library, one ofthe top five Armenian libraries open to the public in the diaspo-ra, with 40,000 books and rare periodicals dating to the 1800s,as well as unique personal archives of prominent scholars, earlyArmenian-Americans, and religious leaders, including FatherKrikor Guerguerian’s archive of rare Ottoman documents.

These books and documents will not be allowed out of thebuilding but can be accessed by scholars on site.

The building also features a modern auditorium seating 155.As the wind was picking up and the sun was setting, Gregorian

spoke briefly, joking that he did not want to be responsible forthe assembled catching pneumonia. He praised Ed and PamelaAvedisian, who had provided the majority funds for the newbuilding and asked that it be named for Gregorian. He said he

had just come back from Armenia, where he had visited theschool the Avedisians are supporting for grades 4-12, in one ofthe poorest neighborhoods in Yerevan. All expenses are paid forthe students and in turn, those students are excelling.

“Ed and Pam are my heroes,” he said.

He praised other “heroes,” Carolyn Mugar of the Armenia TreeProject and his fellow Aurora Prize founders, Noubar Afeyan andRuben Vardanyan and their UWC Dilijan College, which is forgrades 11 and 12, and has students from 80 countries.

He encouraged greater investment in Armenia. “We haveinvested all over the world except Armenia,” he said.

Gregorian noted it was especially appropriate that in the 400

years since Armenians have been in the US, they are now fullyestablishing themselves and becoming truly part of the fabric ofthe greater community.

(A full interview with Vartan Gregorian will appear in nextweek’s issue.)

Designer and sculptor Michael Aram spoke next, explaining themeaning behind his intricate statue placed outside the new build-ing. He added that he used the “idea of eternity and how it relatedto NAASR’s mission.”

Aram said that he used the traditional Armenian Arevakhacheternity design, along with laurel leaves, pea-cocks and circles in the sculpture, in the centerof which is a round box that serves as a “per-sonal time capsule,” with loving notes to andfrom his children. “It is my realization that loveis eternal,” he concluded.

Several members of the clergy offered prayersbefore the ribbon-cutting ceremony with JackMedzorian and Van Aroyan, the oldest membersof the NAASR board, as well as the children andnieces and nephews of Gregorian and Aram.

Several guides offered tours of the building.The three-story building has many long windowsoffering natural light as well as glass walls. Inaddition, a room will feature the University ofSouthern California (USC) Shoah Archives,which include testimonies of Armenian Genocidesurvivors.

According to Ignatius, the rare books willmove to the building on November 18 and thestaff will be fully moved in by the end ofNovember. Since the demolition of the previousbuilding, NAASR staff have used the Watertown

offices of the AGBU.“I have looked at architectural renderings for two years but to

actually see it come to life was overwhelming. I was ecstatic. It isalmost unreal,” Ignatius said after the event.

A light reception was held with food from anoush’ella.ALL PHOTOS BY JIRAIR HOVSEPIAN

NAASR Unveils New Headquarters

Yervant Chekijian speaks at the opening.

Michael Aram surrounded by his family, including husband AretTikiryan and their two children, Anabel and Thadeus, and Aram’sparents, Anita and John Wolohojian. They are joined by NAASR’sAni Babaian.

Dr. Vartan Gregorian

Nancy Kolligian unveils a memorial dedicated to NAASR founder Manoong Young

NAASR Executive Director Sarah Ignatius

The Michael Aram sculpture outside the new building

Ed and Pamela Avedisian

From left, David Ignatius, and his father, Paul Ignatius, withAnthony Barsamian and Armenia’s Ambassador to the USVaruzhan Nersesyan

S A T U R D A Y, N O V E M B E R 9 , 2 0 1 9 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 11

COMMUNITY NEWS


COMMUNITY NEWS

By Florence Avakian

WALTHAM, Mass. — The 100th anniversaryof any gathering is impressive; the weekend ofOctober 18 to 20 the Armenian MissionaryAssociation of America’s (AMAA) 100th AnnualMeeting Banquet was especially noteworthy asit celebrated the Armenian Evangelical Churchand the 173rd anniversary of its founding.

Its significance was marked by the presenceof hundreds of members, friends and faithfulwho came from as far away as Australia,Armenia, Lebanon, Syria, Greece, France, andthe East and West Coasts of the United States.

The highlight of the extraordinary weekendwas the grand Banquet on Saturday night,October 19, which began with a cocktail recep-tion, followed by a delicious dinner in the ele-gantly decorated ballroom.

The more than 300 guests present werewarmly welcomed by Banquet Co-Chair MichèleSimourian both in English and Armenian.Skillfully running the program was Master ofCeremonies and Banquet Co-Chair JohnSimourian, who with the right touches intro-duced the prominent individuals present,including Armenia’s Ambassador to the USVaruzhan Nersesyan, and Rev. Antranig Baljian,representing the Prelate of the Eastern Prelacyof the Armenian Apostolic Church of America,Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian.

Following the singing of the Nationalanthems, and the invocation delivered by Rev.

Dr. Avedis Boynerian, Pastor of the ArmenianMemorial Church in Worcester, MA,Ambassador Nersesyan was introduced.

Nersesyan recalled the founding of theAMAA in Worcester 101 years ago following theArmenian Genocide when “hundreds of thou-sands of Armenian men, women and childrenwere still roaming in the deserts in Syria,Lebanon and the Middle East, suffering fromhunger, poverty and the lack of any minimalconditions of life.”

He pointed out the enormous contributionsof the AMAA in the last 100 years, includingduring the devastating 1988 earthquake, dur-ing and after the birth of the independentArmenian republic, the time of Artsakh’s fightfor liberation, and its creation for a betterfuture providing shelter, food and education in

24 countries.“And during the recent

tragic war in Syria, theAMAA has been ready to sup-port any Armenians willingto settle in Armenia in theaftermath of Turkey’s recentattack on the north of Syria,”he explained.

All these activities demon-strate that the AMAA is a“unique and deeply nationalArmenian institution,” theArmenian diplomat stated.“With such a great heritage,and rigorous determination,the AMAA will continue con-fidently in its mission in the21st century,” he stated tothunderous applause.

Serving 24 Countries

AMAA President Dr.Nazareth Darakjian whospoke about coming to theUS 43 years ago following

“the horrors of the Lebanese civil war,” expand-ed on the AMAA’s powerful history which todayserves the Armenian Community in 24 coun-tries with a yearly budget of more than $10 mil-lion.

This generation has capabilities that farexceeds those in 1918, he stated. “Our work isnot done as long as there is hunger for God’swork, as long as there are children who arethirsty for education, and as long as there arefamilies or individuals for whom finding dailybread is a daily challenge. May God make usworthy of this mission.”

A video of the Khoren and ShooshanigAvedisian High School in Yerevan’s Malatia-Sebastia district was shown, a school totallyfunded by the AMAA that has been tuition-freefor more than 580 students.

One of the graduates of the Avedisian HighSchool, Lucine Mnatsakanyan, was invited byDr. Darakjian to come forward, and accept theLeadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign (LEED) certificate and the glass plaquefor the Avedisian High School in honor of theAvedisians who were not present. AvedisianHigh School is the first building in the Republicof Armenia to achieve this status and was alsoawarded the LEED Earth Designation, givenonly to the very first building project in eachdeveloping country to satisfy the USGBCLEED criteria.

Mnatsakanyan, who is now a third-year stu-dent at the American University of Armenia,paid tribute to the great attributes of theAvedisian High School, saying, “We are raised

to be true Christians, and citizens, and havebeen exposed to all the studies of an exemplaryeducation.”

Delighting the audience, two acclaimed worldclass musicians, tenor Yeghishe Manucharyan,and mezzo soprano Victoria Avetisyan, who hadstarted the banquet program with theAmerican and Armenian anthems, sang severalArmenian and international favorites, includingthe soul stirring Pari Arakil, Habanera, SoloMio and Hayastan.

Manucharyan who has sung at theMetropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, LincolnCenter and other concert halls in the US, Italyand Ireland, brought the house down with hisrendition of Pari Arakil dedicated to Armenia’ssymbolic beloved bird (the crane). The couple’sdramatic singing of Hayastan was anothercrowd pleaser.

AMAA Vice President Dr. Michael Voskianpaid tribute to the history of the ArmenianEvangelical Church which he revealed hasgrown and consists of 124 churches and fiveunions in Armenia, North America, the NearEast, France and Eurasia.

Representing the Armenian EvangelicalChurches around the globe is the ArmenianEvangelical World Council, with its PresidentRev. Joël Mikaélian who was asked to come for-ward by Dr. Voskian.

Also honored were Rev. Dr. AvedisBoynerian, host of the Armenian MemorialChurch, as well as Rev. Stephen Carlyle of thefirst Armenian Evangelical Church in NorthAmerica established on January 1, 1892 theArmenian Church of the Martyrs in Worcester.All were presented with special plaques.

True Faith

During the joyous evening, a female guestsuddenly passed out, and was immediatelyattended to by attending doctors until theambulance came. As this was happening, sever-al small groups of badvelis (pastors) sponta-neously rose making small circles with theirarms on each other’s shoulders, bending theirheads, and silently praying for the ill woman.

Expressing deep appreciation to the “inge-

nious and hard-working” banquet committee,the AMAA staff and all involved individuals forthe successful weekend and Banquet, AMAAExecutive Director and CEO Zaven Khanjianasked Stephen Papazian, the moderator of theArmenian Church of the Martyrs of Worcester,to come forward to receive a “Sugar Sculpture”donated by Linda Khachadurian.

Revealing the main challenge of his position,Zaven Khanjian stated “a challenge that I strug-

gle with is the difficulty in conveying a well-deserved gratitude to righteous men andwomen who fly on the wings of goodness in life,and who instead, faithfully direct it to God.”

Khanjian also announced that a symposiumwill soon take place in Armenia on the post-Genocide endeavor to save the remnants of thesurvivors. It is being organized by theArmenian Genocide Museum InstituteFoundation, and is sponsored by the ArmenianMissionary Association of America.

“It will honor and bring to light the manyheroes who miraculously embraced theorphaned Armenian children and widowedmothers with shelter, healing, food, educationand lovingly shielded them from the killingfields of Der El-Zor,” he said.

He remembered that today anguished civil-ians in the towns and villages in Syria, deporta-tion is once again taking place, leaving behindall they possess. “But the clear victims are theSyrian people, including the progeny of theGenocide survivors.

“The AMAA has faced the spiritual andhumanitarian challenges of our people, and wehave collectively and positively answered thecall, and through your righteous giving willcontinue to make it happen,” he said in conclu-sion to a standing ovation.

The closing prayer and Benediction byMikaélian, and the singing of God BlessAmerica brought an extraordinary and inspir-ing banquet and weekend to a close.

AMAA 100th Annual Meeting Banquet Inspires, Impresses

Banquet Co-Chairs John and Michèle Simourian

Armenia’s Ambassador to the US Varuzhan Nersesyan

Avedisian High School Alumna LusineMnatsakanyan and AMAA President Dr.Nazareth Darakjian

AMAA Vice President Dr. Michael Voskian paidtribute to the history of the Armenian EvangelicalChurch:

AMAA Executive Director/CEO presentsStephen Papazian, the Moderator of theArmenian Church of the Martyrs of Worcester,with Linda Khachadurian’s “Sugar Sculpture”

13

CelebratingArmenianChurch MusicAnd Musicians Eastern Diocese HoldsSacred Music Festival

By Gevik Anbarchian

EVANSTON, Ill. — Armenian Church musi-cians from throughout the United States gath-ered at St. James of Nisibis Armenian Churchhere on October 4-6, for an innovative weekendof lectures, workshops and performances of theArmenian Church’s sacred music. The eventwas organized by the Sacred Music Council ofthe Eastern Diocese with the blessing ofBishop Daniel Findikyan, Primate.

“Our goal is to revive the tradition of mag-nificent, faith-inspiring Armenian sacred musicwithin our parishes,” the Bishop said at theoutset of his own presentation on Saturdaymorning, “I’d like to see the festival become aregular part of our church calendar, being heldseveral times a year both regionally and nation-ally throughout the Diocese.”

Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan, pastor of St.James and Chair of the Sacred Music Council,spearheaded the organization of the weekendtogether with a small committee led by DeaconLarry and Wendy Farsakian, with the eagerparticipation of a number of his parishioners.

“Father Hovhan, himself a musician by train-ing, immediately understood my goals for the

weekend and took up the initiative with greatenthusiasm,” Findikyan explained.

“This weekend demonstrates how much ourdiocese can do if we bring together our wealthof talent,” Khoja-Eynatyan said.

The Festival began Friday evening with areception for parish choir directors and clergyhosted by the Primate, followed by Vespers anddinner. After dinner, the weekend got off to ajoyous start with a prelude performance by St.James’ Narek Bell Choir, an ensemble thatKhoja-Eynatyan formed last year as a way forthe children of his parish to better connectwith the Church.

Deacon Rubik Mailian, music director of St.John Armenian Church in Southfield, Mich,,presented a keynote lecture-recital entitled,“Gomidas Vartabed at 150 Years: HisContribution to Armenian Sacred Music.” Thisyear marks the 150th anniversary of the birthof Gomidas Vartabed (1869-1935), a celibatepriest and ethnomusicologist who traveled theArmenian countryside recording and notatingthe myriad of folk songs that had been passeddown orally for centuries. As a clergyman, healso transcribed many sharagans (hymns), andcomposed several versions of the Armenian

see WORKSHOP, page 16

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, N O V E M B E R 9 , 2 0 1 9

Arts & Living

A Groom forOur Times

LOS ANGELES — A revolving door of humorously offbeat yet lifelike characterscharmed their way into audience’s hearts during the most recent production of“Where Is Your Groom?” II which was staged for the greater Los Angeles commu-nity on Sunday, October 6, marking a six-year run gracing stages from its debut atThe Players Theatre in New York City’s Greenwich Village all the way to the land-mark Alex Theatre.

Similar to the previous 15 sold-out performances in different cities across NorthAmerica, this production entertained the packed audience while tackling a con-temporary subject relevant to the Diaspora. Focusing on the themes of Armeniansocial norms and the potentially thorny issues of assimilation and mixed marriages,the comedy that’s written, directed and produced by Taleen Babayan, encourageddialogue for a community at a crossroads through endless humor and hijinks.

“Every ethnicity and age can find laughter and fulfillment in this play’s profes-sional production and story, even my young niece and nephew who are still talk-

ing about it,” said audience memberDr. Sharis Simonian. “The play wascompletely transgenerational, impact-ing my parents who are immigrants, aswell as my husband, a third-generationArmenian-American, whose familymembers immigrated before and dur-ing the genocide.”

While the play takes place in thepresent-day, it speaks to the universalsocietal customs and traditions inorder to convey a timely messagethrough theater — a notion thatHarout Soghomonian is familiar withas a native of Beirut, Lebanon, wherehe was a fixture in the theater sceneduring a time when the communityneeded the arts the most.

“I’m happy to see original Armenian theater continuing in the Diaspora, espe-cially in the United States,” said Soghomonian, an actor, musician and comedianwho played the family patriarch. “It’s important to be forward-thinking in Armeniantheater so our voices are heard during critical times.”

By bringing the community together through a multitude of audience membersand the 22 cast and crew from all backgrounds and ages, a symbiotic relationshipwas created by artistic members that centered around the core purpose of pre-serving a cultural heritage in the modern world.

“I was lucky to have creative freedom with the character Taleen wrote and sheultimately gave me something that doesn’t come along that often,” said actor andcomedian Haig Hovnanian, who played the role of the Armenian-American priest.“Being able to work with such an amazing cast and crew who brought their talentsto life was truly wonderful to be around.”

Echoing his sentiments, actress and make-up artist Helen Kalognomos, who see GROOM, page 14

Art and Artifice In ArmenianManuscriptIllustration

By Arthur Hagopian

JERUSALEM — The advent of Christianityand its adoption as a state religion by Armeniaprovided an unparalleled opportunity for theresurgence of artistic fervor among the newlyconverted, resulting in the creation of some ofthe country’s most elaborate works of art, par-ticularly in the domain of miniature illustration.

The artists set about their joyous task withabandon, evident in the masterpieces that theyhave bequeathed to us down the ages, theirbrushes delving not only into the pages of thegospels, but probing into the non-biblicaldomain, including the apocryphal, as well.

Scholars of various nations have pored overthe rich legacy, but the quest is far from over,as a leading scholar, the late Dr. Nira Stone,points out in a newly released volume, Studiesin Armenian Art, published by Brill, Leiden, theNetherlands, embodying “collected papers”written earlier.

The 262-page hardcover book, which is edit-ed by Nira’s husband, leading Armenologist

Michael Stone and medievalist Asya Bereznyak,is lavishly peopled with reproductions ofmanuscript pages and paintings, a large num-ber in full color, but a few unfortunately bereftof their original splendor.

A detailed index helps facilitate one’s search,and an exhaustive bibliography points the wayto further study.

“The essays here display the great range ofher interests and expertise. in them she pre-sents new discoveries and sheds new light onneglected artistic traditions,” remarksChristina Maranci, professor of art history,Tufts University.

“Her studies demonstrate a keen eye fordivergences from iconographic convention andtheir potential relation to nonbiblical textualtraditions,” he adds.

Stone’s work has opened up and illumined avery broad field of research, a field in which heruntiring efforts have established firm founda-tions, in the words of Armenian art historianAnna Leyloyan-Yekmalyan. She is fascinated byone particular manuscript, from Kaffa in theCrimea, called “Desert Fathers of Egypt,” andnot only because it is the only copy among

see MANUSCRIPTS, page 15

Vatche Ghanimian and Mariette Soudjian

(l-r) Taleen Babayan, Vartan Nazerianand Nora Nazerian

BOOKS

Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan leading instrumen-tal workshop.


ARTS & LIVING

GROOM, from page 13portrayed the wise and au-courant grandmoth-er, noted she had a “great time performing withour wonderful cast and hope more people havethe opportunity to see the play.”

This show marked the third performance inCalifornia this year, following productions inPasadena and Fresno, where the story of anArmenian family in America, determined to pre-serve their ethnic heritage, unfolded. A slew ofhumorous characters, from the eccentric future

in-laws to the hapless ex-boyfriend to the zanypriest partake in the themes of immigration andcultural assimilation through satire.

“I’m grateful to have grown up in a viableDiaspora where I was exposed to Armenian the-ater productions,” said Babayan. “This play notonly merges the experience of both Americanand Armenian theater, it also gave us a chanceto learn about different Diasporan communitiesby taking the production on the road whileleaving our own imprint on the genre.”

The clever and spirited production revealssubstantial layers throughout its nearly two-hour performance that brings to light ques-tions about the ethnic experience in Americafrom all standpoints. Through the stellar cast

and crew, featuring Harout Soghomonian,Maro Ajemian, Mariette Soudjian, HelenKalognomos, Mary Basmadjian, MardikIskenderian, Vatche Ghanimian, HenryAbadjian, Haig Hovnanian, Joseph Hovsepian,

Chris Kioudjian, Harven Danielian, LizaIskenderian, Aleen Khanjian, AsdghigAbadjian, Aleen Vartkessian, Arees Setrak,Hratch Mkhjian, Hannah Pollock and ArevigAbadjian, a congeniality and chemistry wasconveyed through the script that reflects theprevalent times while honoring the past.

“Taleen is one of the few, if not the onlyyoung Armenian-American writer, director andproducer of our times,” said Vartan Nazerian,

President of the Nazerian Group, a supportingsponsor of the production. “Her dedication tothe Armenian family and cultural life are uniqueand unparalleled. We look forward to more ofher productions.”

A Groom for Our TimesThe cast of “Where Is Your Groom?”

(l-r) Mado Iskenderian, Helen Kalognomos, Harout Soghomonian

(l-r) Maro Ajemian, Chris Kioudjian, Harout SoghomonianA scene from Where Is Your Groom (l-r): Maro Ajemian, Mado Iskenderian, Harout Soghomonian,Mariette Soudjian, Joseph Hovsepian, Mary Basmadjian & Vatche Ghanimian

(l-r) Harout Soghomonian, Alina Simonian, Sharis Simonian, Andre Simonian and Arpi Simonian

MANUSCRIPTS, from page 13several others known to us to be illustrated,with over 500 small paintings by the monk andartist Thaddeus Avramenc of the fifteenth cen-tury.

The rich and artistic illuminations are highlyoriginal and creative, a fact that, however, posesproblems for scholars, according to her.

“The originality of the illuminations in the1430 manuscript enhances its intrinsic valuewhile at the same time creating those problemsthat generally accompany such uniqueness,”Stone notes.

“We often feel some discomfort where we aresuddenly confronted by an artistic work thatdoes not belong, at first glance, to any readilyrecognizable school, style, atelier or other cate-gory.”

This warrants further study, she urges.Although gold remains the paramount medi-

um of pictorial illumination, the incomparableDesert Fathers is noted for the conspicuoususe of white in the pictorial style, a reflection

perhaps of the symbolic importance of thecolor “in the context of monastic spirituality.”

The manuscript was written at a time ofdivergent political upheavals and instability.The medium of spotless and pure representa-tion in white is perhaps meant to reflect apoignant quest for salvation in those troubledtimes.

The data Stone collected from apocryphaltexts has allowed her to propose a newapproach in the study of illustration and icono-grpahic reading of gospel or other biblicalimages that are enriched with new elements,Leyloyan-Yekmalyan observes.

“Through the light cast by apocryphal texts,she was able to show the legitimacy and deep-er symbolic meaning of unusual figures andother elements that previously had been mis-understood or simply ignored,” she adds.

In her lifelong quest, Stone has had occasionto visit the sites of many of the mosaics uncov-ered in the Holy Land, and her analysis of thesesites, particularly Shellal, near Gaza, come at a

particularly opportune time with the recentannouncement of the discovery of a 1,500-year-old Byzantine church near Jerusalem contain-ing what Antiquities Authority sources describeas “some stunning” mosaics.

She notes that significantly, animals por-trayed in the mosaics she has studied, like theone in Musrara outside the walls of the OldCity, are illustrated in a most naturalistic way.

(One exception is the 6th Century medallionclose to the Musrara site, crafted by Yevsdat orEustathius the priest, which did not containany human or animal illustrations, but rows oftext, perfectly preserved).

Stone dwells at length on the relationshipbetween text and illustration. Some illustra-tions, such as those in various sorts of Psalters,are tied to the text that stands at their side andin fact themselves form part of that text.

Sometimes the illustration are taken out thetext itself and set in the margin. In one espe-cially powerful rendering of Jonah and thewhale in the royal manuscript called King

Hetoum II’s Lectionary copied in 1286, thegreat fish is shown vomiting its victim withsuch force that it is expelled outside the frameencompassing the sea, and encroaching ontothe colophon, clear out of the text, as pioneerArmenian art historian Sirarpie der Nercessianpoints out in her definitive work, ”ArmenianArt.” The frame that was a barrier was brokenin order to create a sense of movement anddrama.

Some of the paintings in the manuscripts arealso characterized by simplicity both of styleand iconography.

”In spite of the wealth of color there is noattempt at naturalism, even a stylized natural-ism. There is no attempt to convey depth or per-ception although this is typical of Armenianmanuscript painting from earlier periods,” shewrites.

But the simplicity of execution and style con-trast with the richness of these paintings.

The Desert Fathers’ paintings reveal botheastern and western influence, as seen in thefaces of the figures which are elongated, thehair fair and sometimes even the eyes light.

Stone’s discoveries, revelations and insightshave enriched our knowledge, appreciation andconnection with the national treasures of theArmenian people, an accomplishment rare inscholarship.

Her passing is an incalculable loss forArmenology, but her name and efforts remainenshrined in Armenian culture as a witness ofthat people’s unique, creative identity. AndArmenian scholarship is comforted by thethought that her husband, Michael Stone, willbe there to continue the work.

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ARTS & LIVING

When it comes to making stuffed grape leaves (“yalanchi”), most Armenian families have theirown unique recipes. Robyn Kalajian at thearmeniankithen.com reports that Vivian Vezirian-Hovsepsian, a cousin from the ‘Dikranagerdsi’ side of her family, was happy to share her fami-ly’s recipe that was handed down to her by her beloved mother, Victoria Vezirian. Robyn addsthat Vivian thinks this recipe originally came from her maternal grandmother, Gadar Najarian,who was from Dikranagerd.

Vivian prepares fresh grape leaves in the following manner: She picks them when they’reyoung and tender, parboils the leaves until they change color, drains and cools them, then takesa bunch, stacks and rolls them, squeezing out excess water. She then puts the stacks of leavesin zip lock freezer bags. She says they store indefinitely. She always dates the year the leavesare picked and uses the older batches first. When ready to prepare grape leaves, Vivian puts thefrozen leaves in cold water until thawed; drains excess liquid and lets the rolling begin.

INGREDIENTS3 lbs. finely chopped onions2 cups olive oil1 1/2 cups rice (Carolina rice is the best to use in this recipe, Vivian suggests)1 can tomato paste (12 oz.)Juice of 3 lemons, to taste1-2 tablespoons paprika1 tablespoon allspice3/4 cup pine nuts, to tasteSalt and pepper, to tasteFew dashes cayenne pepper1/2 large bunch parsley, finely chopped80-100 fresh grape leaves (jarred grape leaves may be used if fresh are unavailable)

PREPARATIONIn a large pot, sauté onions and rice in olive oil over medium heat until onions are translucent, for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasional-

ly. Add more oil or lower heat if mixture sticks or appears like it is burning. When onions are limp, add remaining ingredients except thegrape leaves, stir, and cook for another 10 minutes.

Remove pot from stove, stir, and cool ingredients completely, about 20-25 minutes. (Drain any oil from pot into a bowl for later use.)Remove stems. Lay one grape leaf on a flat work surface, shiny side down. Place two teaspoons of filling at the stem-end of the leaf,

depending on the size of the leaf. Spread filling about three-quarters across the width of the leaf. Start rolling the leaf from the stem endaway from you, then fold each side of the leaf over the filling and continue to roll away from you. Fold leaf firmly, but not too tightly, soleaf will not unravel during cooking.

Line torn or leftover grape leaves on the bottom of a baking pan or large pot to buffer grape leaves from direct heat of the oven orstovetop. Arrange grape leaves not more than three layers deep. Drizzle grape leaves with any drained oil from pot. Add warm water tofill baking pan or pot about 3/4 full.

Cook on top of the stove on medium heat or bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for about one hour, until most of the liquid isabsorbed. Check if rice is fully cooked, and remove from oven to cool completely.

Refrigerate entire baking pan or pot overnight for best results. Serve grape leaves at room temperature with fresh lemon wedges.Drizzle with olive oil and more lemon juice, if desired.

Yield: Approximately 80-100 grape leaves.

*Recipe and photos contributed by Vivian Vezirian-Hovsepian and Robyn Kalajian at thearmeniankitchen.com. See an informative how-to-stuff-and-roll grape leaves video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiNsQyPUJ64

Recipe Corner

Vezirian Family’s Yalanchi Recipeby Christine Vartanian Datian

Guest Recipe

The late Victoria Vezirian and her daughter, Vivian Vezirian-Hovsepian.

Art and Artifice in Armenian Manuscript Illustration

Survivors TestimonyAnd ‘The Promise’ atArarat-Eskijian Museum

MISSION HILLS, Calif. — The Ararat-Eskijian Museum (AEM) and USC ShoahFoundation are sponsoring a presentation,“The Promise: Contextualized with Testimony,”on Sunday, November 10, at 4 p.m. at theArarat-Eskijian Museum/Sheen Chapel 15105Mission Hills Rd.

This unique presentation invites the generalpublic to watch key scenes from “The Promise”extended with audiovisual testimony of sur-vivors and witnesses to the Armenian Genocide.Through an interactive guided viewing with Dr.Carla Garapedian and Sedda Antekelian,Education and Outreach Specialist, ArmenianGenocide Education at USC Shoah Foundation,attendees willlearn about sig-nificant detailsabout the pro-duction of thefilm and how tes-timony extendsthe historicalunderstandingof the ArmenianG e n o c i d ebeyond the film.

Garapedian isthe associateproducer andhistorical consul-tant of “ThePromise,” 2016.Garapedian is anaccomplished and renowned filmmaker, award-winning director of the film “Screamers,” writ-er and broadcaster. Garapedian continues toproduce film and documentaries, consults ondiverse projects and programs and serves as anactive advocate and researcher.

Sedda Antekelian is the education and out-reach specialist, Armenian Genocide educationat USC Shoah Foundation. Antekelian developstestimony-based educational content for educa-tors and students and leads educator trainingworkshops on how to teach with testimony inthe classroom. Antekelian has experience in theeducational sphere for over eight years.

Free admission and open to the public.For more information call the Ararat-Eskijian

Museum at [email protected].

Dr. Carla Garapedian


ARTS & LIVING

WORKSHOP, from page 13Divine Liturgy, the Soorp Badarak (“HolySacrifice”).

Tragically, on April 24, 1915, Gomidas Vartabedwas among the more than 200 Armenian intellec-tuals and community leaders who were deportedby the Turkish authorities from Constantinople toholding centers in Angora (Ankara) in whatmarked the beginning of the Armenian Genocide.While he escaped execution, Gomidas was afflict-ed with traumatic neurosis. He was eventuallymoved to Paris in 1919 and died in a psychiatricclinic in the Paris commune of Villejuif in 1935.His ashes were transferred to Yerevan the follow-ing year and buried in the pantheon that wasnamed after him.

The festival continued in earnest on Saturdaymorning with morning worship followed byFindikyan’s keynote address entitled, “WhenArmenians Sing with the Angels,” in which hespoke about the power of the liturgical tradition,with its combination of music, theology andprayerful poetry, to create a sacred space thatdraws us into communion with God and withone another, “a space where we can perceive thetrue mystery of God’s presence in our midst.”

He recalled his experience in Rome as a doc-toral student when, “My Catholic Jesuit profes-sors often stated publicly in the classroom thatthe Armenian Church’s liturgical tradition is themost sublime in all of Christendom. For manyreasons — antiquity, simplicity, theologicalsophistication — but in addition because of thebeauty and power of our sacred music, our litur-gical music. I was usually the only Armenian inthe classroom.”

The day continued with a variety of simulta-neous workshops for vocalists, altar servers,choir members, choir directors and organists.Deacon Rubik presented a fascinating workshopon the aging voice, or what he prefers to describeas “the evolving voice.” He detailed what singerscan do to maintain their voices in spite of age-related changes in such things as posture,breathing and sound production.

“You shouldn’t become disheartened by thenatural aging process. Just like the muscles youwork out at a gym, the human voice can be main-tained by various exercises that become evenmore vital as a person ages. Nutrition and regularexercise are also key to maintaining your voice.”

New York-based Argentinian-Armenian mezzo-soprano Solange Merdinian conducted a vocaltraining and technique workshop for singers

focusing on visualization and technical exercisesfor key choral skills such as phonation, postureand breath support.

“It’s a fantastic initiative to bring our com-munity together through musical education andstudying our musical tradition,” she observed.

Also participating was the Very Rev. MamigonKiledjian, the Diocesan Instructor of SacredMusic. He led a series of workshops and tutorialson the history and role of the organ in theBadarak. He also spoke about techniques to

assist altar servers, the choir and even the cele-brant to stay in tune with the organist. He fur-ther discussed the role of organ improvisation inthe Badarak.

“It was inspirational to be part of this firstsuch festival, especially as it coincides with theone-hundred fiftieth anniversary of GomitasVartabed’s birth,” Kiledjian said.

In other sessions, Khoja-Eynatyan surveyedthe numerous digital resources that the SacredMusic Council has recently created, includingsharagans with full musical notation and audiorecordings, as well as the Giragatsooyts, whichprovides choir directors and others with all ofthe musical and liturgical variables for eachSunday of the year. he and his son Alexander,both trained percussionists, later offered a ses-sion for instrumentalists, in which they exploredhow other musical instruments might be used to

perform sacred music.Sevag Derderian, Chair of the Association of

Armenian Church Choirs of the Western Diocese(AACCWD), focused on weaving the thread ofsacred music into the lives of our youth. TheAACCWD has developed an innovative SundaySchool music curriculum, that includes a set ofinstructional videos, to teach our young peoplethe hymns of the Badarak.

Before dinner, attendees rehearsed two keyhymns of the Gomidas Badarak, Hayr Mer (“Our

Father” (i.e., the Lord’s Prayer) and Soorp,Soorp, (“Holy, Holy”), in preparation forSunday’s episcopal Badarak.

The evening concluded with a screening of thedocumentary, “Singing in Exile,” featuring theAKN Armenian Choir of Paris, which is revivingan ancient style of Armenian sacred chant. Thescreening was followed by a question-and-answersession via Skype from Paris with Aram andVirginia Kerovpyan, co-founders of the AKNChoir, which was organized and moderated byDeacon Kavork Hagopian, choir director andorganist at St. James.

Clergy and lay people alike expressed much joyfor attending the weekend festival. “I was movedby the enthusiasm of the participants and theireagerness to learn as much as possible,” said Fr.Avedis Kalayjian, Pastor of St. Mesrob ArmenianChurch in Racine, Wisconsin.

Karinne’ Andonian, choir conductor at HolyTrinity Armenian Church in Cheltenham,Pennsylvania, found it encouraging “to learnways to help our choir members grow in theirmusical and spiritual expression. It’s been vali-dating and encouraging to my own expression ofthe Badarak as a conductor.”

For John Paklaian, subdeacon at St. Gregorythe Illuminator Armenian Church in Chicago,the festival was a continuation of an endeavor hehad begun as a child. “As someone who grew upin the Armenian Church and learned from anearly age our liturgical music tradition, I havealways sought a better understanding of theinteraction between altar servers, choir membersand the organist during Badarak. This festivalwas helpful in raising the level of consciousnessof those who serve the Armenian Churchthrough song. We were blessed to have suchwonderful presenters!”

Pat Der Matosian-McCoy of the host parishdescribed the experience as, “A wonderful oppor-tunity to work on our singing and learn newvocal techniques. Daniel Srpazan’s keynote wasparticularly instructive and inspiring.”

Varya Petrosyan, parent of two Narek BellChoir performers, sees Khoja-Eynatyan’s initia-tive as a great way to encourage kids to attendchurch. “Children feel they have a role and a pur-pose at church, and coming to church becomesmore natural. Parents don’t have to convincethem to attend, especially as they get older.”

Khoja-Eynatyan considers the weekend a greatsuccess. “Every generation has to do its part topreserve and add to the rich history of music inthe Armenian Apostolic Church, and we wereblessed that St. James could host the first gath-ering of this festival.”

A number of individuals made contributions tomake this first Sacred Music Festival possible:Bishop Daniel (In memory of Diramayr UrsulaFindikyan), Haig and Nadine Ariyan (In memoryof Levon Ariyan), Melanie Dadourian (InMemory of Haig Dadourian), Der Hovhan andYn. Narine Khoja-Eynatyan (In Memory of Dn.Socrates Boyajian), Komitas Choir of St. John’sArmenian Church (Southfiled, MI), Dr. SamMikaelian, Hayr Simeon Odabashian (In memoryof Diramayr Zabel Odabashian) and the TatosianFamily. The Festival was also supported by theBishop’s Ministries Fund of the Diocese.

(This article is the more detailed version ofa piece that ran in the October 19 issue.)

Eastern Diocese Holds Sacred Music Festival

Armenian Martyrs’Congregational ChurchHosts Cultural Program

HAVERTOWN, Penn. — On October 6, Armenian Martyrs’Congregational Church of Havertown hosted the Inter-Communal Committee’s October cultural program. This year,the Committee invited cellist David Bakamjian and actorNora Armani to present “Evocations of Armenia,” a programco-created by the two for the Metropolitan Museum of Art inNew York in 2008.

During the hour-long performance, voice and cello, in turn

and together, captivated the nearly 100 people in the audi-ence with various examples of Armenian musical and literaryheritage. Ancient chants and secular songs were interspersed

with the music of Komitas (in recognition of the 150thanniversary of his birth) and 20th-century composer AlanHovhaness, whose works challenge the virtuosity of any musi-cian. Bakamjian performed these with sensitivity and skill,giving rich context and beauty to the stories and poetry thatNora Armani shared throughout the program.

Bakamjian is a performer and dedicated teacher based inNew York. He has recorded on classical and baroque cello,has performed as soloist and principal for various orchestrasand offers chamber music workshops for adult amateurs.

Armani is a published poet, playwright and filmmaker. Shedivides her time between New York and Paris.

Nora Armani and David Bakamjian

Philadelphia area Inter-Communal Committee at Armenian Martyrs’ Congregational Church, Havertown

Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan conducting St. James’ NAREK Bell Choir.

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NOVEMBER 23 — Join the Armenian EyeCare Projectfor its annual Gala celebrating another year of greataccomplishments in Armenia. Held at the beautifulBalboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, at 6:30pm. Eveningbegins with stunning cocktail reception and silent auc-tion followed by an exquisite five-course dinner, liveArmenian music by the Hosharian Brothers Band, a liveauction and more! Tickets are $450/person if reserved byOct. 10; $500/person after Oct. 10; and $250/person forthose age 35 & under. All proceeds to benefit the AECP’smany sight-saving programs in Armenia. To RSVP or formore information, call 949-933-4069, email [email protected] or visit eyecareproject.com/gala

DECEMBER 7 — Saturday, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. TheWomen’s Guild of St. David Armenian Church inBoca Raton, invites all members, spouses & friends totheir Annual Christmas Luncheon & Fashion Show at theWyndham Deerfield Beach Resort, 2019 NE 2nd Street,Deerfield Beach, FL, to enjoy an afternoon of fellowship,delicious food, and exciting fashion provided by MarioPucci, among others. For reservations (deadline Nov.29th) and additional information, please call DianeAzarian (401) 556-3886, Ginny Kyvelos (781) 789-9169,or the church office (561 994-2335.DECEMBER 13, 14, & 15 — Friday, Saturday, & Sunday- Friday - 6pm to 10pm; Saturday - 9am to 10pm;Sunday - 1pm to 6pm; - St. David Armenian Art & FoodFestival, 2300 Yamato Road, Boca Raton, FL. Join us foran afternoon of delicious homemade Armenian food,fun, fellowship, raffles, and children’s activities while youshop for Christmas gifts at our vendors. For more infor-mation, call the church office at 561-994-2335.Admission is free and there is ample parking on thechurch grounds.

NOVEMBER 8 and 9 – Annual Autumnfest Bazaarsponsored by the Armenian Church at Hye Pointe, atour new location 1280 Boston Road, (Rte. 125) Haverhill,Friday 12 – 7 pm and Saturday 12 – 7 pm. Lamb, Losh,Chicken Kebab and Kheyma. Dinners served all day.Pastry table, Armenian cuisine, gift baskets, raffles forcash and prizes. For more info, visit www.hyepointear-menianchurch.org or call (978) 372-9227. Take Rte. 495N to exit 48, bear right at the end of the ramp.NOVEMBER 9 — Armenian Women’s WelfareAssociation, Annual Luncheon, honoring CarolannNajarian, MD with AWWA Founders HumanitarianAward on Saturday, 12 to 4 p.m. at Belmont CountryClub,181 Winter St., Belmont. Tickets may be purchasedonline at www.eventbrite.com/d/ma—boston/awwa/ orby contacting Stephanie Ciccolo at [email protected] or 617-522-2600 ext. 101, Complimentaryvalet parking available.November 9 — An Evening with Fr. Vasken Kouzouian:Celebrating 25 Years of Ministry, 6:30 p.m., CocktailReception; 7:30 p.m., Dinner and Celebration, SambergConference Center, MIT, Chang Building (E52), Floor 7,50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge. Donation is $100 per per-son. Seating is by advance paid reservation only.Purchase tickets online at https://aneveningwithfr-vasken.eventbrite.com or through the Church Office,617-354.0632.NOVEMBER 10 — Second Sundays! TraditionalArmenian Dance Lessons. 2-4 pm at the ArmenianMuseum of America Adele & Haig Der Manuelian gal-leries, 3rd floor 65 Main Street, Watertown. On the sec-ond Sunday of every month, join experts Gary and SusanLind-Sinanian for a workshop on Armenian dance in ourstaple program of the Second Sundays Cultural Series!Gary and Susan have collected over 100 village dancesand shared these with the community for the last 42years. Learn Armenian dances performed at Americanpicnics and traditional dances from the old country.Members free. Non-members $15. Register online or callEducation Coordinator, Garin Habeshian at617.926.2562 Ext. 103 today! For more information visit:https://www.armenianmuseum.org/classesNOVEMBER 16 — St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary

School 35th Anniversary Celebration. Keynote speak-er: Dr. Diran Apelian, Professor of Engineering & FormerProvost, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, DistinguishedProfessor, UC Irvine. Entertainment: singer ArturHakobyan (Mister X). Emcee: Lisa Gulesserian, Ph.D.,Harvard’s Preceptor on Armenian Language & Culture.@The Westin Hotel Waltham-Boston. 6:30pm Cocktails /7:30pm Dinner and program. More to follow…NOVEMBER 21 — Third Thursdays! Classic Groove withspecial guest, John Berberian on Oud, 7 p.m. recep-tion, 7:30 p.m., concert at the Armenian Museum ofAmerica Adele & Haig Der Manuelian galleries, 3rd floor,65 Main Street, Watertown. Classic Groove draws on theversatility of its members to perform a diverse mix ofmusic for all occasions. Classic Groove’s repertoire rangesfrom R&B to Top 40, Smooth Jazz, Latin, Country, Swing,Middle Eastern, show tunes, male and female duets,Blues, and Motown. They are thrilled to have a specialguest musician, John Berberian on the oud for this per-formance! This performance was made possible thanksto the Dadourian Foundation. Members free. Non-mem-bers $15. (The museum’s elevator is in the process ofbeing upgraded and is currently out of service.)NOVEMBER 22 and 23 — Saints Vartanantz ArmenianChurch, Annual Food Festival and Bazaar, 180 OldWestford Rd., Chelmsford. Food and Pastries, and Vendors,Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.Live Armenian Music and Dancing, Friday – 6 to 8 p.m.Narrated Slide presentation about Sts. Vartanantz Churchhistory followed by a Sanctuary Tour – Saturday, 11 a.m.Tavloo Tournament - Sartuday, 2 p.m. For information,please call 978-256-7234. Also, possible to include the fol-lowing picture and short article on the bazaar.NOVEMBER 24 — Second Sundays Cultural Series:Painting Mt. Ararat. 2-4 pm at the Armenian Museumof America Adele & Haig Der Manuelian galleries, 3rdfloor, 65 Main Street, Watertown. Sunday. Led by Artist-in-Residence Arevik Tserunyan, attendees will learn aboutartist Martiros Saryan and his depiction of Mt. Ararat toguide their own recreation. Members $28. Non-members$35. To register, call Education Coordinator, GarinHabeshian at 617- 926-2562, ext. 103 or email [email protected]. Limit 12 per class.(The Museum’s elevator is in the process of beingupgraded and is currently out of service.) For more infor-mation visit: https://www.armenianmuseum.org/classesDECEMBER 1 — A cappella Christmas Concert byBoston Jazz Voices to Benefit the Armenia TreeProject. 5 p.m. at the Jenks Center, 109 Skillings Road,Winchester. The venue has plenty of free parking. Eventwill feature an a cappella performance, refreshments, raf-fle, and silent auction. Tickets are $30 each and a familyfour-pack of tickets is available for $100. Tickets availablevia Eventbrite at www.armeniatree.org/acappellaDECEMBER 6 and 7 — Friday and Saturday, TrinityChristmas Bazaar, Friday, 12 noon-9 p.m., Saturday,10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Holy Trinity Armenian Church of GreaterBoston, 145 Brattle Street, Cambridge. For further infor-mation, contact the Church Office, 617.354.0632.DECEMBER 8 — Candlelit Labyrinth Walk: In Peace &Harmony “Boston’s Newest Holiday Tradition.” Sunday,4:30-5:30 p.m., Armenian Heritage Park on TheGreenway, Boston. Meet & Greet. Celebrate. Walk theCandlelit Labyrinth. Tie a Ribbon with Your Wish on theWishing Tree. Enjoy Hot Chocolate & Luscious Cookies.RSVP appreciated [email protected] 15 — Christmas Holiday Concert – ErevanChoral Society and Orchestra, 3:00 p.m., ChurchSanctuary, Holy Trinity Armenian Church of GreaterBoston, 145 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA. Save thedate; details to follow. For further information, call theChurch Office, 617.354.0632, or email [email protected] 31 — Sayat Nova Dance Company of Bostoninvites the community to welcome the New Yeartogether, at its New Year’s Dinner-Dance celebration. St.James Church’s Charles Mosesian Center/Keljik Hall, 465Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown. Entertainment will be pro-vided by popular singer Arabo Ispiryan and his band fromArmenia, and community’s very own DJ Rams! Cocktailhour is at 7 pm, with dinner served promptly at 8 pm. Andof course, there’ll be dancing ‘til 2am! Donation: Adult -$125; children (5-12): $75 For tickets please call AlinaAshjian (617) 852-1816 or Mike Demirchian (617) 240-8266 or go online SNDCNYE2020.eventbrite.com Ticketsare advance purchase only.

NOVEMBER 16 — The Knights of Vartan, Nareg-Shavarshan Lodge #6 and the Daughters of Vartan,Zabelle Otyag #12 will celebrate their respective 100thand 70th organization anniversaries. Featuring: KevorkArtinian and his All Star Band at St. Mary’s Cultural Hall,18100 Merriman Rd, Livonia. This is a fundraiserDinner/Kef Dance to celebrate Knights and Daughters aswell as a chance for future members to observe how ourcommunity puts our heritage on display. All proceeds tofund renovation of school gymnasium, Knights of Vartan#106, Elementary School, Yerevan, Armenia. ForReservations Contact: Laura Lucassian, (248) 376-3794,Cost $75 per person, $40 after 9:30 pm

NOVEMBER 15 – Book presentation by Adrienne G.Alexanian, editor of her father’s memoir Forced intoGenocide: Memoirs of an Armenian Soldier in theOttoman Turkish Army - Fordham University ArmenianSociety, Fordham University, 113 West 60th St. N.Y., N.Y.10023 – Room 602 – 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. For information– [email protected] Book sales/signing following the pre-sentation. All proceeds from the sale of the books will bedonated to St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.NOVEMBER 15 — Community forum on “DiasporaCooperation with the Republic” Friday, 6 p.m.,Fordham University, 113 West 60th St., Room 602.Moderator Harold Takooshian of Fordham University;Allen E. Berber on engineering and science; Dr. LawrenceV. Najarian, medicine and healthcare; Ani Kalayjian, men-tal health and trauma; Alkesandr V. Gevorkyan, eco-nomics, with discussant Lernik Essayei. Hosted by theFordham Institute. All are welcome. Refreshmentsserved.NOVEMBER 17 and 24 — Art show sponsored by St.Gregory Enlightener Armenain Church of WhitePlains. Two Sundays, 12-12.30, Creative art by five localartists for viewing and purchase. 1131 North St., WhitePlains.

NOVEMBER 17 — Armenian Historical Association ofRhode Island presents Ruth Thomasian, Founder andPresident of Project Save Armenian Photograph Archives,Inc. Program titled “A Look at Ourselves: Armeniansthrough the Camera’s Eye.” Sunday. Refreshments at12:30 pm Lecture 1:00 pm. AHARI located at 245Waterman Street, 5th floor conference room Providence.The AHARI Museum will be open from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.Everyone is invited to bring family photos for Ruth’s “Antiques Road Show” evaluation after the [email protected] 30 — Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Armenian ChurchACYOA Alumni - Providence Chapter - 48th ANNUALHOLIDAY KEF. Evagian Cultural Center, 70 Jefferson St.,Providence. 8:30 PM - 1 AM. Featuring Johnny Berberian,Mal Barsamian, Jay Baronian, Kenny Kalayjian.. Cash Bar,Raffle, Coffee, Dessert — Adults $25, Students $20Forreservations contact Rena Megrdichian (401)573-5731,Dorothy Martiesian (401)749-0269 or church office 401-272-7712 [email protected] Sponsors & Donationsaccepted if you cannot attend.

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Mirror-Spectator


COMMENTARY

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,Philip Ketchian, Kevork Keushkerian,Harut Sassounian, Hagop Vartivarian,Naomi Zeytoonian

CORRESPONDENTS:

Armenia - Hagop AvedikianBoston - Nancy KalajianLos Angeles - Taleen BabayanBerlin - Muriel Mirak-Weissbach

Contributing Photographers:Jirair Hovsepian

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1509

Visible and Invisible Factors that LedTo House Victory

COMMENTARY

By Edmond Y. Azadian

At long last, one branch of the United States government rec-ognized the Armenian Genocide.

Indeed, the House of Representatives adopted HR 296 withan overwhelming number of votes (405-11). For more than 35agonizing years, the hopes of the Armenians were hanging overthe unstable political relations between the US and Turkey. Thelatter’s continuing bullying and threats and the US’s hesitationmade the passage of the resolution all the more valuable.

The significance of the resolution is enhanced even morebecause of its inclusive content: it sums up all the previous leg-islative and commemorative acts, including the United Statesgovernment’s May 28, 1951 to the International Court ofJustice, President Reagan’s Proclamation 4838, House JointResolution 148 of April 8, 1975 and others, as well as the factthat 49 out of 50 states have extended recognition, as have 30countries and the European Union.

These items expand the political and legal scope of the mea-sure to universal parameters.

It was also very dramatic to watch one representative afteranother giving testimony and arguing for the passage of the res-olution, reverberating the voices of Ambassador HenryMorgenthau, US Consul Leslie Davis (who wrote TheSlaughterhouse Province), sometimes with emotional overtones.

Political pundits and the general public have been wonderingwhy the resolution passed now, at this very moment, after dan-gling for 35 years.

One explanation is that the stars were in proper alignment toyield a positive result. Those stars are certainly the political fac-tors which were almost always at odds to force friends and foesin Congress to confess that “it is not the time to pass the reso-lution in order not to offend our ally Turkey.”

But as Rep. Adam Schiff stated in his testimony, it is alwaysthe right time to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Several times in the past, the votes were lined up and weretantalizingly close to passage but once Nancy Pelosi, theSpeaker of the House, delayed the vote. Another time, the WhiteHouse intervened through President Bill Clinton to RepublicanSpeaker of the House Dennis Hastert; the two were at odds witheach other on all issues except when it came to holding a voteon the Armenian Genocide.

Later on, Mr. Hastert’s cover was blown to reveal him as a cor-rupt official on the payroll of the Turkish government.

Samantha Power, President Obama’s ambassador to theUnited Nations, is part of the story. She had endeared herself tothe community as a humanitarian, publishing her powerfulbook, A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide,on the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust and the Cambodiangenocide. That book also propelled her all the way to the WhiteHouse, despite her run in with another powerful woman, HillaryClinton.

Ms. Power had convinced the Armenian community througha letter that Barack Obama would recognize the ArmenianGenocide if elected, which of course, turned out to be false.

Her opinion piece in the New York Times (October 29, 2019)comes belatedly to absolve her as she writes: “I have writtenabout the Armenian Genocide and argued for recognition,including (unsuccessfully) as a member of the ObamaAdministration. I have joined Armenian-Americans at numerouscommemorative events.”

Given the Machiavellian nature of realpolitik, Armenians can

forgive Samantha Power’s transgressions, although RabbiShmuley Boteach had taken her to task in the Jerusalem Post(November 5, 2019) for breaking her pledge.

Many factors contributed to generate such a powerful momen-tum for the passage of the resolution, some of them obvious,while others are subtler.

Of course, the two Armenian advocacy groups, the ArmenianNational Committee of America and the Armenian Assembly ofAmerica, worked relentlessly to educate the legislators and gal-vanize their grassroots forces.

But all these factors and organizations were in motion before,yet nothing had resulted. The fact of the matter is that otherpolitical developments came to empower the movement andwrench success. One was the deterioration of American-Turkishrelations.

Turkey’s authoritarian rule at home only cost that country aslap on the wrist; it was President Erdogan’s arrogance and chal-lenge to the White House that brought the situation to a head.

Ankara, in its drive to carve a security zone inside Syrian ter-ritory, began slaughtering the Kurds, including members of theYPG forces who had valiantly fought alongside US forces indefeating ISIS. That infuriated the American public andPresident Trump, who resorted to puerile arguments to dis-count the contributions of the Kurdish forces. He imposed sanc-tions on Turkey and lifted them within 24 hours. Yet, on thesame day as the Armenian Genocide vote, the House concur-rently passed another resolution to impose its own sanctions,

again with an overwhelming bipartisan support.We have mentioned that this combination of factors

led to the passage of the resolution. However, each fac-tor has a relative potency; we mentioned the deteriorat-ing US-Turkish relations and Turkey’s defiance ofNATO’s leadership in purchasing Russian military hard-ware.

We have also to factor in the Turkish-Israeli relations.President Erdogan is intoxicated with power. No one canchallenge his harsh authoritarian rule at home but hisintoxication has blinded him as he has crossed some redlines in his foreign policy.

It may sound ironic, but the fact that the passage ofthe resolution is indirectly Mr. Erdogan’s gift to theArmenians. In order to trace that intricate combinationof politics, we have to further delve into Middle Easternaffairs.

First, Israel has punished all authoritarian rulers in theregion which have posed existential threats through theUS’s military muscle — Libya, Iraq, Syria and now Iran ison the radar.

That policy can work also in reverse to reward Israel’sfriends.

Turkey has challenged Israeli hegemony in the Middle East. Ithas opposed independence for Kurdistan from Iraq, citing con-cerns over Iraq’s territorial integrity, as if Turkey cared aboutany nation’s territorial integrity. (Cyprus and Syria provideample evidence to the contrary. )

On the other hand, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasthe only head of state to call for Kurdish independence becauseIsrael has set up shop in autonomous Kurdistan, having its intel-ligence, military and political assets there, close to the Iranianborder. And yet, Turkey is worried that an independentKurdistan will inspire and inflame all Kurds in the region, includ-ing the 25 million in Turkey, to fight for independence.

The Kurds in Syria were about to carve out anotherautonomous enclave in Syria, near the Turkish border. That iswhy Erdogan took the risk of routing the Kurds from their his-toric habitat under the guise of creating a safe zone.

As the Kurds were chased out, they were chanting slogansincluding “Long Live the Kurdistan-Israeli Friendship.” That wasmore than a symbolic gesture.

Therefore, Israel lost another base in Syria.In the meantime, Turkey has been supporting the

Palestinians, Hamas in Gaza, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt,and Islamists in Libya.

It was also on the wrong side in the standoff between Qatarand Saudi Arabia, siding with the former, while Israel supportsthe Saudi Kingdom. To top it all, Turkey sent its warship to theEastern Mediterranean to disrupt oil and gas exploration by aconsortium set up by Israel, Egypt, Lebanon and Cyprus.Turkey’s claim was based on defending the supposed rights ofNorthern Cyprus, a country illegally carved out of Cyprus, byinvading Turkish forces in 1974. Thus, it is clear that the increas-ing Turkish-Israeli tensions have been impacting Israel’s transat-lantic relations.

It is a fact that every time the Genocide resolution wasbrought to the House floor, Israeli advocacy groups, certainly in

continued on next page

S A T U R D A Y, N O V E M B E R 9 , 2 0 1 9 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

Genocide Resolution: A MajorVictory, But Facts Should not BeIgnored

On October 29, 2019, Armenian Americans scored a majorvictory in the halls of US Congress. For the first time in 35years, the US House of Representatives adopted Resolution296 affirming the facts of the Armenian Genocide.

I used the term affirming because contrary to manyArmenian and non-Armenian commentators, this was not thefirst time that the United States has recognized the ArmenianGenocide. In fact, this was the fifth American governmentalrecognition. As I have reported dozens of times in past years,the United States Government first recognized the ArmenianGenocide in 1951 when it sent an official document to theInternational Court of Justice (World Court) presenting theArmenian Genocide as an example of genocide. The USHouse of Representatives recognized the Armenian Genocidein two Resolutions adopted in 1975 and 1984, and Pres.Ronald Reagan issued a Presidential Proclamation on April22, 1981 mentioning the Armenian Genocide.

Among the misrepresentations made by various commen-tators were statements like:

1. “The October 29, 2019 recognition of the ArmenianGenocide by the House of Representatives was the first timein a century that the United States has recognized theArmenian Genocide.” It was not! In fact, the text ofResolution 296 itself lists all the previous US recognitions ofthe Armenian Genocide and describes it as affirmation, notrecognition.

2. “Resolution 296 set a policy on the recognition of theArmenian Genocide by the US government.” It did no suchthing. This Resolution, like the others before it, is a non-bind-ing Resolution, expressing simply the will of Congress. It isnot a law and it has no legal consequences.

3. “Resolution 296 obligates Pres. Trump to use the termgenocide in his next April 24 statement.” It does not. ThePresident can still use other euphemisms to describe theArmenian Genocide, if he wishes to, as he and other US

Presidents have done since Pres. Reagan.4. “Resolution 296 will allow Armenians to file lawsuits in

US courts against Turkey demanding restitution for damagessuffered during the Genocide.” This is not true. As mentionedabove, two similar Congressional Resolutions were adopted in1975 and 1984 and neither one helped Armenians win a sin-gle lawsuit against Turkey in US courts.

5. “After the passage of Resolution 296, if the US Senateadopts the counterpart Resolution (SRes.150), and if Pres.Trump signs it, then the Resolution becomes a law.” This isuntrue, since both the House and Senate versions are “standalone” Resolutions. Should the Senate version also be adopt-ed, the Resolution will not go to Pres. Trump for his signa-ture, since the House and Senate versions were not submit-ted as a “Joint Resolution.”

Nevertheless, none of the above clarifications are made tominimize the value of the adoption of Resolution 296 onOctober 29, 2019. Here are the reasons why this Resolutionwas a major victory for the Armenian Cause:

1. After trying to pass a genocide resolution in the Housefor 35 years, it is a major accomplishment for the Armenian-American community to be able to finally score such a victo-ry. It is not possible to continue demanding that theArmenian public support a cause for decades without a con-crete result from time to time. This victory will energizeArmenian-Americans to continue their commitment to theArmenian Cause and work harder to attain greater accom-plishments.

2. While the passage of Resolution 296 does not obligatethe President of the United States, it will increase the pres-sure on him to properly acknowledge the Armenian Genocidein his April 24 statement.

3. Resolution 296 also makes it more difficult for theTurkish government to continue its denials of the ArmenianGenocide.

4. Paradoxically, the harsh reactions of the Turkish lead-ers to the adoption of Resolution 296 helped remind theTurkish people and others worldwide about the ArmenianGenocide.

5. Thousands of articles, TV reports, and social mediaposts on the adoption of Resolution 296 helped further pub-licize the Armenian Genocide around the world. Over 100years after the Genocide, the cry for justice remains alivethanks to the activism of Armenians and their supporters.

6. The passage of Resolution 296 is another step inArmenia’s struggle to pressure Turkey and the world com-munity to take further steps to undo the damage caused bythe Genocide, albeit delayed over a century!

7. Beyond setting straight the historical record, the effortover the passage of the genocide resolution is a political bat-

tle between the Armenian American community and theTurkish government and its paid lobbyists as to which sidehas more political clout in Washington. The overwhelmingvictory (405 to 11 votes) is a clear indication of the smashingdefeat of Turkey and the total victory of Armenians.

8. The Turkish government has wasted tens of millions ofdollars over the years hiring high-powered American lobbyingfirms in a failed attempt to block the approval of ArmenianGenocide Resolutions by the US Congress. It is impossible tomisrepresent genocide as a humane act no matter how manybillions of dollars Turkey spends on lobbyists!

9. Turkey’s defeat also sends a message to the Turkish pub-lic that the taxes they have paid are being squandered bytheir government to deny the undeniable.

10. Some have made the excuse that Congress took advan-tage of the souring relations between Turkey and the UnitedStates to pass Resolution 296. While this is true, there areseveral counter-arguments:

a) Congress is a political body; hence all its deliberationsand decisions are of a political nature;

b) If it weren’t for the diligent efforts of Armenian-Americanorganizations and the Armenian community, there was noguarantee that this Resolution would have appeared on theagenda of the House of Representatives. Since the USCongress was unhappy with Turkey’s invasion of NorthernSyria, the House of Representatives would have been satis-fied by passing a Resolution on October 29, 2019, placingsanctions on Turkey for its barbaric attacks against Kurds.However, because of Armenian activism, the House alsoadopted on the same day the Resolution on the ArmenianGenocide.

c) We cannot be so naive as to expect that any governmentwould defend the Armenian Cause if doing so would havebeen contrary to its own interests. It is perfectly reasonablethat the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide happenedto coincide with Congress’s anger at Turkey for other reasons.In fact, the more Armenians can find reasons to match theirinterests with those of other countries, the more successfulthey will be in their pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

For the next step, I hope the US Senate will shortly passSenate Resolution 150. This is important, since the US Senatehas never adopted a Resolution acknowledging the ArmenianGenocide. And maybe next year, the Armenian GenocideResolution could be reintroduced, but this time as a “JointResolution,” which would mean that should the Resolutionpass both Houses of Congress and the President signs it, theArmenian Genocide would become US law, not just a “non-binding” Resolution. This would obligate all future AmericanPresidents to use the term Armenian Genocide in their April24 statements or on any other occasion.

LETTERSVisible and InvisibleFactors that Led toHouse Victoryfrom previous pagecoordination with their government, were mobi-lized to stop the momentum. Turkey has neverfailed to mention that Jews will be safe inTurkey as long as they keep to the governmentline.

This time around, many Jewish organizationswho formerly had opposed the resolution, sup-ported the Armenians. The Anti-DefamationLeague, the Jewish American Resource Counciland other Jewish organizations were publiclysupportive of the passage of the bill and indeedadvocated for it. It was obvious that the Israeligovernment had released all the stops. Weshould recognize and appreciate the factbecause that was the most powerful factorwhich eliminated the hesitation of all the mem-bers of the House, even if it was an unintendedconsequence.

The reaction in Israel was also favorable. TheTimes of Israel states that “two prominentIsraeli politicians on both sides of the aisle inde-pendently call for Jerusalem to acknowledgethe Armenian Genocide after the US House ofRepresentatives overwhelmingly voted to rec-ognize the World War I era crime.”

The reference is to Yair Lapid, a longtime sup-porter of recognition, who says “I will continueto fight for the Israeli recognition of theArmenian Genocide,” and former LikudMinister Gideon Sa’ar.

There are statesmen and scholars who gen-uinely wish to have Israel recognize theArmenian Genocide. But the Israeli governmenthas held the Genocide issue like sword ofDamocles over Turkey’s head and it brings it tothe floor of the Knesset every time it has aninterest to extract from Turkey. Therefore the

government will not give away that prize easilybecause it may come in handy in case of anoth-er confrontation.

At the present time, SR 150 sponsored bySenators Robert Menendez and Ted Cruz, hasgarnered 20 votes in the Senate. With 18Democrats and 2 Republicans on board, itseems the resolution, at this time, does notenjoy bipartisan support.

Armenians around the world hailed the passageof the House resolution jubilantly. President ArmenSarkissian and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyanthanked the US House of Represenatives just as theTurkish government predictably reacted angrily.

President Erdogan’s communications directorFahrettin Altun stated: “Those who voted for thisresolution will be responsible for the deteriorationof a critical relationship in a turbulent region.”

Turkey’s parliament also condemned the resolu-tion while the Foreign Ministry protest had citedanother resolution, mistakenly criticizing anotherresolution about forced abortions. Erdogan himself,talking to his AK party members, stated that“These efforts … were passed by the House ofRepresentatives, using a negative atmosphereformed against our country among the Americanpublic. In a sense, they were being opportunistic.”He also shed some doubt on his scheduled forth-coming visit to Washington.

In response to Turkey’s reaction, SamanthaPower wrote, “When bullies feel their tacticsare working, they generally bully more.” And inconclusion, she added, “If Mr. Erdogan turnsfurther away from a relationship that has beenimmensely beneficial for Turkey, in favor ofdeepening ties with Russia and China, it willnot be because the House voted to recognizethe Armenian Genocide. It will be because ofhis own repressive tactics are coming to resem-ble those of Russian and Chinese leaders. TheHouse vote was overdue. Now the Senate andPresident Trump should follow suit. The factsof what occurred a century ago demand it.”

Let us find out if this time around the starsare aligned, again.

When Power Counted for Genocide Recognition To the Editor,

They say that if you can afford to lose money you’re not really gambling. By thesame token, if you’re not willing to suffer the consequences by telling the truth thenyou can’t call yourself a principled person.

Ambassador John Evans, a career diplomat, paid the ultimate price when he defiedU.S. policy by calling the mass murder of 1 ½ million Armenians by its real name,Genocide, and was then relieved of his position as U.S. ambassador to Armenia whichwas also the demise of his career. He truly sacrificed for his principles by speakingtruth to power.

Samantha Power, one of the most prolific advocates for recognition of the ArmenianGenocide, had the opportunity to distinguish herself in the same way in her positionas Director of Human Rights in the Obama administration but chose not to use theword genocide declaring that she was afraid she “would cause a diplomatic rupture.”The reality is that she might have been fired, a sacrifice she wasn’t willing to make inorder to keep her promise to our people and hence being considered principled. Sotoo, when Power realized that Barack Obama used her to garner Armenian votes bymaking the false promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide if elected President andthen reneged, she could have publicly invoked the words Armenian Genocide butinstead chose to sell out by accepting the position of U.S. ambassador to the UnitedNations and kept silent. The question is was Power duped as were Armenians or didshe knowingly, as Senior Advisor to Obama during his first campaign, promote a falsenarrative to garner Armenian votes?

Her opinion piece in the New York Times, albeit well written, gives a comprehen-sive background about events regarding genocide recognition, and is a rationalizationwhen she says that she “tried” to get the administration to officially recognize theArmenian Genocide. However, Samantha Power had no problem referring to HillaryClinton as a “monster” which resulted in her departure from the Obama administra-tion but as a human rights activist stopped short of fulfilling her promise to theArmenian people by using the word genocide. It seems that many of our people giveher a pass because we don’t have a plethora of non-Armenian advocates championingour cause and unlike other ethnic/religious groups, we’ll take what we can get...anexample of selective ethics on both our parts. I hope to see the day when principledpowerful people on both sides of the aisle are in the majority and considerate it abadge of honor to freely advocate for recognition of the Armenian Genocide justbecause it’s the right thing to do as opposed to recognition being a retaliatory tooleither against Turkey or between political parties.

Adrienne AlexanianNew York, New York


CHARENTS, from page 1Charents was merely 23-24 years old when he

wrote this great poem. It was dedicated to hisfirst wife Arpenik, who died when she was 27.The creation story behind the poem isunknown, but it was always obvious to every-one that Charents’s love for Armenia was aboveeverything else. As only one example of this,Charents volunteered to fight against the Turks

when he was just 17. He dedicated his wholelife to his country and his people, and his writ-ings from prison indicate that he was still think-ing about his people at the very last momentsof his life. Unfortunately, he did not manage todo everything he planned in his lifetime for hiscountry, yet his legacy is an indelible part ofArmenian literature.

His granddaughter, Gohar Charents, startedthe presentation by telling the story thatinspired the creation of the book. It turns outthat four years ago, a young Indian touristentered the house/museum of Charents (where

Gohar works), and approached her to ask aboutdifferent translations of “Yes Im AnoushHayastani.” Not long after, he showed transla-tions of the poem done by him and his Indianfriend into Hindu and Bengali. Gohar admittedthat it was quite a big surprise for her, since shehas never heard of the Bengali language before,but he told her that it was one of the mostwidespread languages in India.

The young tourist also explained the reasonbehind their desire to know and understandbetter what the poem was about. The Indianboy once asked his Armenian friends to guidehim to find the most beloved poem byArmenians, and the answer he received was“Yes Im Anoush Hayastani.” This inspiredGohar and planted a fresh idea in her mind, tofind the best translators all around the world inorder to give the opportunity to understand thepoem to more than 30 different nations aroundthe world. She determined to find translatorswho were Armenian, since she felt that the bestway of achieving this was to translate the poem

directly from its original Armenian. “The pro-cess of finding the translators was quite tough,”she admits. “We had to keep the correct formatand the word count so the poem sounds right.The translators also had to have a decentknowledge of Armenian literature, history,Charents, and have the spirit of the poem insidethemselves.”

The task that awaited them seemed to be

quite difficult one, but very promising. Gohartold us that the design of the book was asimportant as its contents. This is precisely whythe team that worked on the creation of thebook chose Martiros Saryan’s paintings thatportrayed Charents’ “summer sun” and “Nairimaidens,” and placed them next to every trans-lation as a visual representation of the passionand beauty of Armenia.

“Yes Im Anoush Hayastani” is undoubtedlyconsidered to be a masterpiece, but how doesthe Armenian nation perceive and see it?Saryan once expressed his thoughts about the

poem by saying,“‘Yes Im AnoushHayastani’ is both aprayer and an oath.You can whisper itin your mind orsing it on thestreets as a hymn tofreedom. And, final-ly, it is the stamp ofaffirmation and per-petuation of theArmenian race.Charents is immor-tal. In order tobring such an opusto the world youhave to be at least asemi-god.”

Another notedrepresentative ofthe Armeniannation, the writerWilliam Saroyansaid, “I love the sun-savouring words of

‘Yes Im Anoush Hayastani’ … to this day I con-sider it the most beautiful song about our coun-try, our soil, and our history, a prayer close toHayr Mer [Our Lord].

Participating at the event with a very similaridea about “Yes Im Anoush Hayastani,” thesponsor of the book, Hratch Djerrahian, spokeabout the role he foresaw for it.

“First of all, we are all aware that this book ismore than a reference point of greatness. It islike a prayer book for us,” he declared. Heasked the audience if they agreed, and theanswer of the crowd became obvious throughtheir cheers.

Djerrahian continued: “In reality, we all musthave this book in our households as a prayerbook. But we also have to believe that this great-ness is not only for Armenians, but everyone elsein the world. So how can this happen? Once, wehad a meeting and a discussion with some of ourfriends, Khachik Vardanyan, a close friend, andGohar Charents, about the book that was aboutto be born. We all came to an agreement that the

book needs to be like a gift, a present that willchange lives. It has to be a serious book, that byhaving it in your hands you could feel the samepower and energy as that radiating from a prayerbook. This all belongs to Charents. We had tomake sure that all these things will become real-ity and a part of the ‘Yes Im Anoush Hayastani”book. Every single one of us realized that imag-ining [and] speaking about these things are verydifferent from working and making them cometrue. It was only a week ago, when I first heldthis book in my hands and I feltit, that I had the right feelingabout it. So I thought to myself,and said, ‘it is good!’ It is defi-nitely worth it! This book has a

crucial mission to travel from generation to gen-eration, and besides, it is important for Armeniato have something, a gift, to give to our visitors,a part of ourselves, our souls and true emotionsthat Charents depicted in the poem.”

The entire event was emotional. All the beau-tiful words and thoughts managed to reacheveryone’s hearts and play on the most gentlestrings of love and patriotism. It got even moreemotional when Khachik Vardanyan, thefounder of Bookinist, one of the most popularbookstore chains in Armenia, who played a sub-stantial role in the creation of the book, wasabout to start his speech. He stopped for amoment and wiped away his tears with hishands. Then, after apologizing, he startedtelling us about the effect the process of the cre-ation of the book had on him.

He said: “It is a call of spirits; it is a prayerfor millions of Armenians. We have decidedthat the only benefit we want from this pro-ject is, with the help of Aurora, to awakenhumanity and love towards it. This is why Iwant to thank every single person that playeda role in the creation of the book and madeit special.”

During the event we all had a chance to hear

what some of the translators had to say about“Yes Im Anoush Hayastani” and the translationprocess through video recordings. It did notreally matter whether the specialists wereArmenian or of other nationalities. They all stat-ed one thing collectively: this poem is a truedefinition of an immense love for a homeland,lovely Armenia, and it also sparks a fire of inter-est towards this country.

It is unbelievable how strongly Charents wasattracted to literature from a young age. A

proof of this statement is a story that happenedwhen he was but a five-year-old boy. His fathergave him money to go and buy some new shoesfor himself, but instead he went to a bookshopand bought a book. When Charents returnedhome, his father was not very happy about hisson’s choice, and told him, “You totally lostyour mind and ate it with bread! You are goingto remain barefoot now!”

Charents could not say a word, and left thehouse silently. He went out to the yard and toldhis friend about what happened. He proudlystated, “I would rather have my feet barefoot,than my brain.”

Could this little boy imagine that one day oneof his creations would become so iconic for hisnation? On the very last page of the book,behind the back cover, there is a short but pow-erful message concluding the book in the bestpossible way: “The iconic poem for allArmenians…”

As composer Tigran Mansourian said, “Therecould be absolutely no doubt that “Yes ImAnoush Hayastani” has the most appropriatelyrics worthy of becoming the new nationalanthem of Armenia. What is left to do now is tofind a deserving melody.”

Charents’ Iconic Creation Becomes Accessible in 35 Languages

Gohar Charents, Tigran Mansourian, Hratch Djerrahian

Armen Charents (Charents’ grandson)

Mariam Movsisyan (Representative of Aurora Forum/Chief Communicationsand Marketing Officer of Idea Foundation)

The cover of the book

Gohar Charents, TigranMansourian, Armen Charents

Mirror-Spe RMENIAN ctator · 2019-11-07 · $2.00 The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the...

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Transcript of Mirror-Spe RMENIAN ctator · 2019-11-07 · $2.00 The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the...