Ruling Republican PartyWins Big

YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Internationalobservers gave a mixed assessment ofArmenia’s parliamentary elections thisweek, praising the pre-election environmentin the country but reporting irregularitiesin a “significant number” of polling stationson voting day.

In their preliminary findings that fell shortof the Armenian government’s expectations,the nearly 300 observers mostly deployed bythe Organization for Security andCooperation in Europe (OSCE) avoided stat-ing whether the vote was democratic.

“Armenia deserves recognition for itselectoral reforms and its open and peacefulcampaign environment but in this race, sev-eral stakeholders too often failed to complywith the law and election commissions toooften failed to enforce it,” said Francois-Xavier de Donnea, a Belgian parliamentari-

an who heads a group of short-term OSCEmonitors. “As a result, the internationalcommitments to which Armenia has freelysubscribed were not always respected.”

“The election campaign was open andrespected fundamental freedoms, and themedia offered broad and balanced coverageduring the official campaign period,” saidRadmila Sekerinska, an observer missionleader representing the OSCE’s Office forDemocratic Institutions and Human Rights(ODIHR). “Unfortunately, this was over-shadowed by concerns over the accuracy ofvoter lists and violations of the ElectoralCode that created an unequal playingfield.”

Representatives of smaller monitoringteams deployed by the EuropeanParliament and the Council of Europe’sParliamentary Assembly (PACE) agreedwith this conclusion. Emma Nicholson, wholed the 27-strong PACE team, expressedconcern over “reports of widespread inter-ference with the running of polling sta-tions, voters’ movement and casting of

see ELECTIONS, page 2

Group Asks Clinton toInclude Israel in

NATO Summit afterTurkey Veto

NEW YORK — The Anti-Defamation League (ADL)this week expressed deep concern at reports thatTurkey blocked Israel’s participation in the upcom-ing NATO summit due to bilateral disagreementsbetween the two countries.

In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,the league called Turkey’s actions “extremelyunfortunate” and “highly politicized,” and urgedthe State Department to find a way to enableIsrael’s participation in the summit, “…so thatTurkey’s political dispute with Israel does notdetract from the interests of the US, NATO, Israelor the other participants in the Chicago summit,”which is scheduled for May 20-21.

President Serge Sargisian is scheduled to partic-ipate in the summit.

Armenia ParticipatesIn Classical Eurovision

VIENNA (Arminfo) — Narek Kazazyan, a 15-year-old kanon player, represented Armenia in theClassical Eurovision 2012 international conteston May 5 in Vienna. The final of the contest wasscheduled for May 11. Previously, Kazaryan hadperformed with noted duduk player JivanGasparyan and the Chamber OrchestraVirtuosos of Moscow. The second semifinal tookplace on May 6.

Armenia is taking part in the contest for the firsttime. The Classical Eurovision is held once in twoyears. Musicians age 15-20 years participate in thecontest.

Armenian PresidentCongratulates

MedvedevYEREVAN (Armenpress) — On May 8, PresidentSerge Sargisian sent a congratulatory message toDmitry Medvedev, on his becoming Russia’s newpremier.Sargisian expressed his gratitude to Medvedev for

strengthening relations between Armenia andRussia, and Medvedev’s personal contributiontoward a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict.

“The important trilateral meetings of Russian,Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents organized atyour initiative, as well as your consistent endeavorsin the direction of rapprochement of the parties’positions over fundamental principals of conflictresolution, supported by other member states ofOSCE Minsk Group, deserve profound acknowl-edgment,” the message read.

INDEXArts and Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Armenia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 3Community News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Mirror- SpectatorMirror- SpectatorTHE ARMENIAN

Volume LXXXII , NO. 42, Issue 4238

MAY 12 , 2012

$ 2.00

JAZZ inWatertown

Story on page 16

INSIDE

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

NEWS IN BRIEFII nn OOuurr 88 00tt hh YYee aa rr

Editor and Journalist Mahtesian to ReceiveMirror’s 2012 Award of Excellence at Banquet

WASHINGTON — Charles Mahtesian is Politico’snational politics editor and has his own blog on thePolitico website. An expert on American politics fre-quently appearing on major radio and televisionshows as an analyst, Mahtesian also has a deep

interest in and commitment to his Armenian heritage. He will be receiving theArmenian Mirror-Spectator’s 2012 Award of Excellence on May 24.

Mahtesian grew up in Haverhill, a suburb of Philadelphia, and confesses that he wasnot that interested in politics as ayouth. He said, “I was a politicalscience major, but was mostly adumb jock playing baseball andsoccer until halfway through col-lege.” He completed an internshipon Capitol Hill while studying atCatholic University in Washington,DC, and soon enough found histrue calling.

He explained, “I think it is theclash of forces, the high stakesthat interest me in politics.Discovering all of the forces thatdrive American politics fascinatedme, and in particular trying tounderstand the cultural, social,

economic and political forces that drive the processes and make politicians do thethings they do.”

see MAHTESIAN, page 8

Charles Mahtesian

By Aram Arkun Mirror-Spectator Staff

Aftermath of FrenchPresidential Election

By Varoujan Sirapian Special to the Mirror-Spectator

PARIS — Never has an election in Francebeen so uncertain. According to surveysconducted six months ago, Nicolas Sarkozystarted about 16 percentage points down.His place on the final ballot was not evenassured, as he was running in third place,behind Francois Hollande (Socialist) andMarine Le Pen (Front National).

After the first round on April 22, onlytwo candidates were left: Sarkozy andHollande. The past 15 days were very tenseand until the evening of May 4 (officiallythe last day of the campaign), the gap nar-rowed between the two candidates.

French law does not permit publicationof surveys 48 hours before voting. In theage of online media and social networks,that measure seems absurd, as the Belgiansand the Swiss, for example, can publish the

see FRANCE, page 4

Francois Hollande

Demonstrators Take Aliyev to Task

By Florence Avakian Special to the Mirror-Spectator

UNITED NATIONS — Lies, distortionsand propaganda took center stage onFriday, May 4, as Azerbaijani PresidentIlham Aliyev addressed the topic of “anti-terrorism” before the United NationsSecurity Council and accused Armenia of“terrorism against civilians, militaryaggression and ethnic cleansing.”

Possibly aware this diatribe wouldoccur, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-

moon, as well as the German ForeignMinister and the ambassadors fromSecurity Council members US, Franceand Germany, were not present.

After making the 5,000-mile journey toNew York for this appearance, he wasescorted into the UN through the base-ment garage, so that he would not haveto see the more than 50 demonstratorsfrom the New York/New Jersey ARFchapter who protested across the streetfrom the UN, carrying the flags ofArmenia and Artsakh (NagornoKarabagh) and signs which read, “Turkeyand Azerbaijan Guilty of Genocide,”“Baku Guilty of Ethnic Cleansing” and“Stop Destruction of Nakhichevan.”

see UN, page 4

Azeri President Uses Platform at UNSecurity Council to Revile Armenia

Armenian Election Given Mixed Assessment

Senior European election observers start a joint news conference in Yerevan on May 7.

YEREVAN — Since2001, the AGBU YoungProfessionals (YP)Network has lent its finan-cial support to theAmerican University ofArmenia (AUA) by spon-soring its annual subscrip-tion to the Association forComputing Machinery(ACM) Digital Library.More than a decade later,the giving continues withsupport provided this yearby YP Boston, YP GreaterNew York, YP Lebanon,YP Los Angeles, YPOrange County andHAIK, a YP Partner organization inFrankfurt, Germany. In total, AGBU YPgroups and partners have donated nearly$25,000 to this endeavor over the years.

“It is important for the AGBU YoungProfessionals to support AUA graduatestudents in their efforts to pursue theirstudies,” said YP Orange CountyChairwoman Dora Gulesserian, whosegroup donated for the first time this year.“The ACM Digital Library is an invaluableresource in providing knowledge aboutthe computing industry and we are happyto be able to direct funds to this importantcause.”

Advancing the educational andresearch efforts of AUA graduate studentsand faculty, the ACM Digital Library is theultimate resource to the computing indus-try, providing a vast collection of citationsand full texts from current and archivaljournals, articles and conference proceed-ings, both in print and online.

“I can attest to the importance of ourstudents having access to inspirationalinformation in their field of expertise,”said Aram Hajian, dean of the AUACollege of Engineering. “The AGBU YPdonation has helped enable our studentsto be aware of the most up-to-date scien-tific scholarship in computer sciencethrough the ACM subscription. I amhappy to express my thanks and appreci-ation to the AGBU Young Professionalson behalf of the AUA College ofEngineering. We highly value such exam-ples of diasporan support for Armenia’sinstitutional development and for AUA inparticular.”

ACM is the world’s largest educationaland scientific computing society, unitingeducators, researchers, students and pro-fessionals to inspire dialogue, share

resources and address the field’s chal-lenges. Access to the latest publicationsvia the ACM Digital Library is essentialfor AUA graduate students and faculty tofurther their scholarship and stay abreastof the changing trends in computing andinformation technologies.

“We are grateful to have the com-mitted support of the global networkof the AGBU Young Professionals,”said Dr. Bruce Boghosian, presidentof AUA “The AGBU YP sponsorshipof the ACM has been steadfast overthe years.”

ELECTIONS, from page 1votes throughout the day by certainpolitical parties.”

“The authorities must address thisunacceptable behavior before the presi-dential election next year,” Nicholsonsaid at a joint news conference with deDonnea and Sekerinska.

The observers’ joint preliminaryreport on Sunday’s election similarlyrefers to “undue interference” in thevoting process, presumably by activistsof pro-government parties, among vari-

ous violations. “While opening proce-dures were assessed positively in almostall polling stations observed, voting wasassessed negatively in 10 percent,which is considerable,” according to thereport. “Unauthorized people, mostlyproxies, interfered in or directed thework of 12 percent of the [precinct elec-tion commissions] observed,” thereport read.

Vote buying was the principal fraudallegation voiced by the Armenianopposition even before the closure ofthe polls on Sunday evening.

Sekerinska’s said it was “very diffi-cult” for the mainly Western observersto verify the vote buying claims. “Evenpeople who have claimed that they werepart of a vote buying scheme decidednot to come forward with informationand personal declarations,” she added.

Opposition leaders also cried foulafter it emerged on Sunday morningthat ink stamps meant to guard againstmultiple voting routinely disappearedafter being put on voters’ passports.The observer’s report notes in thisregard that the special ink used for theprocedure “should have remained visi-

ble for 12 hours but faded much faster.”Armenia’s previous legislative polls

held in May 2007 were judged by a sim-ilar OSCE-led mission to have been held“largely in accordance with internation-al standards for democratic elections.”Western monitors gave a similar assess-ment of the Armenian presidential elec-tion of February 2008, which wasmarred by fraud allegations and a dead-ly government crackdown on the oppo-sition.

The Armenian authorities have madeno secret of their hopes to secure aneven more positive international verdicton the latest vote. Sargisian and othertop officials have repeatedly pledged todo their best to hold the most democ-ratic election in the country’s history.

The observers were clearly more crit-ical of the authorities’ election conductthis time around, however. In summary,de Donnea said, “In some areas, theseelections are better than the previousones. In other areas, there is status quoand a potential for improvement. Inother areas, there might be a setbackand also a greater potential for improve-ment.”

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News From Armenia

S A T U R D A Y, M A Y 1 2 , 2 0 1 2 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

CorrectionA story in the April 20 edition ofthe newspaper titled “ArmenianBooks on Display in Harvard’sLamont Library,” by DaphneAbeel, incorrectly stated the pub-lishers of the first book inArmenian. The first book wasprinted by Hakob Meghapart.We regret the error.

Armenian Election Given Mixed Assessment

AUA graduate students go online and look through material in the ACM Digital Library, which issponsored annually by the AGBU Young Professionals to support their studies.

AGBU Young Professionals Pool Worldwide Resources for AmericanUniversity of Armenia’s ACM Digital Library Subscription

YEREVAN (AFP) — More than 140people were injured on Friday, May 4,when gas-filled balloons exploded at agoverning party campaign concert inthe Armenian capital ahead of parlia-mentary polls on Sunday, officials said.

The emergencies ministry said 144people suffered burns when scores ofpromotional balloons burst into flamesat a concert staged by President SergeSargisian’s Republican Party in theRepublic Square.

Armenian Internet sites showed afireball rising into the air and chaoticimages of people screaming in confu-sion and anger.

“The balloons exploded and caughtfire after people holding the bunchesreleased them from their hands into theair,” a witness said.

It was not immediately clear whatcaused the explosions although policesaid they were looking into variouspotential reasons including the“improper storage of flammable sub-stances.”

“All the victims had either medium orlight injuries. Now doctors are trying torevive them from shock,” HealthMinister Harutiun Kushkian said.

The promotional balloons were deco-rated with the governing party’s elec-

tion slogan “Let’sbelieve in change.”

The incidentmarred a largelycalm election cam-paign and Sargisianpromised a fullinvestigation.

“I urge everyoneto keep calm. Let uspray for all the vic-tims and wish thema quick recovery,”he said in a state-ment.

Balloon Blasts Injure 144 at Armenia Rally

Hydrogen balloons explode during an Armenian Republicanparty’s campaign concert in Yerevan on May 4.

(GETTY PHOTO)

S A T U R D A Y, M A Y 1 2 , 2 0 1 2 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

INTERNATIONAL

By Laura Boghosian

YEREVAN – In a wide-ranging lecture at theAmerican University of Armenia (AUA), interna-tional human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson,QC, accused Turkey’s Minister for EuropeanUnion Affairs of lying, endorsed Armenian callsfor reparations and restitution, and declared theArmenian Genocide is not a subject for histori-ans, but a matter for legal judgment.

Robertson, whose specialties include consti-tutional, international, human rights, civil liber-ties and media law, is founder and head ofDoughty Street Chambers, a leading humanrights law practice in London.

Robertson also served as a judge and presi-dent of the United Nations Special Court forwar crimes in Sierra Leone. In 2008, the sec-retary general appointed him as DistinguishedJurist on the United Nations Internal JusticeCouncil.

Invited to Armenia by AUA, Robertson spokeApril 23 on “Why Armenian Genocide DeniersAre Wrong.” A panel discussion, moderated bydean of AUA’s law department ThomasSamuelian, followed his address; panelists wereRobertson; Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Director Dr. Hayk Demoyan; and Dr.Yeghishe Kirakosyan, a founding member of theYerevan-based International and ComparativeLaw Center.

‘Thinking About Thinking’The event, entitled “A Legal Lens on

Genocide,” was the third in the “ThinkingAbout Thinking” lecture series co-sponsored byAUA and the Luys Foundation.

In his opening remarks, AUA President BruceBoghosian explained that the purpose of“Thinking About Thinking” is to propose newways of thinking about various topics, includingthe Armenian Genocide.

Discussion about the Armenian Genocide ismoving away from appeals to morality andtoward the realm of law, he said, with lawsuitsin recent years focusing on insurance claimsand the return of property such as churchesand land.

Boghosian stated that as genocide denierspersist in their arguments against objective real-ity, Armenians must study their evolving tactics,which he compared to the methods used bythose who deny climate change or evolution.

“Another way in which discourse about theArmenian Genocide is changing,” saidBoghosian, “is the movement away from regard-ing it as an isolated historical event, and towardunderstanding it as a historical process.”

Boghosian observed that the ArmenianGenocide “began many years before 1915,intensifying with the massacres, economicdeprivations and depopulation strategies ofthe nineteenth century.” And since genocidescholars characterize denial as the eighthand final stage of genocide, “it is ongoing”since Turkey continues to deny the genocide.

The Armenian Genocide, therefore, “has thedubious distinction of being one of the longestongoing genocidal processes in human history,”said Boghosian. “The Armenian Genocide istherefore not an event, but a process — aprocess fueled, as genocides are, by racialhatred and designed to rid the historicalArmenian homeland of Armenians.”

This genocidal policy continues to the pre-sent, he charged, with the Turkish blockade ofArmenia’s borders “in an attempt to furtherstrangle it and induce emigration.”

“We are no longer simply asking for genociderecognition,” he concluded. “We’re demandingthat the genocide stop.”

Turkish Minister’s Lies

Robertson began his talk by sharing an indi-rect connection to the Armenian Genocide. AnAustralian by birth, Robertson’s great-uncleWilliam was one of the thousands ofAustralians killed at the battle of Gallipoli.

“He had no idea that that landing would beused as an excuse, as a trigger, for the roundupof Armenian teachers and lawyers, poets andintellectuals in Constantinople to begin a mur-derous operation so much more heinous thanthe crimes committed in ordinary warfare,” hesaid.

“Genocide is different,” Robertson stated, andit “cannot and should not be forgiven unlessand until the nation that is responsible for itacknowledges that responsibility for the worstof all crimes and makes amends, as Germanyhas by now made amends for the Holocaust.”

Unlike the judgment at Nuremberg, “We havehad no judgment on the Armenian Genocide,and perhaps it is time that we did judge it,because the nation responsible for it can notbring itself to own up, cannot recognize thatwhat it did to the Armenian community in 1915was not just mass murder, not just a crimeagainst humanity, but was motivated by a desireto extinguish a race.”

Rather than acknowledging the ArmenianGenocide, Robertson reported that just theweek before Turkey’s Minister for EuropeanUnion Affairs Egemen Bagis told “a shockinglie,” when he claimed that Turkish officials wereacquitted of massacring Armenians by a Britishjudge in Malta.

“This is a lie, a pack of lies that must beunpacked.” There was “no difficulty at all inproving their guilt,” Robertson said, but “asinternational law then stood in 1919, a govern-ment and its officials could not be prosecutedfor ordering the deaths and deportations thatkilled at least a million Armenians . . . They werenot acquitted, they just couldn’t be tried.” TheTurkish prisoners were eventually exchangedfor British hostages captured by KemalAtaturk’s nationalist forces.

It was not until the 1945 Nuremberg trialsand the United Nations Genocide Convention of1948 that a legal framework emerged for pros-ecuting government officials accused of slaugh-tering their own people, Robertson explained.

“The very idea that the Armenian massacresdidn’t amount to genocide would have amazedRaphael Lemkin, the architect of the GenocideConvention,” said Robertson. In fact, it wasbecause no one was punished for these mas-sacres that Lemkin, who later coined the word“genocide,” began advocating for such a law.

“He studied the Malta proceedings and herealized that the law needed a new crime tocover the mass murdering of their own peopleby military and political officials,” saidRobertson. “In his crusade for the crime ofgenocide from 1933 onward, it was always theArmenians that he used as the example for whywe needed a law.”

“There is no doubt among lawyers today thatthe Genocide Convention was written on thebacks and through the blood of those million orso Armenians who died,” he added.

The Armenian GenocideIn 2008, Robertson was asked by the

London-based Armenian Centre to determinewhether the Turkish deportations and mas-sacres of Armenians beginning in 1915 consti-tuted genocide under the standards of interna-tional law. The United Kingdom, like theUnited States, refuses to officially recognize theArmenian Genocide.

“I came to the conclusion that, beyond anyshadow of doubt, the events of 1915 would becharacterized as genocide today,” he said. “Theevidence was overwhelming.”

Unless it acknowledges the ArmenianGenocide, Robertson declared, “Turkey mustnot, and I hope will not, be allowed to join theEuropean Union.”

Robertson then described how genocide law

is evolving. “Genocide courts have been devel-oping international criminal law in the last tenyears . . . we have been refining, defining anddeveloping the law of genocide in ways thatbear directly on the issue of whether you cancharacterize the events of 1915 as genocide.”

Specifically, rulings interpreting theGenocide Convention by the InternationalCriminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) are rele-vant to the Armenian deportations, particularlythe convention’s article 2-c that defines geno-cide as “deliberately inflicting on the group con-ditions of life calculated to bring about its phys-ical destruction in whole or in part.”

“The other issue that we’ve dealt with in TheHague,” said Robertson, “is the question ofwhat amounts to genocidal intent.”

Genocide Deniers and ‘Proof’

Robertson skewered denialist historiansJustin McCarthy, Bernard Lewis and HeathLowry for their argument that there are no doc-uments that “prove” the Armenian Genocide.

“They have this concept of genocide beingproved, of genocidal intent, being proved byan order that is written down. ‘Where is theorder for destroying the Armenians?’ theysay. There is no order written down by Hitlerfor destroying the Jews. There was no orderwritten down by the Hutus for destroying theTutsis. This is ludicrous. This is a ridiculousidea which is at the heart of a lot of the argu-ments of the genocide deniers. The courts inThe Hague over the last few years have con-stantly ruled that the intention necessary forgenocide can be inferred from other factors,”he stated.

The International Criminal Tribunal for theformer Yugoslavia (ICTY) actually held that theexistence of a plan or policy is not a legal ingre-dient of the crime, according to Robertson.

To illustrate how historians are ignorant ofthe legalities of genocide, Robertson read fromthe writings of Justin McCarthy, who admitsthat half a million Armenians died, but arguesthat Armenians died from sickness, exhaustion,and attacks of marauders on “rich convoys.”

“ICTY jurisprudence makes it absolutely crys-tal clear that any government that orders depor-tations knowing that people will die from sick-ness, exhaustion following long marches, etc.will be guilty of genocide,” said Robertson.“McCarthy just doesn’t understand the laws ofgenocide.”

“But notice the language . . . the rich convoys. . . what is he trying to say? That these peopledied because they were rich and they had alltheir rich objects on their backs? It’s very dis-tasteful, disgusting, I think.”

Governments like that of Turkey, the UnitedStates, and the United Kingdom that call for thematter to be decided by historians are wrong,stated Robertson.

“They say this is a matter for historians. It’snot. Historians… are utterly ignorant of whatgenocide is in law. It’s not a matter for histori-ans. Genocide is a matter for judges. But wehear time and again, this is a matter for histori-ans.”

The Armenian government is right to rejectcalls for the genocide to be studied by a panelof historians as described in the Protocols, saidRobertson.

Robertson called governments that do notrecognize the Armenian Genocide for politicaland commercial reasons “genocide equivoca-tors.”

Robertson then described how the “genocide-equivocating” British government claimed thatthe evidence was not “sufficiently unequivocal”to characterize the Armenian massacres asgenocide.

Secret government documents obtainedthrough the Freedom of Information Act dur-ing his legal examination of the ArmenianGenocide revealed the true reasons for the UK’sposition. Memoranda clearly stated that politi-cal and commercial relations with Turkey werethe reasons for the government’s admittedlyunethical policy, given Turkey’s “neuralgic”reaction to charges of genocide.

“So there it is, in black and white. We’relying, we’re being unethical,” admonishedRobertson, “but we need Turkey [which] iscrazed, insane, when it comes to allegations ofgenocide.”

Reparations and Restitution

Robertson next discussed legal tools, such asthe US Alien Tort Claims Act or the EuropeanCourt of Human Rights, which Armeniansmight employ for reparations and restitution ofproperty taken by the Turkish government dur-ing the genocide.

“The laws that confiscated and appropriatedArmenian property, they’re still available todayfor actions for restitution,” he said.

“The issue of the Armenian Genocide can nolonger be left to history. It certainly can’t be leftto historians,” he concluded. “It is a matter forjudgment, applying the developed law of geno-cide to the evidence. And in my judgment,there can only be one outcome.”

Panel discussion

Hayk Demoyan opened the discussion bypointing out that Turkey began its denial asearly as 1915-16, when it published books withphotos of Armenian victims re-captioned asdead Muslims.

Turkey, he said, is preparing for 2015 withnew skills and more sophisticated approachesto deny “the historical and legal facts of theArmenian Genocide,” such as hiring and payingnew academics, establishing new chairs, andrestoring Armenian monuments as part of thegeneral plan.

Yet despite the favorable international pub-licity reaped by Turkey with the restoration ofAkhtamar, other Armenian cultural monumentsare being systematically destroyed.

Demoyan said that metal detectors are beingopenly sold in Turkey with written instructions inTurkish that say if you want to find treasure, youshould search for it in the foundations ofArmenian churches or on the land of formerArmenian cemeteries. In Ani last year, anArmenian queen’s burial site was desecrated,khatchkars were broken to pieces and tomb-stones crushed, he said, yet “no one is punished.”

Demoyan charged that current Turkish offi-cials continue the Genocide by not punishing,for example, the policemen who posed withHrant Dink’s assassin and by blockading theborder. When a country imposes a militaryblockade, he stated, the next step is a declara-tion of war.

Yeghishe Kirakosyan began his remarks byexamining recent scholarship on the conceptsof state responsibility and state succession asdetermined by the Permanent Court ofInternational Justice and other international tri-bunals.

Modern Turkey could be held responsible, hesaid, for violations that took place at the begin-ning of the twentieth century and could bebrought to justice. Kirakosyan explored the var-ious avenues open to Armenians to pursueclaims against Turkey, such as state claims com-missions and international courts.

Moderator Tom Samuelian observed thatmany countries have benefited from theArmenian Genocide and its denial and asked,“Why not make them all pay?”

The discussion was concluded by Robertson,who declared, “There has to be restitution… Weall want reconciliation… but you cannot havereconciliation without truth and acknowledg-ment of truth.”

Visit to Armenian Genocide Memorial andMuseum-Institute

Earlier in the day, Boghosian and AUA’sleadership team escorted Robertson to theArmenian Genocide memorial where he laidflowers. In a televised joint press conference,Demoyan presented Robertson with theFridtjof Nansen Medal for his legal examina-tion of the Armenian Genocide. The medal isnamed in honor of Nansen, a Norwegianhumanitarian and Nobel Peace PrizeLaureate, who aided Armenian refugees fol-lowing the genocide. Also receiving a medalwas Jussi Bjorn, who recently discoveredmemoirs describing the 1915 Moush mas-sacres handwritten by his grandmother,Norwegian missionary Bodil Katharine Bjorn.

To view the entire lecture and panel discus-sion, visit: http://webcam.aua.am/

To read Mr. Robertson’s report “Was ThereAn Armenian Genocide?” visit:http://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/files/Armenian%20genocide1.pdf

Geoffrey Robertson

Human Rights Lawyer Geoffrey Robertson Speaks at AUA

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

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International News

UN, from page 1Azerbaijan, which had been elected in

October 2011 to a non-permanent seaton the Security Council, mostly withvotes from Muslim member-nations ofthe UN, but none from Europeannations, is chairing the Security Councilfor the month of May and Aliyev seemedintent to get his message across whilehe was being watched.

Knowing that Armenia, which is not aSecurity Council member, could notrespond, Aliyev accused Armenia of“dozens of terrorist acts against thecivilian population and infrastructure ofAzerbaijan,” which he said, “resulted inover 2,000 Azerbaijanis dead.” Armenia,he said, “orchestrated those acts withthe direct involvement of its securityagencies and by using international ter-rorist groups.” He continued by sayingthat during the Karabagh war, “Armeniawidely practiced use of terrorist actsagainst the civilian population in con-junction with military aggression toachieve ethnic cleansing.”

Again he brought up the Khojalyissue, where he accused Armenia of“annihilating” 613 women, children andelderly. He also accused Armenia of“masterminding terror acts in publictransport and critical infrastructure.”

Continuing his diatribe, he saidAzerbaijan has largely neutralized this“terrorist threat from Armenia,” butthere are “additional terrorist acts,including hitting civilian infrastructure,especially water reservoir dams and theoil pipeline network.” He also accusedArmenia of harboring “elements ofinternational terrorist organizationswhich are integrated into the securityand defense sector of Armenia.”

And then in one of the most appallingstatements, he said Armenia “thatclaims to share European and universalvalues has venerated operatives of inter-national terrorist organizations asheroes, and even erected monuments tothem.”

He finished his rant by accusingArmenia of “organized crime, drug traf-ficking, money laundering and illegalarms supply in the occupied territoriesof Azerbaijan.”

(A similar harangue had occurred byhis father President Heydar Aliyev at apress conference at the United Nationssome years ago when as a UN corre-

spondent, this reporter had asked himabout the massacres of Armenians byAzerbaijan in Baku, Kirovabad andSumgait. The face of the elder Aliyev,who was in the last years of his presi-dency, became enraged and he wentinto a 15-minute tirade against Armenia,finally storming out of the UN press con-ference.)

Armenia’s Foreign MinistryResponds

Following the current Azeri presi-dent’s appearance before the SecurityCouncil on May 4, Armenia’s Ministry ofForeign Affairs immediately made thefollowing statement. “The Azeri presi-

dent’s statement is based on lies, distor-tions and groundless speculation. Itcauses deep regret that such an augustplatform can be used for such basestatements. Instead of reaffirming hiscountry’s commitment to a peaceful set-tlement of the Karabagh issues, he isabusing the authoritative tribune of theUN Security Council in order to repeatthe overused thesis of anti-Armenia pro-paganda of Azerbaijan, just only forget-ting to recall the Azeri leadership’sfamous racist thesis that ‘Azerbaijan’smain enemies are the Armenians of theworld.’”

The Armenian statement continuedthat “during the UN Security Councilbriefing on anti-terrorism, the presidentof Azerbaijan is making an unsuccessfulattempt to lay its own responsibility of

links with terrorist groups on others,being the leader of a country whichactively used thousands of mercenariesclosely linked to notorious internationalterrorist networks in its unleashed waraimed at the annihilation of theKarabagh population. It is cynical whenvain accusations are voiced againstArmenia by the leader of a country, theauthorities of which masterminded mas-sacres, ethnic cleansing against theArmenians by medieval methods; a coun-try where cruel butchers of sleeping peo-ple are glorified as national heroes; acountry where a captive is humiliated infront of cameras and then killed as it isdone by well-known terrorist organiza-

tions; a country where centuries-old cul-tural monuments are barbarouslydestroyed by famous terrorists.”

The Armenian Foreign Ministry’sstatement concluded by stating that“the continuous threats to regionalpeace and security, the bellicose andhatred disseminating provocative state-ments of the Azeri leadership which arein harsh contrast to the purpose andprinciples of the UN Charter, are notbefitting a UN member state, and under-mine the authority of the SecurityCouncil.”

UN Representative DecriesStatements

Armenia’s Ambassador to the UnitedNations Garen Nazarian also released astatement which read that theAzerbaijani president should be remind-ed that “when using the term terrorism,his country was listed as one harboringterrorist groups, and is a logical routefor extremists with ties to terrorist orga-nizations. A number of recent reportsby international and regional organiza-tions clearly reflect that the territory ofAzerbaijan is actively used by variousterrorist and religious extremist struc-tures, serving as a safe haven for crimi-nal activities.”

To underscore this statement,Reporters Without Borders recently list-ed a list of “predator rulers of coun-tries.” This list includes Vasif Talibov,leader of Nakhichevan, in addition toAzerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

And in a routine press conference atthe United Nations on May 3, byAzerbaijani Ambassador to the UNAgshin Mehdiyev on press censorship,he admitted that he didn’t know thatthe day had been designated as PressFreedom Day. As reporters chuckled athis apparent ignorance, Mehdyev said,“Azerbaijan doesn’t need to mark thisday due to its unrestricted media cover-age. We have a free press.”

On May 2, the Committee to ProtectJournalists named Azerbaijan as a “runnerup” to their list of the “Ten Most HeavilyCensured Countries in the World.”

FRANCE, from page 1results after 6 p.m., closing time for themajority of polling stations. A surveyconducted at the exit offices can providea reasonably reliable estimation. AndSunday, May 6, at 6:01 p.m., two hoursbefore the announcements were madeby the French media, a Belgian newswebsite, www.lesoir.be, ran the head-line: “Francois Hollande will be the nextPresident of the Republic” with 52 per-cent of the vote. Fewer than 600,000votes, out of 34 million voters, made thedifference.

As expected, at precisely 8 p.m., thepicture of Hollande appeared on all TVscreens, announcing his victory. At 8:20p.m., Sarkozy made a touching andRepublican speech before thousands ofmilitants gathered at Mutualite auditori-um, asking his supporters to not con-sider the victorious camp as the enemybut instead to think about the greatnessof France, wishing luck to his opponentin this politically- and economically-problematic world.

The French-Armenians were, like

other citizens, divided between the twocandidates. The ArmenianRevolutionary Federation (ARF), beforethe first round, had called on Armenianvoters to support Hollande, only torenew this call on May 4. On the sameday, the Armenian Democratic LiberalParty (ADL-Ramgavar) France, in astatement, called supporters to casttheir ballots for Sarkozy. Figures suchas Charles Aznavour and Alain Terzianjoined other French artists, writers andintellectuals like Gerard Depardieu andJean d’Ormesson in supportingSarkozy.

Concerning the Armenian Cause thetwo candidates who participated, onApril 24, separately, to the 97th com-memoration of the Armenian Genocide,in front of the Komitas statue in Paris,announced that, after the election, theywould take the necessary steps to passthe law criminalizing denial ofArmenian Genocide.

(Varoujan Sirapian is the director ofthe Europe and Orient publication.)

Azeri President Uses Platform at UNSecurity Council to Revile Armenia

Aftermath of French Presidential Election

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev

5S A T U R D A Y, M A Y 1 2 , 2 0 1 2 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

‘‘RReeggaarrddeenniinngg ooff EEddeenn’’ Armenia Tree Project and Acopian Center for Environment

Announce Partnership in Northern Armenia

NEW YORK — Armenia Tree Project (ATP) and the Acopian Center for theEnvironment (ACE) are joining together to initiate a new project in MargahovitVillage, in the Lori region of northern Armenia, and will hold a fundraising eventon June 6, in New York City. Titled “Regardening of Eden,” the project is anunprecedented partnership between two of Armenia’s pre-eminent environmentalorganizations.

Focusing on the importance of trees, the protection of wildlife habitat and prop-er waste management, the partnership will engage local youth and community res-idents in the creation of a new park, environmental education, trash collection andrecycling programs.

Since Margahovit Village does not have a park or a green zone where residentscan gather and relax, ATP will establish a green territory for the community aspart of this partnership. “We will organize tree plantings with local residents,schoolchildren and other young community members,” said ATP Director JeffMasarjian. “In the future, we expect the community to bring benches and estab-lish a playground, thus developing this territory into a real recreational resource.”

In addition to hands-on tree plantings, ATP and ACE will also assist with theestablishment of an eco-club at the public school in Margahovit and education pro-grams for the adult population focusing on planting and tree care, recycling andwaste composting. An important element will be a series of trainings presented byACE on “Appreciating Birds and Protecting their Local Habitats” for schoolchild-ren at ATP’s Michael and Virginia Ohanian Center for Environmental Studies.Lessons will address bird identification, wintering and breeding birds of Lori, waysto preserve bird habitats and the impact of waste on nature and the environment.

“I am excited about the Regardening of Eden Project both because of the sym-bolism of this historic civilization and the fact that the biodiversity of Armenia isunique in our modern world. Many of the diaspora are not aware of the naturaltreasures that remain in Armenia and that their rate of destruction has increasedsince independence. Stopping and, thereafter, reversing this loss is essential to thesuccessful future of Armenia. The Regardening of Eden Project is a step in thatdirection,” said Acopian Center benefactor Jeff Acopian.

“These types of educational training sessions will help to form a sound under-standing of the environment in children. It is especially significant as these train-ing sessions are delivered to the younger generation who will one day becomeArmenia’s future decision makers,” said Acopian’s nephew and ACE volunteer,Alex Karapetian. “The goal is to implement a strong understanding of nature andits value and the role human beings play in nature’s cycles. As a result it will bepossible to create a new generation of children who have environmentally friend-ly behavior, lifestyle and values.”

The final aspect of the “Regardening of Eden” partnership is the implementa-tion of recycling and waste removal programs. ATP and ACE staff and local resi-dents will organize clean-up activities in Margahovit Village as part of the “Let’sdo it! Armenia” campaign scheduled for September 15. “Let’s do it! Armenia” is apan-Armenian volunteer effort tied to the World Cleanup 2012 initiative. The goalis to unite everyone around the idea of cleaning up trash throughout Armenia,including historical and cultural sites.

To implement the project in 2012 and to sustain it for years to come, ATP andACE are organizing a public benefit event for the partnership on Wednesday, June6, at the exclusive Hotel Chantelle in New York City.

Benefit tickets may be purchased by contacting Jason Sohigian at ATPWatertown or by visiting www.RegardeningOfEden.org.

Margaret AjemianAhnert Charms at aColumbia UniversityReading of TheKnock at the Door

By Jason Grant

NEW YORK — New York-born MargaretAjemian Ahnert, author of the award-winningThe Knock at the Door, took to the podiumat Columbia University on Thursday, April 26.She captured her listeners’ attention withreadings from her book as well as anecdotesabout her four-year international book tour.

The memoir, which chronicles her motherEster’s incredible survival of the ArmenianGenocide and Ahnert’s visits with her moth-er, is as much a celebration of the moth-er/daughter relationship as it is a history ofthe Armenian Genocide.

As Ahnert shared some of her experiencesduring her world book tour, she made it clear

that the perpetrators of the ArmenianGenocide were not the current Turkish gov-ernment but the Ottoman Empire.

Nevertheless, five years ago, at her firstbook reading, the 86th Street Barnes &Noble in New York City, five Turks tried tostop the reading. Security and police werecalled. It was former Gov. Hugh Carey, whowas in the standing-room-only audience, whohelped her to focus by asking questionsabout the book.

The Knock at the Door is published in sev-eral languages including Spanish, Italian,Polish, Armenian and Turkish. The publisherof the Turkish edition is in jail for publishingthe book.

While working on a new book, Ahnert willcontinue her book tour. Among her futureappearances, she will be at the New YorkBook Fair in early June, followed by anappearance in Glendale, Calif. and at theCanadian Bar Association in August. Thisfall, the book will be published in Russian.Ahnert will be at the Moscow Book Fair inSeptember.

The book is available in hardback and e-book. The paperback edition will be pub-lished by Beaufort Books on June 15.

After her reading, Ahnert engaged in a live-ly question-and-answer session.

97th AnniversaryCommemorationWith HMADSTalents

By Talar Aydin

OAKLAND GARDENS, N.Y. — On Monday,April 23, the students of Holy MartyrsArmenian Day School (HMADS) gathered inKalustyan Hall to showcase their talents to anenthusiastic audience filled with parents, grand-parents, friends and guests.

The fifth-grade students marched into thehall as the HMADS Color Guards by salutingthe audience with the Pledge of Allegiance,which was followed by the singing of theAmerican and Armenian anthems, as well as theschool’s anthem. The class of 2012 then tookthe stage and delivered their introduction tothe energized audience. The sixth graders men-tioned that the Talent Show was dedicated tothe Armenian heritage, commemorating the97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide byhonoring the Armenian culture through music,poetry, song and dance. The class of 2012 intro-duced Principal Zarminé Boghosian to offer herwelcoming remarks.

Boghosian thanked parents and grandpar-ents for their continuous support of theHMADS family and acknowledged the presenceof special guests in the audience, includingKhoren Meikhanedjian, Parish CouncilChairman Bruce Ashbahian, HMADS Boardmembers Arek Nisanyan, Grace Kechian, RoseHartunian and Lolita Babikian. She pointed outthe Heritage Week exhibit that was on displayin the hall, contributed by each class, andencouraged the audience to view the students’work at the conclusion of the program. Eachdisplay highlighted the 45th anniversary of theschool and shined with originality and creativi-ty; the Nursery students showed HMADS as the“Sunshine of Bayside,” first graders wroteabout “Why do I Like HMADS,” the secondgrade created unique school-related wordsearch puzzles, third-grade students researched45 facts about the number 45, fourth gradeplanted a tree in Armenia in Honor of HMADS45th snniversary, fifth graders interviewedseven representatives from the HMADS familyand the sixth-grade students researched andwrote about the benefactors of the school,admiring their hard work and dedication.Boghosian concluded by reminding the stu-dents that it is their responsibility and goal to“to keep the torch of our heritage lit” and keepthe Armenian culture strong.

Four kindergarten students began the pro-gram by paying a tribute to Armenia in a dancetitled “Eem Anoonu Hayastan Eh.” Another stu-dent delivered a cello performance, followed byall kindergarten students singing together as agroup. Next up were the first, second and thirdgraders, who played the piano and recitedArmenian poetry, such as “Arakadzin” byAvedik Isahakian. A third-grade student treatedthe audience to a special Irish step dance. Thethree grades joined on stage to sing about thebeautiful Gakavig, Mugnigu as well as ImPokrig Navag.

The next group to perform was the studentsin fourth, fifth and sixth grades, who impressedthe audience with intermediate violin and pianopieces and a contemporary dance by a sixth-grade student.

This group also featured two solo singersfrom the fifth grade. Following the final poem“Yerevan,” by Sarmen, the upper grades per-formed a medley of Ambi Dagits,Hampartsoom Yayla and Parootyan Dsar,directed by HMADS Choir Master AnahidBoghossian.

The HMADS Choir ended the program bysinging a special song, Pyoonig, with lyrics and

see HMADS, page 7

Armenia Tree Project and Acopian Center for the Environment are organizing apublic benefit event on June 6 at the Hotel Chantelle in New York City to kick offthe “Regardening of Eden” partnership in northern Armenia.

Margaret Ajemian Ahnert and Alex Ohanyan

Aris SevagQUEENS, N.Y. — On Saturday, April 28,

Ararat editor Aris Sevag died at his home inJackson Heights, Queens after a long battlewith cancer. He was 65.

Sevag is survived by his wife, Asdghig; hischildren, Aida, Alice, Ani and Armen, and hisbrother, Paul.

Born June 6, 1946, Sevag grew up in thetight-knit Armenian community of Philadelphia.His parents, Dr. and Mrs. Manasseh Sevag, rec-ognized their son’s intellectual curiosity froman early age and encouraged him to succeedwhile retaining a connection to his Armenianheritage. After graduating from the Universityof Pennsylvania, he traveled around the coun-try, working in various Armenian communitiesfrom coast to coast.

While Sevag was an accomplished educator,editor and translator, many people did notknow that he was also an autodidact. Duringthe 1980s, when he was teaching English at theRose and Alex Pilibos Armenian school in LosAngeles, Sevag taught himself Armenian andembarked on a journey to become one of theworld’s foremost Armenian translators.His passion for the Armenian language knewno bounds and he was also an avid collector ofbooks. His personal collection of books, jour-nals and periodicals numbers in the thousands.

In the last two decades of his life, Sevag was

best known to the Armenian community as awell-respected editor. He served as the manag-ing editor of the Armenian Reporter for 15years until he stepped down in 2006 to join theArmenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).At the AGBU, Sevag served as assistant editor

of the biannual AGBU News magazine as wellas the editor of Ararat magazine.

Sevag has published more than a dozen liter-ary, historical and other works, the most recentbeing Armenian Golgotha by GrigorisBalakian, which he published with Armenian-American poet and author Peter Balakian.

“Aris Sevag’s death is a great loss to theArmenian community,” Balakian said. “He wasa great translator of Armenian literature intoEnglish. Aris lived inside of the language andhe knew his writers in a deep and lived-in way.And, he brought to every text a serious intel-lectual understanding of the writer and of thetime and place and historical context. He made

a rich contribution to Armenian culture, and hehad a zest and passion for what he did, and hissoulful love of literature will be missed by all hisfriends and colleagues.”

George Bournoutian, senior professor ofMiddle Eastern and East European History atIona College, worked with Sevag on numerousprojects. Sevag edited seven of Bournoutian’s20 books, including the forthcoming sixth edi-tion of The Concise History of the ArmenianPeople. The Armenian translation of the book,which was just completed in Yerevan, Armenia,will be dedicated to Sevag’s memory.

“Aris Sevag’s knowledge of the Armenian andEnglish languages surpassed many academics,”Bournoutian said. “He never said a bad wordagainst anyone, helped all and forgave thosewhom took advantage of him. He will be sorelymissed,” Bournoutian said.

During his lifetime, Sevag published hun-dreds of articles in journals and newspapersaround the world. Among his unpublishedtranslations are accounts of several ArmenianGenocide survivors, a study on the orphansfrom the Armenian Genocide, histories ofprominent Armenian families and works of lit-erature. One of these literary works, BedrosKeljik’s Armenian-American Sketches, wasbeing serialized in the pages of Ararat since2010 and before his death, Sevag was able topublish seven of the 21 short stories in the col-lection.

During his memorial service last week at St.Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church in LittleNeck, Queens, his son, Armen, spoke about hisfather’s spirit and love of life. He concludedwith the words, “As long as there are books toread and people to read them, his smile andspirit will live on forever.”

(A shorter obituary for Aris Sevag appearedin last week’s edition of the Mirror-Spectator.)

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

OBITUARY

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OBITUARY

BOSTON — Alice Gazarian, of Boston, diedon May 5.

Gazarian was born in South Boston, thethird of four children, to Dickran and EvaGazarian. She grew up in the neighborhoodsof South Boston and Brighton. She graduat-ed from Brighton High School and thenattended secretarial school.

Her working career began with LibertyMutual Insurance Company. Later she wouldwork for the federal government in the USNavy. She also played a role with the USO,supporting soldiers and sailors. Her final rolewas working with the state arm of theEnvironmental Protection Agency. She lovedher work and made many friends wherevershe went.

Gazarian’s life was focused on her family.Even though she did not have children of herown, her extended family was her focus.When she was just a child, she had helpedtake care of her rambunctious baby brother,Charles. In her mother’s later years, she wasinstrumental in caring for her.

Upon the arrival of her niece and nephews,she showered them with love and attention.When her grandnephew and grandniece,Matthew and Stephanie, were born, she wasa proud grandaunt. Her nieces and nephewswere all her children in her eyes.

She was very proud of her Armenian her-itage. During her childhood, Armenian wasspoken exclusively in her home. She sharedequal pride in her American roots. Her par-ents, having escaped from the ArmenianGenocide, instilled in her the value of beingin a country that is free. Her parents insistedthat everyone in the family be fluent inEnglish, educated and explored all the oppor-tunities that America had to offer.

She still had fun when she retired. Sheloved to buy decorative items for her condoin Charles River Park, going shopping withher niece to artist studios for artwork.

She was a world traveler. She had a passionfor traveling to the far corners of the world.

Her travels took her to Europe, Asia,Australia and Africa. She also had an affinityfor cruises, including the Queen Elizabeth II.

She leaves her brother, Charles Gazarian,as well as nephews, Richard Gazarian andMark Montgomery, and niece, Nancy Griffin,and great-nephew and great-niece, Matthewand Stephanie Griffin.

She was predeceased by her siblings,Michael Gazarian and Frances Montgomery.

Funeral services were held at Holy TrinityArmenian Church, 145 Brattle St.,Cambridge, on Wednesday, May 9.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may bemade to Holy Trinity Armenian Church.

Arrangements were made by the AramBedrosian Funeral Home, Watertown.

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Home Health AidesImmediate openings for Armenian Bilingual Home Health Aides.Workers needed in Watertown and Waltham areas. Daytimehours available. Good pay. Must have car. If interested pleasecall us for interview. 1-781-762-2929. M-F, 9-4. GBHHCS Inc.

NEW YORK — Setrak Agonian was named“Member of the Year” by the New York AthleticClub at its 92nd Annual Awards Dinner on April18. More than 300 club members and friendsattended the dinner, which is one of two majoraward events celebrated annually by the club.

To be recognized by the New York AthleticClub (NYAC) for athletic accomplishment is note-worthy. With more than 8,500 members, theNYAC is the largest club of its type in the worldand is a major supporter of the United StatesOlympic effort. Since the founding of the moderngames in 1896, NYAC members have won 231Olympic medals. At the Beijing games in 2008, 40NYAC athletes made the Olympic team and won16 medals, including one gold. In London thisyear, the NYAC will field a similar-sized contin-gent.

In his native Bulgaria, Agonian was a boxer anda wrestler. He immigrated to the United States in1967 and became a friend and associate of BillFarrell, a long time NYAC member and coach ofthe US Wrestling Federation. Farrell recruited

Agonian to be a translator for the US team com-peting in 1971 in Bulgaria and a wrestling assis-tant in the 1972 Olympics in Munich. That wasthe beginning of Agonian’s association with theNYAC and the USA Olympic movement.

Since then, Agonian’s involvement with NYACwrestling and his promotion of this ancient sportin the United States has met with much success.In 1984, he founded the Metropolitan Wrestling

Association in New York that organized matcheswith teams from Russia, Bulgaria and Armenia.In 1990, Agonian brought a team of Armenianwrestlers to New York, and they competed for thefirst time ever under the Armenian flag. Armeniawas still part of the USSR at that time, and com-peting under the flag of Armenia was made polit-ically possible only because of the Olympic asso-ciates Agonian had cultivated in Russia.

In 1990, Agonian became a founding memberof the Armenian Olympic Committee, and in1994, he marched in with the first Olympic teamfrom the Republic of Armenia at the wintergames in Lillehammer, Norway. In 2003, hebrought the World Wrestling Championships toMadison Square Garden.

In 2007, Agonian was inducted into theNational Wrestling Hall of Fame. President of theInternational Olympic Committee Jacques Roggepraised him for this milestone event. In 2011,Agonian was awarded the Ellis Island Medal ofHonor reflecting the contributions he has madeto America in the business, athletic and social fab-

ric of the nation. Many of these accomplishments,Agonian says, would not have been possibleexcept for his long-time association with theNYAC.

In his remarks, Agonian said this is the majorcornerstone in his life, and the perseverance thatreflects his Armenian heritage is the second. Hethanked his adopted country of the US for givinghim chance and his beloved club for giving himthe opportunity to achieve things that he neverdreamed possible.

Agonian accepted his honor accompanied byhis wife, Didi, and witnessed by a group of fellow-Armenian NYAC members and well-wishers.

— Jon Simonian

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COMMUNITY NEWS

The second graders recite a poem.

Young students perform in the talent show.

Young HMADS Talents Commemorate97th Genocide Anniversary HMADS, from page 5music written by Berge Turabian. Translated, Pyoonig is a phoenix, and the song describesthe relationship between a phoenix and the Armenian people — burned and damaged, butnever destroyed, thanks to the unwavering strength, courage, faith and culture. This wasthe premier performance of the song.

At the conclusion of the program, Boghosian thanked the faculty and staff for all theirhelp in putting this event together. She also thanked all the piano teachers, violin teach-ers and accompanists for helping students learn so much. Applause filled the hall as par-ents, grandparents, teachers, board members and guests showed their appreciation for thechildren.

On Friday, June 8, the nursery and kindergarten graduation will be at 10 a.m., and the30th commencement exercises for the sixth grade, on Friday, June 15, at 8 p.m.

(Talar Aydin is a HMADS fourth-grade teacher.)

Sitting, from left, Silva Baronian, Karine Kocharyan, Didi Agonian, Hripsime Asadourina andCarmen Gulbenkain; standing, from left, Wendy Hillaird, Hrair Baronian, Viken Najarian, Jim Scherr,Rev Mesrob Lakissian, Haley Scherr, Setrak Agonian, Jon Simonian, Charlene Simonian, AnticaBlack, Yeretzgin Ojeen Lakissian and Edward Gulbenkian

Setrak Agonian Honored as ‘Member ofThe Year’ at New York Athletic Club

Job Opening

Visitor Services AssociateThe Armenian Library and Museum of America(ALMA) is seeking a Visitor Services Associate.This position calls for an individual who enjoysworking with the public and has an appreciationfor the fine arts. The Visitor Services Associatewill be responsible for handling the front deskand the gift shop during the museum’s openhours: Wed, Sat, Sun: 12 6 pm, Thurs & Fri: 128pm; greeting museum visitors and tour groupsin a friendly and positive manner, coordinatingmembership sign ups and renewals, ensuringthat the appearance of the gallery and gift shopis well maintained, preparing weekly visitor andgift shop reports, and performing other duties asassigned.

Qualifications: Good communication skills,basic computer skills, and a professionalappearance and mannerism required. Theability to work during all or most of themuseum’s open hours. Knowledge of Armenianculture and history a plus. Hourly ratecommensurate with experience.

Please send letter of interest and resume to:Search Committee, ALMA, 65 Main street,Watertown, MA 02472, or via e mailhr@almainc.org No phone inquiries please.

MAHTESIAN, from page 1He knew he did not want to be a politician

himself, but preferred to observe and analyze.He said, “The ideological component never real-ly appealed to me. I’ve always been somethingof a contrarian thinker.” Furthermore, “One ofthe things that I have learned is that on anygiven issue, both sides are probably right aboutsome aspects of it. American politics is so muchgrayer than people think, and I have appreciat-ed the grayness of it.” Mahtesian prefers not tocharacterize himself as left or right, but as anindependent, and finds that one reason he hasbeen able to succeed in his field is his detachedviewpoint.

After college, he began to work at theCongressional Quarterly, clipping stories from125 daily American newspapers, then coveringelections and redistricting, as well as con-tributing to the books, Politics in America andCongressional Districts in the 1990s. He thenbecame a national correspondent for Governingmagazine, traveling all over the US and writingabout state legislatures, governors and urbanpolitics for eight years.

It was in this period that he had a type ofearly, not mid-life, crisis that led him to rethinkhis career path. He said, “It seemed that themost interesting people that I was interviewinghad their law degrees, even if they were notpracticing. I was frustrated with the reactivenature of journalism but thought that with alaw degree I could be more proactive in thefuture, no matter what job I held.” He decidedto earn a law degree in the evenings atAmerican University’s Washington College ofLaw while continuing to work full-time. Aftergraduating, he worked briefly for a small firmbut realized that he missed journalism andwent back with new analytical skills and per-spectives.

He went from Governing magazine to workfor five years editing three volumes of the

National Journal’s venerable biennial, theAlmanac of American Politics. Yet despite allhis accomplishments, Mahtesian said, “I beganto be frustrated with the limitations of printmedia. I felt that the speed, the pace and thesophistication of political operatives hadbypassed the ability of traditional publicationsto cover them. As journalists, we were weddedto a lot of outmoded ideas. It was an industryripe for disruption.”

This led to his move to Politico, based inArlington, Va., in 2008. Politico disseminates itsjournalistic products not only in a newspaperwhich it owns, but through other media such astelevision, radio and the Internet. Politico itselfis owned by a larger corporation, AllbrittonCommunications. Mahtesian said that theadvantages of Politico, compared to traditionalnewspapers, include “the speed at which wecan operate and move, and the voice that wecan use (not just blogs but story forms — youdon’t have to seem to write in the austere voiceof God that we were taught to write in as youngjournalists).” Furthermore, it was a publicationor outlet that was not for a broader audiencebut specifically for people who are extremelyinterested in politics, though good storieswould reach broader audiences too. Mahtesianadded that for at least for him, “to be able towrite for an audience like that, and to be ableto write with some edge, to be able to write fora very ambitious publication was a great oppor-tunity.” Mahtesian’s commentary is also indemand by National Public Radio, MSNBC, FoxNews, C-Span, CNN and the BBC.

It is exciting to be on the cutting edge ofchanges in the industry, experimenting on howto make the Internet work and so far, Politicoseems to be succeeding economically. Havingjust started his Politico blog, titled “CharlieMahtesian on the American PoliticalLandscape,” Mahtesian says “I’m still trying tofind my voice as a blogger while continuing to

oversee national political coverage.” Like mostjournalists, he would love to write a book some-day, but for now outside of his daily work, hispriority is his family and two young children.

He wants his children to understand whothey are and the values he wishes to impart tothem. He said, “In many ways, I explain to themthe Armenian experience and the lessons hand-ed down to me, the things my grandfather andfather told me. I tell them and hope thesethings sink in.” Mahtesian finds that “theuniqueness of the Armenian experience isimportant — the ability of the Armenian toendure over time was part of the ArmenianDNA. There is something about the Armeniancharacter that makes us different.”

Mahtesian’s grandfather came to the USfrom Sepasdia (today Sivas, Turkey) after theArmenian Genocide and Mahtesian was fortu-nate to have known him. His parents sentMahtesian to the Armenian Sisters’ Academy inRadnor, Penn., until high school. His father feltvery strongly about it, and his mother, thoughnot Armenian by background, was very sup-portive of it as well. Consequently, Mahtesianlearned to read and write Armenian, though hedid not speak it at home. His mother wasCatholic and the family went to St. Mark’sArmenian Catholic Church in Wynnewood as asort of compromise.

When Mahtesian moved to Washington, hiseducation and then work did not leave muchtime for socializing in Armenian circles, but hehas given talks recently to Armenian organiza-tions on American politics, including theArmenian National Committee in California.Mahtesian said that in general, “I have beenvery impressed by the energy and growingsophistication of the Armenian political com-munity. Part of this is generational. My parents’and grandparents’ generations had a differentfocus, to establish themselves here and raisetheir families. The younger generation is able

to commit to their cause in a very differentway.”

He feels that if there were no organizedArmenian lobby organizations, the situationcould be even more frustrating for Armenians.His advice: “You need to be vigilant. The chal-lenge is to familiarize each member of Congresswith the larger issues, which are at stake. It isa matter of convincing members without manyArmenians in their districts and showing howArmenian values relate to the American experi-ence.”

Though Armenians are relatively few in num-ber, they do have some cards in their hands.Mahtesian explains: “When you look at theclosely-divided nature of Congress at themoment, and the divisions in the politicalarena, one of the things you understand fromall these closely-contested elections is thatevery vote matters. Sophisticated politiciansunderstand this and respect communities thatorganize and are effective in presenting theirarguments.” In this context, Republican orDemocratic Party affiliations are not thatimportant.

When asked about the upcoming presidentialcampaign, Mahtesian commented, “I think thebest that Armenians can hope for is a candidatewho is familiar with the issues and understandsthe community as more than just another orga-nized interest. I think there is a certain moralimperative to the issues that matter to theArmenian community that makes them differ-ent. Levels of funding are very different fromacknowledging a genocide.” He also felt thiswas an advantage in comparison to theundoubtedly well financed and effectiveTurkish lobbying in the United States.

Tickets to see Mahtesian at the Mirror-Spectator’s 80th anniversary benefit banqueton May 24 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, andmore information about the gala, may beobtained by calling (617) 359-0413.

Editor and Journalist Mahtesian to Receive Mirror’s 2012 Award of Excellence

8 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, M A Y 1 2 , 2 0 1 2

COMMUNITY NEWS

Archbishop of Eastern Prelacy Visits ArmenianNursing and Rehabilitation Center in NJ

Standing from left, Sandy Cortelyou, director of activities; Rev. Hovnan Bozoian, pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, NJ; BishopAnoushavan Tanielian, vicar of the Eastern Prelacy; Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, prelate of the Eastern Prelacy; Andy Torigian, presidentand chairman of the Board of Directors of the ANRC; Linda Amerkanian and Matt Russo, administrator of the ANRC

EMERSON, N.J. — The week before Easter, the Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (ANRC) again hosted ArchbishopOshagan Choloyan, prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America. He was accompanied by BishopAnoushavan Tanielian, vicar of the Eastern Prelacy; Rev. Hovnan Bozoian, pastor of Saints Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, NJ, andRev. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of Saint Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York.

The archbishop and the clergy began the services with the participation of the residents singing the Lord’s Prayer in Armenian.Then it became a very joyous occasion as Choloyan began the Blessing of the Bread, Water and the Salt. Those present knew thatthe message given by Choloyan was one of hope and salvation, which gave them comfort.

Upon completion of the liturgy, Choloyan went to each resident, allowing them to kiss the Cross. Madagh and grapes were servedand brought an end to the service. Andy Torigian, president and chairman of the Board of Directors of the ANRC, expressed his deepappreciation to Choloyan and the clergy.

Armenian MemorialExpands Annual Fair To Two-Day Event

WATERTOWN — The Armenian MemorialChurch of Watertown is expanding its AnnualFair and will be serving its kebab dinnersFriday, June 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. as well asSaturday, June 2, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., underthe tent at the church (rain or shine). Visitorswill have two days to enjoy traditionalArmenian dinners; take out orders are available.The selection will also include Armenian vege-tarian meals.

The entire fair, which includes an Armeniandelicacies table, a sale of all new gift and house-hold merchandise, a silent auction, and crafttables will open Saturday at 10 a.m.

The women of the church, who are known fortheir fine cooking, have been preparing the del-icacies. They recently held an all-day mante ses-sion, producing hundreds of the petiteArmenian dumpling-like treats. They will be fea-tured on the baked goods table along withmany other baked specialties.

The fair also features a Silent Auction withgift certificates, jewelry, etc. There will also be asale of all new gift and household merchandiseat bargain prices.

While this event is the church’s largestfundraiser, the church designates 10 percent ofthe proceeds to a worthy charity. This year thedonation will go to the Christian Youth CampArevik in New York.

Christine Mekjian of Watertown is chairingthis year’s fair with a committee which includesAdrine Beurklian of Watertown, MarilynCoughlin of Needham, Gregg Ohanian ofWoburn, Susan and Wayne Parseghian ofArlington, Steve Sabounjian of Wilmington,Vicky Tomasian of Belmont, Carol Trio ofMarlborough and Roberta Vanderkeyl ofWatertown. Angel Parseghian of Belmont, pres-ident of the Ladies’ Aide, is chairing the delica-cies table.

The Armenian Memorial Church is located at32 Bigelow Ave. Admission is free, and the publicis invited. The church is wheelchair accessible.

WASHINGTON — Last week, more than two-dozen members of Congress commemoratedthe Armenian Genocide with floor statementsin the United States Senate and House ofRepresentatives and through participation inthe annual Armenian Genocide Capitol HillObservance.

Under the leadership of the CongressionalCaucus on Armenian Issues, which is co-chairedby Representatives Ed Royce (R-CA) and FrankPallone Jr. (D-NJ), the Armenian GenocideObservance was held April 25, in the historicSenate Kennedy Caucus Room in conjunctionwith the Armenian National Committee ofAmerica and the Armenian Assembly ofAmerica, along with the support of theEmbassy of the Republic of Armenia and theOffice of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic.

Master of ceremonies, Ardashes Kassakhian,clerk of the City of Glendale, officiated the pro-gram, with the following legislators participat-ing: Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), RobertMenendez (D-NJ) and Jack Reed (D-RI) and for-mer Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) along withRepresentatives Joe Baca (D-CA), HowardBerman (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), DavidCicilline (D-RI), Robert Dold (R-IL), Elliot Engel(D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Janice Hahn (D-CA), Rush Holt (D-NJ), EdMarkey (D-MA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), LauraRichardson (D-CA), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), EdRoyce (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), BradSherman (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA) and BobTurner (R-NY).

Kassakhian invoked a powerful passage fromhis great-grandfather’s autobiography, whichwas recently published by Haigazian UniversityPress, titled, Towards Golgotha: The Memoirs ofHagop Arsenian, a Genocide survivor.

“For after surviving the deportation, witness-ing terrible events as a soldier on the front, andmilitary imprisonment, and after the tempestu-ous events of the past five years, I am now alive,in the peaceful city of Bethlehem, surroundedby my beloved ones...I have great hope that byreading these life memoirs, my children willlearn some lessons for the future: namely,instilling in them the desire for boldness anddiligence, strengthening their self-confidence aswell as sharpening their sense of caution andfarsightedness. It is also hoped that they willlearn to scorn injustice and face hardship, never

to get discouraged and become leaders in con-trol of their lives and models of behavior to oth-ers.”

Following Kassakhian, each speaker under-scored the importance of learning from thelessons of the Armenian Genocide and the needfor prevention, a theme further stressed by for-mer Maine Rep. Tom Andrews, now president ofUnited to End Genocide.

In addition to remarks by members ofCongress, the Republic of Armenia’s ambas-sador to the United States, Tatoul Markarianannounced that Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) andRepresentatives Anna Eshoo and BradSherman have been awarded Armenia’s highestcivilian honor, the Mkhitar Gosh Award, fortheir commitment to strengthening the endur-ing bonds between America and Armenia as evi-denced by the strong US-Armenia relationship,as well as their tireless efforts regarding affir-mation of the Armenian Genocide. NagornoKarabagh Representative to the US RobertAvetisyan rounded out the program’s speakers.

The community-wide audience was joined byclergy from the Diocese and prelacy with theinvocation offered by Archbishop OshaganCholoyan, prelate of the Armenian ApostolicChurch (Eastern) and the benediction offeredby The Very Rev. Oshagan Gulgulian, repre-senting Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate

of the Diocese of the Armenian Church ofAmerica (Eastern).

In addition, members of the Central and EastEuropean Coalition (CEEC), along withAssembly Southern California Regional Council

Member Margaret Mgrublian, accompanied byBoston College Armenian Student Association(ASA) Co-resident Ali Rezai and his ASA col-league Armen Abagyan, toured the newly-opened Library of Congress exhibit titled: “ToKnow Wisdom and Instruction: The ArmenianLiterary Tradition.” This timely exhibition is atestament to the rich and vibrant culture of theArmenian people and marks the 500th anniver-sary of the first printed Armenian book, theUrbatagirk (the Book of Fridays), by HakobMeghapart in 1512 in Venice, Italy.

Earlier in the day, the Assembly visitednumerous Congressional offices as part of theCentral and East European Coalition’sAdvocacy Day to discuss a number of keyissues, including support for H.Res. 304 andS.Res. 399, the respective House and Senateresolutions on the Armenian Genocide. TheCEEC comprises 18 nationwide organizationsand represents more than 20 millionAmericans.

Abagyan and Rezai, who participated in theAdvocacy Day, summed it up as follows: “It wastruly a remarkable experience and we appreci-ated the opportunity to advance the Armenianissues on Capitol Hill.”

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Rabbi Ronald Shapiro atMilwaukee Martyrs DayJewish Leader Speaks on Genocide and Holocaust

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — As part of its remembrance of the Armenian Genocide, St. Johnthe Baptist Armenian Church has long hosted a madagh dinner, followed by a speaker on

the Sunday closest to Martyrs’ Day. This year, onApril 22, the suburban Milwaukee parish inviteda local rabbi, Ronald Shapiro, to give a presenta-tion after the dinner. Aside from his work atMilwaukee’s Congregation Shalom, Shapiro

teaches contemporary Jewish studies at Cardinal Stritch University and is active in thecity’s interfaith movement.

In his remarks, Shapiro spoke of the great similarity between the cultures and tradi-tions of the Armenian and Jewish peoples. He surprised even the most knowledgeable inattendance by referencing a fourth-century Persian persecution of both groups, living asneighbors, involving the sort of deportations common to both the Genocide and theHolocaust in the 20th century. He also spoke of the coincidence between the late 19th-century pogroms of Eastern Europe and the massacres in the Ottoman Empire that drovesignificant populations of Jews and Armenians to refuge in other lands, including the US.During many dark centuries both groups looked forward to the reestablishment of home-lands where their cultures could be nurtured. “We have been victims of others whobelieved they had the absolute view of what every human being must be,” he said.“Armenians and Jews have often been at the receiving end of that hatred.”

Shapiro also spoke of Mount Ararat as a common symbol of rebirth for both nations.“Noah was not Jewish,” he said, “and Adam was not Jewish. Adam in Hebrew simplymeans human being — not just man or woman but human being. No one can say we arebetter than anyone else by virtue of lineage. We have so much in common as humans cre-ated in God’s image.”

The rabbi praised the St. John congregation for its many young members and extolledthe value of passing traditions on from one generation to the next. An example was thetalk given by St. John’s Nicole Kashian, 18, as a preface to Shapiro’s presentation. Shereiterated the facts of the Armenian Genocide and focused on its denial, pointing out thatthe Genocide was better known in World War I than in the 21st century. As evidence, shecited the New York Times, which published no less than 145 articles during the Genocideand called the murder “systematic” and “authorized.” Yet, unctuous US and EuropeanUnion officials continue to waffle and the Turkish government continues to encourageGenocide denial. “We cannot forget,” she concluded. “We will always remember.”

St. John was also host of a joint Martyrs’ Day commemoration on the evening of April24, with a requiem and vespers led by Rev. Nareg Keutelian, with clergy from HolyResurrection Armenian Church in South Milwaukee and St. Mesrob and St. Hagopchurches in Racine, Wis.

From left, Norman Marcus, Ronald Shapiro, Fr. Nareg Keutelian and Charles Dadaian

By David Luhrssen

AssemblyCommemorate 5-12CN

Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) and AssemblyExecutive Director Bryan Ardouny(photo credit: Neshan Naltchayan)

Former US Ambassador to ArmeniaJohn Evans, and his wife, Donna, pic-tured with Armenian clergy, ArmenianEmbassy officials and NagornoKarabagh Office representatives dur-ing the moment of silence for the 1.5million victims of the ArmenianGenocide (photo credit: NeshanNaltchayan)

Bryan Ardouny, Assembly Boardmember Annie Totah and Sen. RobertMenendez (D-NJ) (photo credit: NeshanNaltchayan)

Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA),Assembly Trustee Rita Balian and Rep.Jackie Speier (D-CA) (photo credit:Neshan Naltchayan)

From left, BC student ArmenAbagyan, CEEC delegation membersTia Beritashvili Psarakis and MariaSaxe, Assembly Southern CaliforniaRegional Council member MargaretMgrublian, BC student Ali Rezai, Dr.Levon Avdoyan of the Library ofCongress and Assembly ExecutiveDirector Bryan Ardouny

Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) and AssemblyBoard member Annie Totah (photocredit: Neshan Naltchayan)

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) (photo cred-it: Neshan Naltchayan)

Members of Congress Commemorate Genocide with Statements in Senate and House

GLENDALE (Los Angeles Times) — KimKardashian, who recently made headlines aftershe said she wanted to run for mayor ofGlendale, has also taped a public serviceannouncement for the city’s official commemo-ration of the Armenian Genocide.

In the video, unveiled last week at theGlendale City Council meeting and uploaded toYouTube on Wednesday, May 2, Kardashianasked the public to join in commemorating “theloss of those innocent lives of millions of people

worldwide.”Sitting on a couch with her hair pulled back

into a ponytail, Kardashian also refers to theArmenian Genocide of 1915, in which roughly1.5 million Armenians were killed at the handsof Ottoman Turks, as “the modern genocide.”

Kardashian does not specifically refer toGlendale, but city officials told the GlendaleNews-Press it was sent in for the officialGenocide commemoration at the Alex Theatrelast week. It was never aired, however, due totechnical difficulties.

She had been invited to attend personally,but was out of state.

Councilman Ara Najarian — who publiclyinvited Kardashian to be his honorary chief ofstaff to learn more about Glendale politics —said that if she had attended, “It would havebeen a little more exciting.”

The event was sold out, with about 1,400 inattendance.

“That is the one and only Kim Kardashian,”Najarian said in referring to the video. “I don’tthink anyone can bring too much publicity tothe Armenian Genocide.”

Since her quip about running for electedoffice in Glendale aired on her sister’s reality TVshow, “Khloe & Lamar,” Kardashian has beencoy about her plans.

On Sunday, she told Politico that the publicwould “just kind of have to stay tuned.”

In the TV clip, Kardashian tells her sister thatshe wants to run for mayor of Glendale — or asshe calls it, “Armenian town” — in five years.The mayor is actually picked from among elect-ed City Council members.

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian Tapes ArmenianGenocide PSA for Glendale

Members of the clergy, as well as former Ambassador to Armenia John Evans adn his wife, Donna,participated in the commemoration.

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By Florence Avakian Special to the Mirror-Spectator

NEW YORK — An overflow audience filledMerkin Concert Hall on Saturday, April 28, inanticipation of a celebratory evening of nos-talgia — and they were rewarded amply withthe music by renowned stars from Armenia,France and the United States.

Titled, “Rebirth,” the event was dedicated tothe 20th anniversaries of Armenia’s member-ship to the United Nations as well as the estab-

lishment of itsArmed Forces.

Among theguests wereA r c h b i s h o pK h a j a gBarsamian andA r c h b i s h o pO s h a g a nCholoyan, headsof the Armenian

Diocese andArmenian Prelacy,r e s p e c t i v e l y ;A r m e n i a ’ sAmbassador to the

United Nations Garen Nazarian; Director ofthe United Nations Security Council AffairsDivision Dr. Movses Abelian; ArmenianDemocratic Liberal Party (ADL) PressCommittee Chairman Hagop Vartivarian andADL District Committee Co-chairs EdmondAzadian and Papken Megerian; TekeyanCultural Association Executive SecretaryKevork Marashlian, Armenian RevolutionaryFederation (ARF) Central CommitteeChairman Antranik Kasparian, ARS DistrictCommittee Chair Silva Takvorian and Knightsof Vartan Grand Commander Dr. DennisPapazian.

Welcoming the attendees and delivering

impassioned addressesextolling the significance ofthe celebration wereNazarian, Vartivarian andrepresentatives of the ARFand the ADL. Twenty chil-dren ranging in age from 7to 15, garbed in Armeniancostume, opened the con-cert by singing theAmerican and Armeniannational anthems under thedirection of their conductor,Vagharshag Ohanyan, asoloist and voice teacher inthe New York-Armeniancommunity.

The evening’s memorableperformance was under thebaton of composer and conduc-tor of the Armenian Chorale ofRhode Island and AmrenianChorale of Greater WorcesterKonstantin Petrossian, whoalso was the program’s musicaldirector. Petrossian has per-formed throughout the Soviet Union, Europe andCanada, and has received many honors, includingthe Gomidas Award in 2005.

The evening featured the bright lights of anacclaimed musical roster, including longtimeArmenian and international legends, RaisaMegerdchian and Ruben Matevosyan; operastars, Yeghishe Manucharian and VictoriaAvetisyan, and popular singers VickenTarpinian, Johnny Roubian and ArevikGharibyan.

Among the unforgettable performanceswere Matevosyan’s soulful rendition of ArnoBabajanian’s Tchknagh Yeraz and AlexeyHekimian’s Baree Aragil; Megerdchian’sinterpretation of Babajanian’s AzkParabandz, Melik Mavisakalian’s JanHayastan and Doo Eenchbes Mee Asdgh byRobert Amirkhanian, sung as a charming

duet by Megerdchian and Matevosyan. Gomidas’ Hayastan was given a rousing

performance by Metropolitan Opera tenorYegishe Manucharian, as was ArmenSmbatyan’s Hayastan by Boston Operamezzo-soprano Victoria Avetisyan. Frenchsinger Vicken Tarpinian almost brought thehouse down with his heartfelt Dele Yaman,arranged by Petrossian, and his emotion-filled rendering of the popular Zartir Lao.Hayee Achker by Amirkhanian was deliveredwith great feeling by Roubian. The eveningcame to a rousing finale with EdgarHovhannessian’s Yerevan/Erebuni with theparticipation of all the soloists and theorchestra, which garnered a standing ova-tion.

The evening before, a reception for theArmenian legends, Megerdchian and

Matevosyan, had been hosted by Edward andCarmen Gulbenkian in their home. Theevening also was an opportunity to focus onthe unity of the Armenian community withguests present from many different Armenianorganizations.

Nazarian expressed his appreciation to thetwo Armenian legends and to theGulbenkians for their contribution to the cel-ebratory concert. Similar gratitude wasexpressed by Vartivarian who thanked theGulbenkians, Nazar and Artemis Nazarianand Mr. and Mrs. Alex Dadourian for theirgreat help and emphasized that “this gather-ing of Tekeyans and Hamazkayins should bean example for unity.” (Nazarian, incidential-ly, had hoisted the Armenian flag 20 yearsago for the first time, at the UN.) He paidtribute to Megerdchian and Matevossian,whom he called the “Edith Piaf and FrankSinatra of the Armenians.”

Matevossian, who has been the troubadourof Armenia for more than 50 years, and hassung all over the world, including Carnegieand Town Hall, Lincoln Center and theUnited Nations, recalled his many styles ofsinging, including classical and popular, dur-ing an exclusive interview. Megerdchian, alsoeminent in a 50-year career that has spannedthe globe, including being a star of radio andTV, paid special tribute to the importanceand prominence of culture during the Sovietperiod, which she said is now suffering due tolack of funds. She recalled that more than400 compositions had been written for her bynoted composers. “The most happiness forme is when I sing a new song,” she said withher warm smile.

The evening ended with the two singinglegends giving an impromptu performance(with Megerdchian also playing the piano) ofseveral well-known Armenian songs with theguests joyfully joining in.

An Evening of Nostalgia and Celebration

Johnny Roubian and Arevik Gharibian

TCA President Dr. Harutiune Arzoumanian

Aline Baghdasarian

From left, Ruben Matevosyan, Raisa Megerdchian, Vicken Tarpinian, Victoria Avetisya, YeghisheManucharian, Arevik Gharibian and Johnny Rubian

Yeghishe Manucharyan and conductor Konstantin Petrossian

Victoria Avetisyan

TCA New York/NewJersey ChairmanHagop Vartivarian

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Johnny RoubianRaisa Megerdchian takes a bow.

Yeghishe Manucharyan

From left, Papken Megerian, Edmond Azadian, Nazar Nazarian and his wife, Artemis Nazarian From left, Hagop Vartivarian, Papken Megerian, Edmond Azadian and Ambassador Garen Nazarian

Vicken TarpinianEdward Gulbenkian, left, presents an award to Raisa Megerdchian.

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OutstandingCulturalEvent HeldAt WeillHall

By Lucy Ishkanian

NEW YORK — The annual “MusicalArmenia” concert took place at WeillRecital Hall (at Carnegie Hall) on Friday,March 30. It was sponsored by thePrelacy of the Armenian ApostolicChurch and the Prelacy Ladies Guild.The artists presented this year were

cellist Marta Bagratuni and pianist HaykArsenyan, who performed interestingselections from both the classical andArmenian repertoire. There was a spe-cial, compelling introspective moment,with the moving interpretation by MartaBagratuni of the Armenian Sharagan,Ooor Es Mayr Im (“Mother, where artthou”), arranged for cello and piano bycomposer Vache Sharafyan, titled Onthe Wings of the Hymn. The rarely-heard Visionary Landscapes, TwelveArmenian Folk Songs Suite by compos-er Alan Hovhaness, expertly performedby Hayk Arsenyan, revealed a period ofdevelopment in Hovhaness’ music as he

was exploring the realms of modern20th-century Armenian music.The artistic caliber of both Bagratuni

and Arsenyan was on a high level of pro-fessionalism, including technical profi-ciency, stage presence and aplomb, butmost importantly, solid knowledge andcommand of the compositions they wereperforming.The success of a concert is always

expressed on the faces of the audiencedeparting from the concert hall. If theaudience has received pleasure, you willsee it reflected in the eyes, on the smilingfaces and with the comments, as each oneis anxious to express their feelings to oneanother and to the artists. This is the cri-teria of a successful concert.The elated, beaming capacity audi-

ence proclaimed its appreciation for amost exciting cultural experience with awell-deserved standing ovation, as theartists appeared together on stage toacknowledge the applause at the con-clusion of the concert.

‘Armenia Observed’Showcases PeterCarapetian’s WorkAt AIWA EventVENICE, Calif. — Tuesday, May 1, the Los

Angeles affiliate of the ArmenianInternational Women’s Association(AIWA’s) Board of directors attended a lun-cheon at Tripod Gallery to viewthe photography exhibition, “ArmeniaObserved,” which features the work of PeterCarapetian, an award-winning photogra-pher, who was born to Armenian parents inTeheran and raised in London.Joan Agajanian Quinn not only scheduled

the event but also conducted an interviewwith the artist. Carapetian’s background inworldwide publications and what he tries tocapture through his images was explainedduring the presentation. He told many anec-

dotes about the people he met in Armenia,spoke about individual pictures and fieldedquestions from the audience. Sue and SteveDemer, principals in the Tripod Gallery, host-ed the lunch, which was catered by the RoseCafe. The Demers’ gave a preview ofthe upcoming Carapetian exhibit, whichdeals with Venice, Italy as its subject. AIWAmembers and friends have been invited backto participate in the upcoming exhibition,which opens May 12.Lily Balian announced the AIWA sympo-

sium to be held at the Athenaeum Club in

Pasadena on May 19 beginning at 9:30 a.m.An array of journalists — Eliz Gazarian-Semerjian, Lianna Zakharian and MariaArmoudian — will sit on a panel, titled “TheEvolving Media,” moderated by KeriTombazian. The luncheon speaker will beSilva Sevlian.Said newly-elected AIWA President Silva

Katchiguian, “It will be an afternoon toremember.”For information, email Ani Aivazian at ani-

aivazian@hotmail.com.

Armenian Cuisine co-authors Barbara Drieskens and Aline Kamakian present theirspecialty pastry with philo and walnuts.

New Armenian CookbookCombines Food and History

For a Yummy ComboNEW YORK — In April, co-authors Aline Kamakian and Barbara Drieskens from

Lebanon wrapped up a month-long, Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU)-coordinated tour across the US and Canada to promote their book, ArmenianCuisine. Equal parts cookbook, photo essay and oral history, the recently-releasedhardcover is quickly finding its place on kitchen counters and coffee tables inhomes around the world.The book’s concept was developed by Kamakian, who, as a Lebanese-Armenian

chef and owner of the renowned Beirut restaurant, Mayrig, had two goals for theproject: the first, to record her mother’s cherished recipes, and the second, toresolve her clients’ questions about why the Armenian foods listed on Mayrig’smenu were known by Turkish names. Her quest for answers took her to the ances-tral Armenian land of Cilicia (present day southeastern Turkey). Knowing her tal-ents lay more in cooking than writing, she forged a collaboration with Drieskens, atrained anthropologist who had recently left the academic world. The two embarkedon an emotional three-week journey across almost 2,000 miles to trace the roots of

both Armenian food and people, in a place where neither seemed to have survived.The result is a striking volume filled with 139 classic recipes and hundreds of pho-tographs of landscapes and natural foods that have made it a 2012 New York PhotoFestival contender.As Kamakian and Drieskens chronicled their trip, they struggled to reconcile the

land’s beauty with the horrific atrocities that had been committed there. They werealarmed to see centuries-old Armenian churches in ruins and the Armenian lan-guage completely unspoken. However, they soon found that the region’s Armenianhistory was being preserved through traditional cooking. While they spent time

see CUISINE, page 14

Author Barbara Drieskens and Aline Kamakian sign copies of Armenian Cuisine.

Marta Bagratuni and Hayk Arsenyan holdthe 2012 Musical Armenia poster together.

Joan Quinn conducts an interview with photog-rapher Peter Carapetian.

AIWA group, seated, from left, Diana Hekimianand Joan Agajanian Quinn; standing, ArsinePhillips, Peter Carapetian and Ani Aivasian

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By Daphne AbeelSpecial to the Mirror-Spectator

Jerair Gharibian, who died in 1991, made animportant contribution to Armenian culture inthe Boston area, when, in 1980, he founded theBoston Armenian Independent Radio Hour,which to this day broadcasts news and commen-tary of interest to the Armenian community.His widow, Yevgine Gharibian, who hosts the

broadcasts, has now paid further tribute to herhusband’s legacy with the publication ofArmenian Journalism 1794-1977, written to ful-fill his master’s degree requirement at BostonUniversity.

Gharibian had a rich and varied life as a writerand a journalist. Born to Armenian parents inBaghdad, Iraq, in 1937, he began his educationthere, but traveled later to London to study at abranch of London University, where he studiedindustrial management. While in London, hebecame a co-founder of the ArmenianRevolutionary Federation (ARF) NavasardianCommittee.In 1964, following his graduation, he moved to

Tehran, where he lived for 10 years, immersinghimself in the social and political life of theArmenian community there. He was particularly

interested in the education of young people andestablished a youth biweekly magazine, AlikBadanegan, which was published under the aus-pices of Alik daily, where he served as assistanteditor.In 1975, Gharibian was invited to the United

States to assume the position of executive secre-tary of the Armenian Youth Federation of theARF. It was at this time while he was attendingBoston University’s School of Journalism that hewrote his master’s thesis on Armenian journal-ism.This relatively short text is of archival importance

to the Armenian community, if for no other reasonthan for the tables which list the publication of vir-tually every Armenian newspaper and periodical,dating back to 1794,when the very first newspaper,Aztarar, was published by a priest, Rev. HaratuneShmavonian in Madras, India. The tables list notonly the title of the publication, but the date andplace of origin, the publisher, the editor and thenature of its content. This is an invaluable resourcefor anyone who is engaged in research on manysubjects touching onArmenian history, culture andpolitics.As Dr. Khachig Tololyan ofWesleyan University

notes in his introduction, “Both in the homelandand in the diaspora, Armenians have made theirhistory in contexts that gave the press an uncom-mon centrality in political and cultural life; fur-thermore, the lack of universities and of institu-tional documentation in stable archives made theArmenian press the best record of social historyavailable to us. Jerair Gharibian’s book is a refer-ence guide and a history of the Armenian pressfrom 1794-1977, but it is also a study of the tight-knit relationship between the Armenian pressand its heterogeneous contexts, from Madras toYerevan, and Tbilisi to Fresno.”Tololyan also notes that even this first publica-

tion served as a kind of political rallying point, acharacteristic that is reflected in contemporarypublications, which are now, in large part, ownedby various political parties.Ara Ghazarian, curator of the Armenian

Cultural Foundation, has contributed a forewordin which he, too, comments on the importance ofthe publication as “the first historical, analyticalwork on the history of Armenian journalism writ-ten in English.”In his own introduction, Gharibian points to

the unique role that Armenian journalism hasplayed in the history of the Armenian people.“Only rarely does one come across a nation which

has been compelled to publish newspapers andperiodicals with the survival of the people as itsprimary concern.”Of course, there could be no publication of any

sort without the invention of the alphabet andGharibian reviews the creation of the Armenianscript by the Armenian monk, Mesrob Mashtotsin 404 AD. The first text to be translated intoArmenian, not surprisingly, was the Bible, but itwas followed by original works in the fields of his-tory, philosophy and religion and hence “TheGolden Age of Armenian Literature” was born. Inspite of the fact that Armenia was subject tomany invasions, creative writers continued to pro-duce works, which included songs, most notablyby the troubadour, Sayat Nova.In the 16th century, as Armenians began to

emigrate to other lands in order to escape oppres-sion by invaders, new writers in the diasporabegan writing in the language of the commonpeople (krapar) rather than the literary languageof the clergy (ashkharapar).Subsequent to the founding of that first paper

in Madras, the growth of Armenian publicationsincreased gradually through the 19th century.Thanks to European demands that the Ottomansease up on restrictions placed on the Armeniancommunity, education received a push andparochial schools and colleges were establishedby Armenian missionaries in Constantinople,Kharpert, Marsovan, Aintab, Marash, Konia andTarsus. In the mid 19th century, three importantArmenian newspapers were published, Masis inConstantinople, Huisisapayl in Moscow andArdziv, founded in Constantinople, but latermoved to Van. Ardziv, established by BishopMegerdich Khrimian, played an especially impor-tant role in exhorting Armenians to press fortheir freedom.Especially in the years 1905-1914 leading up to

the Genocide, Gharibian notes that censorship ofArmenian journalism by the Ottomans was par-ticularly harsh. Such words as “freedom, “rights,”“revolution,” and “justice,” were routinely strick-en from any publications. Particularly taboo werethe words “Hayastan” (Armenian) and “Hairenik”(Fatherland).With the extermination in 1915 of over 600

scholars, writers, journalists and other intellectu-als, journalism nearly ceased to exist In OttomanTurkey and it was at this time the Diasporabecame the haven for Armenian journalismThroughout the Middle East and in the UnitedStates, wherever a significant population ofArmenians immigrated to escape persecution,new vehicles for journalism were formed. includ-ing some in the Soviet Union, although these lat-ter were very much under the book of theCommunist regime.It needs to be pointed out that Gharibian was

writing long before the breakup of the SovietUnion and the formation of the independentRepublic of Armenia and his criticisms of and ref-erences to the Soviet influence on the Armenianpress no longer have the same validity as they didat the time of his writing in the late 1970s.Gharibian gives a thumbnail sketch of the

importance of the Armenian press in MiddleEastern countries such as Syria, Iraq, Iran andEgypt and pays particular tribute to Lebanonwhich was the birthplace of many outstandingArmenian journalists. The influence of Beirutismay still be traced, for example, in the editorshipof Azg, published in Yerevan and headed byHagop Avedikian, who was born in Beirut.Papers were also started in France, Turkey and

the United States where the first publication wasArekag, founded in 1888 and published by HaigEginian in Jersey City, NJ.Writing in 1977, Gharibian counted 52

Armenian periodical publications in the US,including Hairenik, the organ of the ARF, andthe Armenian Mirror-Spectator, the publicationof the Armenian Democratic Liberal (ADL) Party.Both today, are located in Watertown, Mass.Gradually, with succeeding generations ofArmenians less able to read in the Armenian lan-guage, there was an ever-increasing need to cre-ate an Armenian press in English.Gharibian notes that few editors of Armenian

periodicals were trained journalists, althoughthat trend is changing both in Armenia andabroad.In his concluding chapter, Gharibian writes,

“The future of the Armenian-language press inthe Diaspora is governed, however by languageand social factors. As assimilation by foreign cul-tures takes its toll on those who can read theArmenian language, the need for newspapers andperiodicals printed in the Armenian idiom willcontinue to decline. On the other hand, thesesame forces of assimilationmay give rise to a needfor more publications in the languages of thosenations in which the Armenians have settled. Butthis in itself is ruled by the ability of Armenianculture to survive under the attack of foreigninfluence.”Clearly, the rest of the story of Armenian jour-

nalism is yet to be written. But there are signs ofinterest in the history of both Armenian journal-ism and publication in general; witness the recentexhibit at Harvard University’s Lamont Library ofthe history of the Armenian book, organized byProf. James Russell, which included books, maga-zines and newspapers.Copies of Armenian Journalism 1794-1977

may be obtained by contacting yevgine@aol.comor by visiting the library at the NationalAssociation of Armenian Studies and Research(NAASR) in Belmont.

AArrmmeenniiaann JJoouurrnnaalliissmm 11779944--11997777by Jerair H. Gharibian. 145 pp. 2012.

Watertown, Mass.

Gharibian’s Study of Armenian Journalism a Valuable Resource

ARMENIAN HERITAGE PARKFinal Instalations

SPONSORSHIP/NAMING OPORTUNITIESDONATE

Online: www.armenianheritagepark.netor

mail your donation to:Armenian Heritage Foundation

25 Flanders RoadBelmont, MA 02478

Jerair Gharibian

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CUISINE, from page 12with local families, many the survivors of theArmenian Genocide who are profiled in the book,the authors realized that the kitchen was where thepast was recounted. It was “a place where peopletold the most depressing stories, the ones thatwould be very difficult to discuss under any othercircumstance, but somehow were easier to tellthrough cooking, because the food was a way ofescaping the tragedy,” as Drieskens described at arecent presentation in the AGBU Central Office,organized by the AGBU Young Professionals ofGreater New York (YPGNY). Through traditionaldishes, such as mante, Urfa kebab and dolma,some of the many highlighted in the book, they dis-covered that the people of Cilicia have keptArmenian culture alive for generations.Before the Armenian Cuisine tour culminated

at the 2012 Los Angeles Times Book Festivalon the weekend of April 20, it broughtKamakian and Drieskens to various cities,including Montreal, Boston, New York, NewJersey and Philadelphia. At each stop, groupshad the opportunity to listen to the women’sstories from their trip, watch them prepare foodand sample various dishes. In Montreal, Kamakian and Drieskens guided

participants through the recipes, while inHackensack, NJ, at Bloomingdale, more than 60attendees purchased all the available copies ofthe book after watching them demonstrate bothan appetizer and dessert. That was the case atevery venue, with some guests purchasing sever-al copies.Karina Ambartsoumian, YP Philadelphia chair,

said, “The audience was absolutely captivated byAline and Barbara’s journey, experience and find-

ings. We saw that the food truly brought peopletogether, sparking conversations amongArmenians, non-Armenians, and foodie enthusi-asts.” Everyone, she described, enjoyed freshplates of Armenian nut and olive salad, bride fin-gers and the philo dough pastry with walnuts.For their next endeavor, Kamakian and

Drieskens plan to translate the book for theTurkish public. Kamakian sees its great poten-tial to initiate a dialogue about the past,because “it is a way to learn about what hashappened without having to read a history text-book, which makes it very accessible to every-one,” as she noted at the recent New York

event. Until then, the current edition will con-tinue to draw families around the dinner tableto enjoy all it has to offer.For free recipes and more information on

Armenian Cuisine, visit: http://www.armenian-cuisine.com/index.htm. To purchase copies inthe US, email books@agbu.org.

Guests enjoy a food demonstration at the Bloomingdale’s department store in Hackensack, NJ.

New Armenian Cookbook Sells Out on Tour across US and Canada

SANTA FE, N.M. — Richard Tashjian is theMay/June featured artist at the Art ExchangeGallery & Arrowhead Studios.Originally, from Watertown, Mass., he has

lived in New Mexico for many years. He hasmade several trips to Armenia taking pho-tographs, paintings, drawing, meeting withartists and museum directors, etc. One particularly interesting painting is “The

Village of Pithni,” which features an old churchon a hillside. It is an acrylic on panel, 37”x24”.The show opened May 11, and runs throughJune 22.

He has been with the gallery for about sixyears. “We had done well with his work and Ifelt it was time to honor him with a solo showagain and feature some of his new work. He isvery talented and able to capture how it feels tobe in a certain spot. He has visited Armeniaseveral times and captures the warm variedlandscape with consistently beautiful results.He explains that Armenia and Northern NewMexico have similar terrain and colors. Many ofthe New Mexico scenes look like they couldactually be Armenian landscapes,” said JeffTabor, director of the gallery.

“The Village Pthni” by Richard Tashjian

Tashjian Featured Artist at Santa Fe Gallery

“Another New Mexico Landscape,” by Richard Tashjian

“Another New Mexico Landscape,” by Richard Tashjian

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ARTS & LIVING

By David Swanson

WASHINGTON (veteranstoday.com) — SibelEdmonds’ new book, Classified Woman, islike an FBI file on the FBI, only without theincompetence.The experiences she recounts resemble K.’s

trip to the castle, as told by Franz Kafka, onlywithout the pleasantness and humanity.I have read a million reviews of nonfiction

books about our government that referred tothem as “page-turners” and “gripping dra-mas,” but I had never read a book that actu-ally fit that description until now.The FBI, the Justice Department, the

White House, the Congress, the courts, themedia and the nonprofit industrial complexput Edmonds through hell. This book is hertriumph over it all and part of hercontribution toward fixing theproblems she uncovered and livedthrough.Edmonds took a job as a trans-

lator at the FBI shortly after 9-11. She con-sidered it her duty. Her goal was to preventany more terrorist attacks. That is where herthinking was at the time, although it has nowchanged dramatically. It is rarely the peoplewho sign up for a paycheck and healthcarewho end up resisting or blowing a whistle.Edmonds found at the FBI translation unit

almost entirely two types of people. The firstgroup was corrupt sociopaths, foreign spies,cheats and schemers indifferent to or work-ing against US national security. The secondgroup was fearful bureaucrats unwilling tomake waves. The ordinary competent personwith good intentions who risks their job to“say something if you see something” is therarest commodity. Hence the elite categorythat Edmonds found herself almost alone in:whistleblowers.Reams of documents and audio files from

before 9-11 had never been translated. Manymore had never been competently or honest-

ly translated. One afternoon in October 2001,Edmonds was asked to translate verbatim anaudio file from July 2001 that had only beentranslated in summary form. She discoveredthat it contained a discussion of skyscraperconstruction, and in a section fromSeptember 12th a celebration of a successfulmission. There was also discussion of possi-ble future attacks. Edmonds was eager toinform the agents involved, but her supervi-sor Mike Feghali immediately put a halt tothe project.Two other translators, Behrooz Sarshar

and Amin (no last name given), told Edmondsthis was typical. They told her about anIranian informant, a former head of SAVAK,the Iranian “intelligence” agency, who hadbeen hired by the FBI in the early 1990s. Hehad warned these two interpreters in personin April 2001 of Osama bin Laden planning

attacks on US cities with airplanes,and had warned that some of theplotters were already in the UnitedStates. Sarshar and Amin had sub-mitted a report marked “VERY

URGENT” to Special Agent in ChargeThomas Frields, to no apparent effect. In theend of June, they had again met with thesame informant and interpreted for FBIagents a meeting with him. He had emphati-cally warned that the attack would comewithin the next two months and urged themto tell the White House and the CIA. But theFBI agents, when pressed on this, told theirinterpreters that Frields was obliged toreport everything, so the White House andother agencies no doubt already knew.One has to wonder what US public opinion

would make of an Iranian having tried to pre-vent 9-11.Next, a French translator named Mariana

informed Edmonds that in late June 2001,French intelligence had contacted the FBIwith a warning of the upcoming attacks byairplanes. The French even provided namesof suspects. The translator had been sent toFrance and believed her report had made it

to both FBI headquarters and the WhiteHouse.Edmonds translated other materials that

involved the selling of US nuclear informa-tion to foreigners and spotted a connectionto a previous case involving the purchase ofsuch information. The FBI, under pressurefrom the State Department, Edmonds writes,prevented her from notifying the FBI fieldoffices involved. Edmonds has testified in acourt deposition, naming as part of a broadcriminal conspiracy Representatives DennisHastert, Dan Burton, Roy Blunt, BobLivingston, Stephen Solarz and Tom Lantosand the following high-ranking US govern-ment officials: Douglas Feith, Paul Wolfowitzand Marc Grossman.When Edmonds was hired, she was the

only fully-qualified Turkish translator andthis remained the case. In November 2001, awoman named Melek Can Dickerson (referredto as “Jan”) was hired. She did not score wellon the English proficiency test and thus wasnot qualified to sign off on translations asEdmonds was. Her husband, DougDickerson, worked for the DefenseIntelligence Agency under the procurementlogistics division at the Pentagon dealingwith Turkey and Central Asia and for theOffice of Special Plans overseeing CentralAsian policy. This couple attempted to recruitEdmonds and her husband into the AmericanTurkish Council and the Assembly of TurkishAmerican Associations, offering large finan-cial benefits. But these were organizationsthat the FBI was monitoring. Edmondsreported the Dickersons’ proposal to Feghali,who dismissed it.Then Edmonds discovered that Jan

Dickerson had been forging her (Edmonds’)signature on translations, with Feghali’sapproval. Then, Edmonds’ colleagues told herabout Jan Dickerson taking files out of othertranslators’ desks and carrying them out ofthe building. Dickerson attempted to controlthe translation of all material from particularindividuals. Dennis Saccher, who was aboveFeghali, discovered that Jan Dickerson wasmarking every communication from oneimportant person as being not important fortranslation. Saccher attempted to address thematter but was shut down by Feghali, byanother supervisor named Stephanie Bryan,and by the head of “counterintelligence” forthe FBI who said that the Pentagon, WhiteHouse, State Department and Congresswould not allow an investigation.Had Edmonds understood the truth of that

statement, it might have saved her years offrustration and stress, but it would havedenied us the bulk of the revelations in herbook. Dickerson threatened Edmonds’ lifeand those of her family. Edmonds lost herjob, her reputation, her friends and contactwith most of her family members. Shewatched Congress cave in to the president.She watched the government protect theDickersons by allowing them to flee thecountry. She listened to Rep. Henry Waxmanand others in 2005 and 2006 promise a fullinvestigation if the Democrats won a majori-ty, a promise that was immediately brokenwhen the Democrats took control ofCongress in 2007. Edmonds was smeared inthe media, and her story widely ignored whenmedia outlets got parts of it right. The JusticeDepartment claimed “States Secrets” andmaneuvered for a cooperative judge (ReggieWalton) to have cases filed by Edmonds dis-missed. The government classified as secretall materials related to Edmonds’ case includ-ing what was already public. The JusticeDepartment issued a gag order to the entireCongress.And Congress bent over and shouted

“Thank you, sir, may I have another?”As less confrontational approaches failed,

Edmonds became increasingly an activist andan independent media participant and cre-

ator. Her story and others she was familiarwith were rejected and avoided by the 9-11Commission. She worked with angry 9-11widows and with other whistleblowers toexpose the failures of that commission.Disgusted with whistleblower support groupsthat only offered to help her when she was inthe news and never when she needed helpmost desperately, Edmonds started her owngroup, made up of whistleblowers, called theNational Security Whistleblowers Coalition.She started her own website called BoilingFrogs Post.When an unclassified version of a report

on Edmonds’ case by the JusticeDepartment’s Inspector General was finallyreleased, it vindicated her.Edmonds has received awards and recogni-

tion. Her story has been supported (withrhetoric, not action) by Congress membersand backed up by journalists. It appears in aforthcoming film.Coleen Rowley, another FBI whistleblower,

one who was honored as a Time magazineperson of the year along with two others,said: “What I find so remarkable is Sibel’spersistence in trying every avenue and possi-ble outlet in trying to get the truth out.When going up the chain of command in theexecutive branch and Inspector General inter-nal mechanisms for investigating fraud, wasteand abuse went nowhere, she sought judicialremedy by filing lawsuits only to be improp-erly gagged by ‘state secrecy privilege.’ Alongthe way she also sought congressional assis-tance, testified to the 9-11 Commission, andengaged with various media and other non-governmental organizations. It’s somewhatironic that Sibel herself demonstrated suchenormous energy and passion throughoutthis decade quite the opposite of the ‘boilingfrog’ idiom she uses for her website as awarning to others. If her book can inspirereaders to summon even 1/100th of thedetermination and resolve she has modeled,there’s hope for us!”Yet, thus far, no branch of our government

has lifted a finger to fix the problem of secre-cy and the corruption it breeds, whichEdmonds argues has grown far worse underPresident Barack Obama. That is why thisbook should be spread far and wide and readaloud to “mis”representatives in Congress ifnecessary. This book is a masterpiece thatreveals both the details and the broader pat-tern of corruption and unaccountability inWashington, DC. Edmonds has not exposedbad apples, but a rotten barrel of toxic wastethat will sooner or later infect us all — notjust the whistleblowers like Edmonds and thethousands of people in our government whosee something and dare not say somethingfor fear that we will not have their back.

Let us have their back.

(Sibel Edmonds had previously revealedthe work of the Turkish government, behindthe scenes, in holding the ArmenianGenocide resolution in Congress at bay – edi-tor.)

Books

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S A T U R D A Y, M A Y 1 2 , 2 0 1 2 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R16

ARTS & LIVING

WATERTOWN — Well-known jazz gui-tarist/performer/Berklee professor JohnBaboian is bringing his Be-Bop Guitars to closeout this season’s JAZZ at the Arsenal series May21 at 7:30PM. Local legend, vocalist/pianistMaggie Scott, nee Margaret Vazaian, will join theband for this concert of standards and originals.The Be-Bop Guitars features five guitarists

from the Berklee guitar faculty, plus vibes, bass,drums and trumpet, with specialized arrange-ments for five guitars. Baboian, the director of the series, which is

concluding its fourth season at the ArsenalCenter for the Arts, lives in Belmont andremains close to his Armenian roots. “I’ve always been proud of my Armenian her-

itage, going to Armenian school after schoolwhen I was growing up in Watertown,” explainsBaboian. “I’ve been glad I was able to speak andunderstand the Armenian language even thoughI was born here in the US. It was very helpful forme when I traveled to Armenia in 1987 and in2008. Even though my primary musical focus isjazz, I still have a hand in Armenian music, play-ing for many years with Artie Barsamian’s jazz

band and Armenian band.” Baboian has performed worldwide with his

band and with other musicians, including a per-formance with the Be-Bop Guitars at the CapeTown Jazz Festival in South Africa. His mostrecent recording is “Freshly Painted Blues.” Hehas shared the stage with Frankie Avalon,Sergio Franchi, Al Martino, Ben Vereen andmany other celebrated musicians, and hasrecorded with Black Sea Salsa Band, BostonBig Band and others. To hear his music, visit:myspace.com/johnbaboian.In 1990, Baboian, in conjunction with the

Amaras Arts Alliance, produced the firstArmenian Jazz Festival in the northeast, when25 jazz artists of Armenian ancestry cametogether to make music for a day-long event atthe Armenian Sisters’ Academy in Lexington. “I was there playing with my group and

accompanying several others,” Baboian said.“And Maggie was there performing with hergroup and singing with a vocal quartet. It wasa great opportunity for us to bring togetherArmenians that had a common musical lan-guage and put them on a stage to present theirart form.”Scott, the child of Armenian immigrant par-

ents, began playing piano in junior high school,before attending Juilliard School of Music. Shewas featured as a soloist with the Boston Popsunder Arthur Fiedler in 1950, in what she calls“a transformative experience.” A veteran jazz vocalist/pianist and beloved

Berklee voice professor, Scott has been a mentorto countless singers. A mainstay at the ColonnadeHotel in the 1970s, Scott built her reputation per-forming as a soloist and with her trio at jazz clubsand hotels in the area. She has given concerts inCosta Rica as well as Europe, performed on tele-vision and radio and has accompanied CabCalloway, Eartha Kitt and other greats. She isknown as a trailblazer for female musicians andwas the first woman elected to the executive boardof the Boston Musicians’ Association where sheserved for 25 years. JAZZ at the Arsenal features a variety of jazz

styles performed by the best jazz ensembles inthe Boston area with many headed up byBerklee’s faculty. The Monday night perfor-

mances are held in the intimate Black BoxTheater at the Arsenal Center for the Arts locat-ed at 321 Arsenal St. Performances are at 7:30

p.m. The venue is handicapped accessible. Fortickets or more information, visithttp://www.arsenalarts.org.

MMAAYY 2244 —— CCeelleebbrraattiinngg 8800 yyeeaarrss aanndd bbeeyyoonndd,, BBeenneeffiitt GGaallaa ooff tthheeAArrmmeenniiaann MMiirrrroorr--SSppeeccttaattoorr.. Thursday, reception, 6:30 p.m.; dinner7:30 p.m., Boston Royal Sonesta, Cambridge. Keynote speaker, VigenSargsyan, chief of staff of the President of the Republic of Armenia.2012 Lifetime Achievement Award will be bestowed upon Dr.Gregory H. Adamian, chancellor and president emeritus of BentleyUniversity; 2012 Award of Excellence will be bestowed upon JanetShamalian, national correspondent for “NBC News” from Texas, andCharles Mahtesian, Politico national policy editor, Washington, DC.For information, call (617) 359-0413.JUNE 1-2 — Armenian MemorialChurch Annual Fair (rain or shine); open Friday from 5-8 p.m., serv-ing Armenian kebab meals; entire Fair open Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.(kebab meals served all day, starting at 11 a.m.); Armenian delica-cies; silent auction and gift sale. 32 Bigelow Ave., Watertown.Admission free. For more info, (617) 484-3176.

JJUUNNEE 11--22 —— AArrmmeenniiaann MMeemmoorriiaall CChhuurrcchh AAnnnnuuaall FFaaiirr (rain or shine);open Friday from 5-8 p.m., serving Armenian kebab meals; entire Fairopen Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (kebab meals served all day, startingat 11 a.m.); Armenian delicacies; silent auction and gift sale. 32Bigelow Ave., Watertown. Admission free. For more info, (617) 484-3176.

OOCCTTOOBBEERR 2288 —— SSaavvee tthhee ddaattee.. TThhee AArrmmeenniiaann AAmmeerriiccaann SSuuppppoorr ttaanndd EEdduuccaattiioonnaall CCeenntteerr,, HHyyee DDoooonn,, cceelleebbrraatteess iittss 3355tthh aannnniivveerr--ssaarryy.. Felician College, Lodi. With the participation of Akh’tamarDance Ensemble and other talented guest performances. Details tofollow.

MMAAYY 1199 —— HHMMAADDSS GGaallaa DDiinnnneerr DDaannccee.. Details to follow. On June15, HMADS 30th Commencement Exercise at 8 p.m., Kalustyan Hall.

SSEEPPTTEEMMBBEERR 2299 —— SSaavvee tthhee ddaattee.. AArrmmeenniiaa FFuunndd 2200tthh AAnnnniivveerrssaarryyGGaallaa,, 7 p.m. at Gotham Hall in New York City.

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

Chris Mekjian, left, and Roberta Vanderkeylare two volunteers working hard to provideappetizing Armenian meals for the ArmenianMemorial Church Annual Fair, Friday andSaturday, June 1 and 2, at 32 Bigelow Ave.,Watertown, Mass. Admission is free. For moreinformation, call (617) 484-3176.

NEW JERSEY

MASSACHUSETTS

NEW YORK

Maggie Scott

Armenian Musicians John Baboian and Maggie ScottFeatured at JAZZ at the Arsenal Series

The Be-Bop Guitars

17S A T U R D A Y, M A Y 1 2 , 2 0 1 2 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

By Edmond Y. Azadian

Our readers would rightfully expect us to focus in the first placeon parliamentary elections held in Armenia on May 6. However, itis also worth reflecting on other elections held the same day inEurope because they may also have a bearing on Armenian issues,directly or indirectly. Thus, presidential elections took place inSerbia and France, and dramatic parliamentary elections tookplace in Greece.

In Serbia, the incumbent liberal president, Boris Tadic, seems tobe 1 percentage point ahead of his ex-nationalist rival, TomislavNikolic, who is less than sanguine with Serbia’s prospects of join-ing the European Union; he would rather cooperate with Russia.On the other hand, Mr. Tadic has been the main architect ofSerbia’s rapprochement with the EU. His negotiations resulted inSerbia’s candidacy to the EU last March.

Greek parliamentary elections may have far more significanceon Turkey’s potential membership to the European Union. Sincelast November, Greece was run by an uneasy coalition of the cen-ter-right New Democracy Party and the center-left Pasok, orSocialist Party. They negotiated a bailout with the EuropeanCentral Bank, against a very unpopular austerity plan, which theystrong-armed through parliament. Violent social unrest eruptedand finally both parties were marginalized in last Sunday’s parlia-mentary elections. New Democracy won 20 percent of the votes,down from 33.5 percent in 2009, and Pasok ranked third with13.8 percent, down from 43.9 percent. The left-wing coalition,Syriza, took the second place with 16.6 percent. Now it is up tominor parties to form a coalition government to renegotiate theausterity plan rejected by the Greek electorate with the EuropeanCentral Bank. Should that coalition fail to renegotiate the plan,Greece faces the prospect of being ousted from the EuropeanUnion, eliminating one more hurdle from Turkey’s race to join theEU.

Another presidential race closely watched by Armenians in thehomeland and the diaspora took place in France when Socialistcontender Francois Hollande was facing conservative (UMP)incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy.

With 80-percent voter turnout, Mr. Hollande garnered 52 per-cent of the votes over Sarkozy’s 47 percent. The kingmaker wasthe leader of the extreme right-wing party, Front National, MarineLe Pen, who had won 16 percent of the votes during the firstround. Sarkozy was hoping against hope that Le Pen would sendthe conservatives to his rescue, but like Ralph Nader did in 2000,“Le Pen dropped the guillotine on Sarkozy,” as described byMaureen Dowd of the New York Times.

Francois Hollande has promised some domestic social reforms(hiring 60,000 teachers, bringing back the retirement age down to60 from 62, etc.) and to renegotiate fiscal discipline with the EUleadership.

What was interesting for Armenians was that both candidatespersonally attended the 97th anniversary commemoration of theGenocide (unlike Mr. Obama, who issued his soft-pedaling pro-nouncement on the Armenian Genocide on April 24, right afterpersonally attending the Holocaust Day commemoration).

Only tears were missing in Mr. Sarkozy’s eyes when he deliveredhis passionate speech at the Genocide memorial. Had Sarkozysigned the French Senate’s resolution making the denial of theArmenian Genocide punishable by law, pre-empting the SupremeCourt’s verdict, he would not have to shed tears, because perhaps100,000 Armenians would have voted for him.

Mr. Hollande, who is more sedate in nature, promised at therally that he would make sure that the law is drafted with “utmostlegal security” in order to ensure its approval by the country’shighest court. “We can no longer commit an impression thatwould again leave us with the impossibility of having the text val-idated,” he said.

For our readers, the most anticipated parliamentary electionstook place in Armenia. During the campaign, there was muchjockeying between the parties and speculations were rife. Pollsterswere very active with their predictions and many proved to bemore biased than the parties involved.

The government promised fair elections, which the internation-al observers took very seriously, since much depended on theirreports. There were 647 international observers and 31,000 localobservers. The elections took place in a calmer atmosphere thanbefore. Bribing, which certainly took place in some regions, wasnot very easy to detect. But opposition groups made more noisethan necessary to justify their anticipated losses. The rulingRepublican Party had the government apparatus in its hands tosteer the election in its favor, like all administrations before it.

A few pundits warned of big surprises, which did not material-ize. The head of the Heritage Party, Raffi Hovannisian, predictedthat on May 7, “we will wake up in a different Armenia.”

Perhaps Mr. Hovannisian was also surprised that he woke up inthe same Armenia.

Political parties in Armenia may profess adherence to ideolo-

gies, but they basically represent a strong man or an oligarch.They all promise the same to the people and few deliver on theirpromises. This time around, the emigration issue was a majortheme, which received some lip service from all the parties, with-out a tangible program to solve it.

Out of the nine parties running, six were successful in grabbingseats in the parliament. Thus, President Serge Sargisian’sRepublican Party won 44.05 percent of the votes, which translatesinto 74 members of the parliament, for a total of 131. It meansthat it can garner a majority in the parliament over any resolutionthat it wishes, without the need of coalition partners.

Gagik Zaroukian’s Prosperous Armenian Party won 30.20 per-cent, which gives it 30 seats, plus eight elected on a majority slate.Levon Ter-Petrosian’s opposition party, the Armenian NationalCongress (HAK), won 7.10 percent of the votes, which allowsthem seven seats. Hovannisian’s Heritage Party won 5.79 percent(six seats) while Arthur Baghdassarian’s Country of Laws Partywon 5.49 percent, which allows it five to six seats.

The big surprise was the downscaling of the ArmenianRevolutionary Federation (ARF) with 9.73 percent, which trans-lates into five to six seats, down from 11 seats in the previous par-liament. It is no surprise at all that election news in the ARFmedia begins with complaints about election irregularities, with-out touching the core issues of the elections.

The aftermath of the election will be more interesting to watchthan the election itself, as horse-trading between the parties willbegin until the power blocs are consolidated.

Throughout the campaign, Zaroukian’s Prosperous ArmeniaParty flirted with different opposition groups, despite its formalpact with its coalition partner, the Republican Party. It evenformed an inter-party center for public oversight of elections tomonitor irregularities. The Heritage Party refused to participatebut odd bedfellows such as the ARF and the HAK participated. Allthe parties in the group have assured the electorate that theiragreement does not extend beyond the elections, but some suspi-cions linger in the case of Prosperous Armenia. It looks likeZaroukian will turn out to be the kingmaker, with the guidance offormer President Robert Kocharian behind the curtains. There isno love lost between Ter-Petrosian and Kocharian, nor betweenTer-Petrossian and the ARF leadership, but a marriage of conve-nience seems to be in the offing.

Before the election, Ter-Petrosian expressed his readiness toenter into a power-sharing agreement with the ARF andProsperous Armenia. The ARF has no problem cooperating withProsperous Armenia (meaning Kocharian who had offered thegravy train in the past). Whatever is new is Ter-Petrosian’s readi-ness to cooperate with the necessary evils. “The ArmenianNational Congress does not exclude its participation in a realcoalition, while categorically rejecting any cooperation with theRepublican and Orinatz Yerkir (Land of Laws) parties, which itconsiders to be our country’s main evils,” he said.

After rhetoric to “deconstruct” the “kleptocracy,” Ter-Petrosian’s HAK coalition came up with five to six seats in the par-liament, which is not sufficient to exercise effective opposition tothe ruling party. Therefore, the Tuesday, May 8, HAK rally willprove to be a watershed for the opposition group; elected mem-bers of the Congress will either drop their parliamentary man-dates, not to disappoint their followers, or the first president hasto pull out from his sleeves an agreement with Kocharian’s party,which will prove to be his lifeline.

The Republican Party has a sure bet on the Orinatz YerkirParty to form a coalition, because the latter has nowhere to gobut hang on the coattails of the president to survive.

With its diluted power in the parliament, the ARF will gleefullyjump on the bandwagon of a coalition if it is realized through thecooperation of Kocharian and Ter-Petrosian.

Perhaps such a development will not prove to be a bad option,as a mechanism of checks and balances may emerge in the par-liament, steering it into a balanced course.

How clean were the elections? The international observers gavemixed reviews: “Armenia deserves recognition for its electoralreforms and its open and peaceful campaign environment, but inthis race several stakeholders too often failed to comply with thelaw, and the election commission too often failed to enforce it,”said Francois-Xavier de Donnea, head of the Organization forSecurity and Operations in Europe (OSCE) monitors.

But on the other hand, Radmilla Sekerinska, an observer mis-sion leader representing OSCE’s office for Democratic Institutionsand Human Rights, said: “The election campaign was open andrespected fundamental freedoms, and the media offered broad andbalanced coverage during the official campaign period.”

There is certainly progress in the democratic process. After tak-ing all irregularities into consideration, the observers have notcontested the election results. This offers the opportunity for theelected legislators to make good on their election pledges, andshould the opposition move to a more formal venue from thestreets, a civilized discourse may ensue, leading the country toincreased stability and prosperity, which have to be the expecta-tions of the electorate in the first place.

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EDITOR

Alin K. Gregorian

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Aram ArkunART DIRECTOR

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SENIOREDITORIAL COLUMNIST:Edmond Azadian

CONTRIBUTORS:Florence Avakian, Elizabeth Aprahamian,Daphne Abeel, Dr. HaroutiuneArzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Prof.Vahakn N. Dadrian, Diana DerHovanessian, Philip Ketchian, KevorkKeushkerian, Sonia Kailian-Placido,Harut Sassounian, Mary Terzian, HagopVartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian

CORRESPONDENTS:

Armenia - Hagop AvedikianBoston - Nancy KalajianPhiladelphia - Lisa Manookian

Contributing Photographers:Jacob Demirdjian, Harry Koundakjian, JirairHovsepian

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18 S A T U R D A Y, M A Y 1 2 , 2 0 1 2 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

After Denial ollowing racist remarks by EmreBelözoglu during a recent game, thefamous false truth that racism is alien tothis country has resurfaced. Turkey is acountry where false truths often become

righteous convictions. How can one explain suchwidespread denial, given the fact that our daily life

and our dailylanguage andw r i t i n gabound withracist, exclu-

sionary and discriminatory remarks? Besides, is itnot the case that racist remarks are being made onthe soccer field where society’s internal dialoguecan be perfectly heard? Gülengül Altinsay of Tarafdaily has compiled examples of such utterances.Here is an excerpt:

“On Dec. 17, 2008 a group of Trabzonspor fanschanted, ‘Genocide to Armenian Oguz in Trabzon,’targeting Oguz Sarvan, then-head of the RefereesBoard. The Trabzon stands where Emre is beingaccused of racism have since had their own incidentwith similar remarks made three weeks ago.”Altinsay continues giving as examples “The chanti-ng by the Bursaspor fans of ‘Armenian dogs supportBesiktas’ and the threats reading ‘Wait for us, negroEagle [meaning Besiktas]; wait for us Arab Eagle; weare coming’ that they posted on the Internet beforea Besiktas vs. Bursa game in Istanbul. And ofcourse, the turmoil in the stands two years ago at aBursa-Diyarbakir match. The Turkish flags that allBursaspor fans held and the huge placard reading‘How happy is he who calls himself a Turk’ [asopposed to the Diyarbakir team].”

Do not our reactions at home and on the streetsexclude or deny the identity of those who fall out-side the definition of a nation designed by Ittihadistand Kemalist elites? This would include almost everycitizen of Turkey! And do not we even go sometimesas far as keeping out all others in the world who arenot Turks? Is not this the manifestation of a deepidentity crisis caused by Kemalist trauma? Whatcould be the reason for the recurrence of this denialmechanism despite the obviously racist languageand environment? Could it be the unbearable mag-nitude, gravity and significance of the truth?

Tuesday was another April 24. That was the 97thanniversary of the day when in 1915 the YoungTurk government took the decision to collectivelydeport Armenians to Syrian deserts, which ended inthe annihilation of Armenian and Assyrian existencein these lands. Regardless of what you call it, whathappened to Armenians and Assyrians has takenour soul and brain hostage since then. Their anni-hilation became the very source that keeps promot-ing our widespread denial. This source is probablythe primary reason for the widespread schizophre-nia that is repeated on a daily basis at home, at workor on the street. We deny by all means what eachand everyone either knows or guesses. There is achilling statement that has been coined recently: “Inthis land, Kurds try to prove that they exist;Armenians try to prove that they are dead.”

Denial is a schizophrenic struggle to maintaincontradictions. It is a state of mind and soul that ishard to sustain and must be worked at endlessly.Otherwise, what could be the reason for such exten-sive efforts to prove that it has never happened, if itreally did not? What could be the reason for thecountrywide outrage in the face of documenteddoubts in the face of denial? What could be the rea-son for large sums of money for lobbying activitiesand publications to plead for understanding fromothers? For inventing a “Turkic world” to rally sup-port?

Despite this, I am of the opinion that the denial isailing. Each April 24, it is getting less sustainable.Several grassroots initiatives are burgeoning acrossAnatolia to make sure that memory is duly honored.Critical inquiries by young people in particular, froma variety of backgrounds and beliefs, tell us that it ishigh time to deal with our clichés, taboos, myths,legends and hypocrisies. Youngsters are aware thatunless this is done, their future cannot be bright andsecure. Each April 24, they further outgrow thestate of “childhood” of April 23, a mindset thatrefuses to grow up, a self-imposed immaturity. Andthey are multiplying. Just like a pomegranate…

(Cengiz Aktar is a columnist for Today’s Zaman.)

By Cengiz Aktar

FBy Etyen Mahcupyan

The Armenian issue has been a periodi-cally recurring problem for all govern-ments of the Turkish Republic so far.

It has become a habit for us to react andvoice national concerns via our ForeignMinistry when parliaments of foreign coun-tries pass bills on recognition of theGenocide, or as April 24 looms. Meanwhile,we have tended to market it as a victorywhen we manage to make some Westerncountries backpedal thanks to Turkey’scommercial and military importance. Thecritical point was that the Armenian issuetended to be defined as a “foreign policy”matter in the eyes both of governments andof society. It was as if these incidents hadoccurred, not in Anatolia but during a con-flict with another country along the coun-try’s geographical borders. In support ofthis perception, the official accounts of thecountry’s history advocated that during theforced relocation, the country was at warwith foreign forces that sought to divideAnatolia, and therefore, internal territoriesshould be considered as a sort of boundary.From this perspective, Armenians could nolonger be seen as an ancient nation (millet)of the Ottoman Empire, and they could bedefined an aggressive tribe warring againstthe state. This was how the forced reloca-tion could be expanded to include allArmenians.

This perspective further called on thecommunity in Turkey to lend support totheir state, and the community compliedwith this invitation despite its internaldiversity. On the other hand, there werenatural connections with the Armenianissue and the Republican regime becausethe founders of the new regime were noone but the pro-Community of Union and

Progress (CUP) circles. Moreover,Kemalists held no different ideas aboutnon-Muslims than the CUP. Indeed, sever-al years after the establishment of therepublic, non-Muslims started to witnessincreased pressures on them through lawsand deliberate practices. Eventually, soci-ety was feeling indebted to the state thathad saved them from the domination offoreign powers, and, as a result, theyunquestioningly adopted the official posi-tion with regard to the Armenian issue.

When the Genocide debate flared againafter 1980, the state, in line with the mind-set of the September 12 regime, started totell its citizens more openly how theyshould think about this matter. And thosewho stepped outside the state’s official dis-course were seen as traitors and they werecrushed by criminal laws. The general pub-lic was feeling that they were in a big con-flict that was growing bigger and biggerand they thought that the “right” thingthey could do was to side with the state.

This picture started to change in the mid1990s. Secular groups were showing signsof division, with democrats distancingthemselves from the state with respect tonationalism and secularism. The firstbroad contact occurred in this periodbetween the democrats of the seculargroups and the intellectuals of the Islamicgroups that were in the grips of change,and with the coup of February 28, 1997,the division inside the secular groups randeeper. In this stretch of time, the NewDemocracy Movement started to shake thestate’s official discourse in many respects,the intellectuals of the Armenian commu-nity launched the Agos newspaper and a“progressive” opposition emerged out ofthe Islamist Welfare Party (RP).

The Justice and Development Party(AKP) served as a silent revolution thatdirected this fragmented change to a sin-

gle melting point. In addition to being sig-nificant in terms of making sense of theIslamic groups, this movement is acting asthe mediator of society and the state’sneed for “reform.” This change is pro-gressing so fast that Parliament SpeakerCemil Cicek, who had said, referring to theArmenian conference in 2005, “They arestabbing us in the back,” now felt the needto touch on the Armenian issue in the con-text of the initiative to draft a new consti-tution and stressed that the country has toconfront its past to the end. The AKP isnot the driving force behind this strikingchange. The real change is going on insidethe Islamic community, and the energycoming out of this change is going beyondthe government’s reticence.

This year, a head-scarved woman readthe press release concerning the commem-oration of April 24 in the name of all par-ticipants. Many intellectuals and colum-nists from Islamic groups expressed theirrespect for the sorrow resulting from theforced relocation of Armenians, and theycondemned the pro-CUP mentality. TheAssociation of Human Rights andSolidarity for Oppressed Peoples(MAZLUM-DER), the most importanthuman rights association among theIslamic groups, issued a press release thatwas extremely respectful for the lost lives,that underlined the historical reality andthat refused to use pro-state jargon. In thisrespect, Turkey is about to pass the thresh-old. The policy of denial is now being per-ceived as a ridiculousness that sticks onlyto neo-nationalist (ulusalci) TV channels.The government is very unlikely to remainindifferent to the mental liberation of theIslamic groups. But the West shouldrefrain from raising this issue as a “foreignpolicy” matter once again.

(This column originally appeared inToday’s Zaman, Istanbul, on May 4.)

A Head-scarved Woman at the April 24 Commemoration

By Robert Fisk

How many tracts, books, documen-taries, speeches and doctoral theses havebeen written and produced aboutIslamophobia? How many denunciationshave been made against the Sarkozys andthe Le Pens and the Wilders for their anti-immigration (for which, read largely anti-Muslim) policies or — let us go down fardarker paths — against the plague ofBreivik-style racism?

The problem with all this is that Muslimsocieties — or shall we whittle this down toMiddle Eastern societies? — are allowed toappear squeaky-clean in the face of suchtrash, and innocent of any racism them-selves.

A health warning, therefore, to all Arabreaders of this column: you may not likethis week’s rant from yours truly. BecauseI fear very much that the video of AlemDechasa’s recent torment in Beirut is alltoo typical of the treatment meted out toforeign domestic workers across the Arabworld (there are 200,000 in Lebanonalone).

Many hundreds of thousands have nowseen the footage of 33-year-old Ms.Dechasa being abused and humiliated andpushed into a taxi by Ali Mahfouz, theLebanese agent who brought her toLebanon as a domestic worker. Dechasawas transported to hospital where she wasplaced in the psychiatric wing and where,on March 14, she hanged herself. She wasa mother of two and could not stand thethought of being deported back to hernative Ethiopia. That may not have beenthe only reason for her mental agony.

Lebanese women protested in the cen-tre of Beirut, the UN protested, everyoneprotested. Ali Mahfouz has been formallyaccused of contributing to her death. But

that’s it.The Syrian revolt, the Bahraini revolu-

tion, the Arab Awakening, have simplywashed Alem Dechasa’s tragedy out of thenews. How many readers know — forexample — that not long before Ms.Dechasa’s death, a Bengali domestic work-er was raped by a policeman guarding herat a courthouse in the south Lebanesetown of Nabatieh, after she had beencaught fleeing an allegedly abusiveemployer?

As the Lebanese journalist Anne-MarieEl-Hage has eloquently written, Ms.Dechasa belonged to “those who submitin silence to the injustice of a Lebanesesystem that ignores their human rights, asystem which literally closes its eyes toconditions of hiring and work often closeto slavery”. All too true.

How well I recall the Sri Lankan girlwho turned up in Commodore Street atthe height of the Israeli siege and shellingof West Beirut in 1982, pleading for helpand protection. Like tens of thousands ofother domestic workers from the sub-con-tinent, her passport had been taken fromher the moment she began her work as adomestic “slave” in the city; and heremployers had then fled abroad to safety— taking the girl’s passport with them soshe could not leave herself. She was res-cued by a hotel proprietor when he dis-covered that local taxi drivers were offer-ing her a “bed” in their vehicles in returnfor sex.

Everyone who lives in Lebanon orJordan or Egypt or Syria, for that matter,or — especially — the Gulf, is well aware ofthis outrage, albeit cloaked in a pioussilence.

In Cairo, I once remarked to theEgyptian hosts at a dinner on the awfulscars on the face of the young womanserving food to us. I was ostracised for therest of the meal and — thankfully — never

invited again.Arab societies are dependent on ser-

vants. Twenty-five percent of Lebanesefamilies have a live-in migrant worker,according to Prof. Ray Jureidini of theLebanese American University in Beirut.They are essential not only for the sociallives of their employers (housework andcaring for children) but for the broaderLebanese economy.

Yet in the Arab Gulf, the treatment ofmigrant labor — male as well as female —has long been a scandal. Men from thesubcontinent often live eight to a room inslums — even in the billionaires’ paradiseof Kuwait — and are consistently harassed,treated as third-class citizens and arrestedon the meanest of charges.

Saudi Arabia long ago fell into the habitof chopping off the heads of migrantworkers who were accused of assault ormurder or drugrunning, after trials thatbore no relation to international justice.In 1993, for example, a Christian Filipinowoman accused of killing her employerand his family was dragged into a publicsquare in Dammam and forced to kneel onthe ground where her executioner pulledher scarf from her head before decapitat-ing her with a sword.

Then there was 19-year-old SithiFarouq, a Sri Lankan housemaid accusedof killing her employer’s 4 daughter in1994. She claimed her employer’s aunthad accidentally killed the girl. On April13, 1995, she was led from her prison cellin the United Arab Emirates to stand in acourtyard in a white abaya gown, cryinguncontrollably, before a firing squadwhich shot her. It was her 20th birthday.God’s mercy, enshrined in the first wordsof the Koran, could not be extended toher, it seems, in her hour of need.

(Robert Fisk is a columnist for theIndependent. This column originally waspublished on May 7.)

Arab Spring Has Washed Region’s Appalling Racism out of the News

In late April-early May 1991, specialpolice detachments (OMON) of the Ministryof Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, with thesupport of the USSR Interior Ministry’stroops, launched a large-scale punitiveoperation titled “Ring,” the essence ofwhich was to exile the Armenian popula-tion of the Nagorno-Karabagh AutonomousOblast, the Shahumian region, and someregions of Northern Artsakh (the Khanlar,Dashkesan, Kedabek, and Shamkhorregions of the former Azerbaijani SSR).

As a result of this operation, dozens ofArmenian settlements were completely dev-astated, destroyed or populated byAzerbaijanis. Tens of thousands of peoplewere deported, hundreds were killed. It wasthe operation of Ring characterized byunprecedented cruelty and mass humanrights violations that dramaticallyincreased the level of tension in the regionand transferred the Karabagh conflict to amilitary plane.

The report of the CSCE Mission of

February 28, 1992 noted that “particularlyserious escalation took place in April-May1991 when the Soviet Army, with the sup-port of the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry’sunits, deported Armenians from many vil-lages of the region. The deportation wascarried out with extreme cruelty”.

The events, which took place during theoperation of Ring, were reflected in thedocuments of some international organiza-tions, became a subject of hearings at theHuman Rights Committee of the SupremeSoviet of the Russian Federation and gotthe corresponding assessment in the reso-lutions of the European Parliament and theUS Senate.

The Human Rights Center of MemorialMoscow Association stated gross violationsof the basic human rights: “They grosslyviolated the right of every person to life, lib-erty, and security; they used tortures, car-ried out arbitrary arrests and detentionsand committed numerous property offens-es. The practice of people’s deportation

acquired a mass character. Particularly cyn-ical these violations were made by the factthat the mass violence against the civilianswas committed by the law enforcementagencies. The responsibility for this restswith the top leadership of the AzerbaijaniRepublic, Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministryand Committee for State Security (KGB),as well as with the leadership of the USSRInterior Ministry, Ministry of Defense andthe Command of the USSR MIA InteriorTroops. These crimes cast a shadow also onthe top leadership of the USSR”.

On May 1, 1991, the US Senate unani-mously adopted a resolution condemningthe crimes committed by the authorities ofthe USSR and Azerbaijan against theArmenian population. The resolution, inparticular, condemned “the attacks oninnocent men, women and children inNagorno-Karabagh, in the adjacentArmenian settlements and in Armenia; thelarge-scale use of military force and firingof the unarmed population on the eastern

and southern borders of Armenia”, as wellas contained calls “to put an end to theblockades and other forms of force and theterror against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh”.

On May 25, a draft statement on the sit-uation in some regions of Armenia andAzerbaijan was submitted to the session ofthe Fourth Congress of People’s Deputiesof the Russian Soviet Federative SocialistRepublic (RSFSR) for consideration andwas approved by the overwhelming majori-ty of votes.

The statement, in particular, noted that“in accordance with the internationallyaccepted norms and conventions on humanrights, the deportation of civilians must beimmediately stopped, the hostages must befreed, and the suspects on cases of armedclashes must be transferred to the prosecu-tion of the USSR Prosecutor’s Office”.

However, the crimes committed duringthe operation of Ring haven’t got theproper political and legal assessment bythe international community and theirorganizers and executors are still unpun-ished. This became a precedent for newmilitary crimes and inhumane actions byAzerbaijan against the peaceful Armenianpopulation.

The deported residents are still unable toreturn to their homes and they haven’treceived any reimbursement so far.

Unfortunately, we also have to state thatthe Armenian villages deported during theoperation of Ring are not mentioned in anyof the documents proposed by the interna-tional mediators for the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict settlement.

(This commentary was released by theNKR MFA Information Department and

originally published in Hetq online.)

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COMMENTARY

Lawsuit-Happy Turkish GroupLoses Appeal on ArmenianGenocide

The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) has been on arampage in recent years, filing lawsuits against scholars,public officials and civic groups who support the recogni-tion of the Armenian Genocide.

Last week, a federal appeals court put an end to TCA’slegal tirade against the University of Minnesota by unani-mously upholding a federal court’s decision dismissingTCA’s baseless allegations.

The Turkish advocacy group had filed a lawsuit againstProf. Bruno Chaouat, director of the Center for Holocaustand Genocide Studies at the University of Minnesota, forlabeling TCA’s website and others as “unreliable.” The uni-versity’s webpage had posted the following stern admoni-tion to students: “We do not recommend these sites.Warnings should be given to students writing papers thatthey should not use these sites because of denial, supportby an unknown organization, or contents that are a strangemix of fact and opinion.”

Initially, TCA had complained that the inclusion of TCA’swebsite on the university’s list of “Unreliable Websites” vio-lated the Turkish group’s freedom of speech. The universi-ty rejected TCA’s allegation, although, the Center forHolocaust and Genocide Studies revised its website onNovember 18, 2010, removing the “Unreliable Websites”

and recommending new resources for Genocide research.The university asserted that the revision was not promptedby TCA’s complaint and denied any wrongdoing. OnNovember 24, 2010, Chaouat posted a statement on thecenter’s website explaining that the list of “UnreliableWebsites” was removed because he did not want to “pro-mote, even negatively, sources of illegitimate information.”

TCA then filed a lawsuit against the university, its presi-dent and Professor Chaouat, claiming that including itswebsite on the same list as websites denying the JewishHolocaust, stigmatized the Turkish organization. The courtdismissed the lawsuit.

A three-judge panel of the Eighth Circuit Federal AppealsCourt upheld the lower court’s decision on May 3, rulingthat the university did not violate TCA’s First Amendmentrights, since it neither blocked nor restricted access to theTurkish website.

The judges also rejected the Turkish group’s second claimthat it was defamed when the university stated that TCA’swebsite is “unreliable,” engages in “denial,” presents “astrange mix of fact and opinion” and is an “illegitimatesource of information.” In a sinister attempt to win the law-suit, TCA claimed that its website did not deny certain under-lying historical facts, affirming that “certainly hundreds ofthousands of Armenians died.” However, since the Turkishwebsite had alleged that it is “highly unlikely that a genocidecharge could be sustained against the Ottoman governmentor its successor,” the judges ruled in favor of the universityasserting that TCA had in fact engaged in “denial.”

TCA’s malicious lawsuit disturbed many US scholars whowere worried that this case would set a dangerous prece-dent and have a chilling effect on academic freedom. Thegravity of these concerns had prompted the Middle EastStudies Association to demand TCA to withdraw its law-suit.

Although TCA failed in its bullying tactics against theUniversity of Minnesota, there is no guarantee that thisTurkish group will stop suing other academic or civic orga-nizations for refusing to cave in to Turkey’s denialist cam-

paign. It should be noted that TCA spent $630,000 on legalfees out of its 2010 budget of $3.6 million. Significantly, nomention was made in its annual report of the sources ofTCA’s funding, except a passing remark that it is “support-ed entirely by private donations.” The Boston BusinessJournal reported that Turkish-American Yalcin Ayasli,founder of Hittite Microwave Corp., contributed $30 mil-lion to TCA in 2007.

TCA engaged in the following wide-ranging activities andpolitical objectives with its $3.6 million budget in 2010: • Delivered 75 position papers to members of Congressand US opinion leaders; • Monitored the American media; • Took a Native American business delegation to Turkey; • Lobbied the Congress against the Armenian Genocideresolution; • Advertised in Roll Call and Washington Quarterly; • Organized Summer internships in Washington forTurkish students; • Provided scholarships to African-American, Armenian-American, Hispanic American, Native American andTurkish-American students to study in Turkish universities; • Awarded grants for academic conferences; • Offered research fellowships to professors MichaelGunter, Justin McCarthy, Hakan Yavuz and others; • Contributed $100,000 grants to each of the Assembly ofTurkish American Associations and Federation of TurkishAmerican Associations, and a smaller amount to theAzerbaijan Society of America; • Spent $630,000 on lawsuits against various entities thatsupport the Armenian Genocide issue; • Funded congressional trips to Turkey and • Filed a report with the US government accusing theArmenian National Committee of America (ANCA) of beinga “hate group.”

Given TCA’s tax-exempt charitable status, the InternalRevenue Service should investigate the legality of thisTurkish group’s involvement in such extensive political andlobbying activities.

My TurnBy Harut Sassounian

The Armenian Mirror-Spectator welcomes articles, commentariesand community news from our readers. In order to assure the accurateand timely publication of articles submitted, please note the followingpolicies:— All articles submitted should be typed, double (or triple) spaced andprinted in a type size large enough to be clearly legible (10 point orlarger). Submissions that do not conform to these specifications will beassigned lowest priority.— Articles sent by fax are acceptable, and e-mail submissions areencouraged.— All submissions should include the name of a contact person and a

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Notice to Contributors

Karabagh Foreign Ministry DecriesArmenian Killings on 21st Anniversary

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