Police Urged to Show 'Neutrality' in Elections - Armenian Mirror ...

Mirror-Spectator
THE ARMENIAN
Volume LXXXII, NO. 37, Issue 4232
Armenia’s
Minister
Of Defense
Welcomed
At Diocese
NEW YORK — On Wednesday, March 21,
Armenia’s Minister of Defense Seyran
Ohanian visited the headquarters of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America. He was welcomed by Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Primate, who led him
and his delegation on a tour of St. Vartan
Cathedral.
In the sanctuary, Ohanian and his wife,
Ruzanna, lit a candle and joined the
Primate and cathedral dean, Rev. Mardiros
Chevian, in reciting the “Lord’s Prayer.”
The delegation included Deputy Defense
M A R C H 3 1 , 2 0 1 2
The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932
Rev. Mardiros Chevian, dean of St. Vartan
Armenian Cathedral, greets Seyran
Ohanian on the cathedral plaza.
Minister Davit Tonoyan; Armenia’s
Ambassador to the United Nations Garen
Nazarian, and his wife, Nana, and Col.
Mesrop Nazarian, Armenia’s defense
attaché in Washington.
In the Diocese’s reception hall, the
guests were welcomed by about 25 leaders
of the Eastern Diocese. Among these were
Diocesan Council members Oscar Tatosian,
Dr. Raffy Hovanessian and Papken
Megerian; Dr. Edgar Housepian and Dr.
John Nercessian of the Fund for Armenian
Relief (FAR) and FAR Executive Director
Garnik Nanagoulian.
“It is a great joy for all of us to welcome
you back to New York City and to the
Diocesan Center,” Barsamian said. He
recalled that Ohanian was last in New York
18 years ago during the war in Nagorno-
Karabagh, in which he served.
Barsamian said it was a blessing for
Armenians worldwide to mark the repub-
Reception Marks 20th Anniversary of
Armenia’s Membership in the United Nations
By Hagop Vartivarian
In OOur 80tthh YYeaarr
$ 2.00
Armenia’s Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian paid a visit in
Washington to US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on March
22. See story on page 2.
NEW YORK — Pierre Hotel became the
meeting place for ambassadors who are
members of the great family of the United
Nations (UN) organization, diplomats, offi-
cials from the UN Secretariat, local correspondents of the mass media and representatives
of the Armenian community.
The occasion was the
joint reception of the countries,
which joined the
United Nations together
with Armenia 20 years ago,
on March 2, 1992. UN
Secretary-General Ban Kimoon
presided over the festivities
and was the main
speaker. Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan,
Kirgizstan, Tajikistan and
Turkmenistan, all republics
of the former Soviet Union,
on the same day received
UN memberships and their
flags began to fly in front of
the UN’s New York center.
see UN, page 11
Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Garen
Nazarian with United Nations Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon
lic’s 20th anniversary of independence last
fall, and added that it is thanks to leaders
like Ohanian that Armenians “feel confident
that we are on the right path, and that
we have to persevere to achieve new successes.”
“May God keep you in good physical and
spiritual health so that you may continue to
defend our motherland and our Armenian
identity,” Barsamian said. The Primate then
presented the Ohanians with two gold
crosses crafted by jeweler and longtime
community leader, Hirant Gulian.
see VISIT, page 11
Schmidt Drops
Defamation Suit
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Gannett) — Rep. Jean
Schmidt, R-Miami Township, has dropped
her $6.8 million defamation lawsuit against
long-time political opponent David
Krikorian, who ran against her in 2008 and
again this year.
“It’s time to move on,” Schmidt’s
spokesman, Barrett J. Brunsman, said of
the congresswoman’s decision to withdraw
her defamation claim against Krikorian,
originally filed in June 2010 in Clermont
County Common Pleas Court.
Krikorian said he was surprised but
happy to hear the case had been dropped.
“Anytime you can remove a $6.8 million
pending lawsuit against you, no matter how
frivolous, it’s a good thing,” he said.
Schmidt filed the lawsuit after Krikorian
claimed in the 2008 race that she had taken
“blood money” from the government of
Turkey in exchange for her opposition to
efforts that would label as “genocide” the
killings of Armenians living in Turkey during
World War I.
Schmidt also filed two complaints in May
2009 with the Ohio Elections Commission,
charging Krikorian with making false statements.
The commission ruled in her favor,
reprimanding Krikorian for making statements
it determined were inaccurate.
The Schmidt-Krikorian legal tangle also
spilled over into a congressional ethics
see LAWSUIT, page 20
NEWS INBRIEF
Conference on Assyrian
Genocide in Yerevan
YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net) — A conference
on the Assyrian Genocide will be held on April
23-24 to mark the start of the genocides of
Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks perpetrated by
the Ottoman Empire during the years of World
War I, AINA reported.
The conference, titled “Assyrian Genocide
(1914-1923) and its Consequences in the Modern
World,” is organized by the Universal Scientific-
Research, the Cultural Centre Assyria, the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the
Democratic Party of Armenia.
Switzerland Enhances
Ties with Turkey
ANKARA (Vestnik Kavkaza) — Switzerland and
Turkey want to enhance economic cooperation
between the two nations, News.am reports.
Swiss Economics Minister Johann Schneider-
Ammann arrived in Ankara accompanied by some
15 businessmen on March 22 to discuss Swiss interests
on the Turkish market. Schneider-Amman said
after a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Zafer
Caglayan that the two states have potential for
cooperation.
Turkey and Switzerland had tense relations over
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by
Switzerland in 2003.
Ararat Brandy Comes
To the UK
LONDON (thisislondon.co) — Sir Winston
Churchill’s favorite Armenian brandy — said to have
played a key role in the shaping of postwar Europe
— has gone on sale in Britain for the first time.
The prime minister developed a taste for Ararat
brandy when it was served by Stalin at the Yalta
conference in February 1945. After World War II,
the Soviet leader arranged for 400 bottles to be
sent to Churchill every year.
However, it was not available in the UK because
the Soviet government only allowed a small number
to be exported. Most supplies of Ararat were
reserved for the Communist Party elite.
Now, East European drinks distributor Vinorium
has brought 10,000 bottles to London, to be sold
starting this week in the city’s specialist wine merchants,
priced at about 29 pounds ($46). Vinorium
hopes eventually to sell the brandy throughout
Britain and Ireland if it proves a success. The
brandy was also a favorite of Agatha Christie and
Frank Sinatra.
INSIDE
Kevorkian
On History
Story on page 5
INDEX
Arts and Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Armenia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 3
Community News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Celebrating 80 Years and Beyond Benefit for the Armenian Mirror-Spectator
Thursday, May 24, 2012

2
News From Armenia
Police Urged to Show
‘Neutrality’ in Elections
YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Lt.-Gen. Vladimir
Gasparian, the chief of Armenian police, has called
on his police force to remain neutral before and
after the May parliamentary elections.
In his remarks made at a meeting with several
dozen senior police officers late last week,
Gasparriiann sstrressed iitt was Prresiideentt Serge
Sargisian’s command that the national police force
show a “proper” attitude towards all participants of
the electoral process.
“I want all of you to remember that we, the police
officers, serve all of the people. Therefore, we must
defend the interests of all,” Gasparian said, according
to his press service.
He suggested that ideal law enforcement is clearcut
and implies the division of citizens who follow
the law and those who break it.
“Your professional knowledge will be your
strongest weapon duuring thhe periiods bbeeforre and
after the elections,” Gasparian said, also stressing
the importance of ensuring the accuracy of voting,
which is part of a police officer’s job in Armenia.
Armenian opposition groups and civil society representatives
have long accused the national police
force of showing strong loyalty to the authorities,
while behaving unfairly towards the government’s
opponents.
Detention or ill treatment of activists have
occurred in Armenia in recent years.
TED Conference Webcast
Live in Yerevan
YEREVAN — TED, the nonprofit devoted to “Ideas
Worth Spreading,” granted a TEDx Live license for
TED2012 to be shown as a live webcast in Yerevan.
This madee iit possible to organniize ann event at the
Tumo Center for Creative Technologies, the official
partner and sponsor of TEDxYerevanLive. TED followers
in Armenia had an opportunity to virtually
join the well-known conference attendees in Long
Beach, Calif. and to view talks about cutting-edge
technology and showcases of human creativity.
From February 27 to March 2, TED2012 featured
a collection of speakers. The conference webcast at
Tumo took place on March 3, with more than 100
participants, including students, bloggers, civil
activists and NGO leaders.
The event sparked a number of blog posts from
attending participants. The speakers ranged from
roboticists to filmmakers and economists — each
with an inspiring message. “I personally felt very
energized by being part of the live streaming. It
showed that life in Armenia is full of nice surprises
and I felt I was not missing anything and not falling
behind exciting events happening in the world!”
noted Tumo Center Director Marie Lou Papazian.
Yerevan Gets New Buses
From China
YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Dozens of new buses
exported to Armenia by the government of China
were unveiled in the streets of the capital last week
as part of a broader plan by the municipality to
improve the city’s public transportation.
The city has received 249 new buses, of which 80
are currently being used. City officials say the rest
of the buses will gradually be put into operation to
phase out minibuses that now remain the most
common means of public transportation in the city,
which includes a population of about 1 million people.
The new buses are designed to carry 45 passengers,
with 22 available seats. Yerevan authorities
plan to make 25 buses wheelchair accessible by the
end of the year.
Among the first passengers to ride one of the
new buses from the city’s central Republic Square
were President Serge Sargisian and Yerevan Mayor
Taron Markarian.
Markarian said that the new public transportation
network for Yerevan would be approved soon,
and an additional 350 buses would be imported to
the city by the end of the year, after negotiations
with private sector companies.
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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
ARMENIA
US Defense Chief Meets with Armenian Counterpart
WASHINGTON (RFE/RL) — US
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta
met with Armenian Defense
Minister Seyran Ohanian at the
Pentagon late last week for talks highlighting
growing military ties between
the United States and Armenia.
In a statement, Pentagon Press
Secretary George Little said the two discussed
regional security issues and bilateral
defense cooperation, including
“Armenia’s efforts on defense reform and
US willingness to support enhanced
training of the Armenian military.”
Panetta also expressed appreciation
for Yerevan’s “strong contributions”
to the NATO-led mission in
Afghanistan and to the NATO-led
peacekeeping forces in Kosovo. No
further details of the talks were
released by the Pentagon.
By Tigran Avetisian
YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — The status
quo in the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict is
not sustainable and Armenia should be
particularly interested in its peaceful resolution,
German Foreign Minister Guido
Westerwelle said during a visit to
Yerevan earlier this month.
Westerwelle met with President Serge
Sargisian and Foreign Minister Eduard
Nalbandian on the final leg of his tour of
the three South Caucasus states. They
discussed bilateral ties, the Karabagh
dispute and developments in the broader
region.
“From our perspective, the status quo
in the Karabagh conflict zone cannot be
long-lasting,” Westerwelle told a joint
news conference with Nalbandian. “And
benefits anticipated from a peaceful settlement
will be great for all parties, especially
Armenia. Therefore, a compromise
solution to the conflict should be pursued
within the framework of the OSCE
Minsk Group.”
Top officials from the United States,
The Armenian Defense Ministry did
not immediately issue any statements
on Ohanian’s meeting with the US
defense chief.
Ohanian began his visit to the
United States on Wednesday, March
21, with a trip to Kansas. There, he
met with Kansas Gov. Sam
Brownback and other state officials
to discuss a nearly decade-long cooperation
between the Kansas National
Guard and Armenia’s Armed Forces
and law-enforcement agencies.
The visit underscored Armenia’s
increased defense cooperation with
the US within both bilateral and
NATO frameworks. The US and
Armenian militaries are expected to
hold next month the first-ever joint
exercises aimed at improving the
interoperability of their forces
Russia and France,
which co-chair the
Minsk Group, have
made similar statements
in recent months. In a
joint statement last
December, US Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton,
Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov
and a top French official
described the Karabagh
status quo as “unacceptable.”
Westerwelle indicated
Germany’s support for the basic principles
of Karabagh peace proposed by the
three mediating powers. He said the
conflict should be resolved on the basis
of “a balance between the principles of
territorial integrity and people’s selfdetermination.”
Nalbandian blamed Azerbaijan for the
lack of decisive progress in the long-running
peace talks. In particular, he
accused Baku of backtracking on an
agreement to jointly investigate ceasefire
violations in the conflict zone which
he said was brokered by the mediators
deployed in Afghanistan. A top official
from the US European Command discussed
preparations for the exercises
with Ohanian during a visit to
Yerevan last month.
Plans for the landmark drills were
first made public following Armenian
Deputy Defense Minister Davit
Tonoyan’s July 2011 visit to
Washington. Tonoyan held “defense
consultations” with US Assistant
Secretary of Defense Alexander
Vershbow and other senior Pentagon
officials.
Tonoyan visited Washington shortly
after Armenia almost tripled its participation
in NATO’s International
Security Assistance Force for
Afghanistan, a move praised by US
officials. Armenia currently has about
130 troops deployed.
German FM Calls for Karabagh
Peace on Armenia Trip
Yerevan Plans Greater Reliance
On Russian-Led Defense Pact
YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Membership
in a Russian-led military alliance of
seven former Soviet republics is becoming
an even more important element of
Armenia’s defense doctrine, the secretary
of Armenian National Security
Council said on Monday.
“The Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) is rapidly developing
and Armenia, as a CSTO member
state, is actively involved in this
process,” said Artur Baghdasarian.
“We plan to strengthen the CSTO’s
role as one of the most important components
of ensuring our country’s
security.”
Baghdasarian gave few details of
greater Armenian reliance on the CSTO
as he spoke at a joint news conference
with Nikolay Bordyuzha, the bloc’s visiting
secretary general. Bordyuzha
arrived in Yerevan to discuss with
Armenian officials a new CSTO strategy
drawn up by his Moscow-based office.
Bordyuzha said the document will
clarify the CSTO’s mission and the
obligations of its member states as well
as regulate joint military operations by
their armed forces. It will also ascertain
whether Russia can use nuclear
weapons to protect its ex-Soviet allies
“in extraordinary circumstances,” he
said.
The presidents of Russia, Armenia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan already
agreed last year that their troops acting
within the CSTO framework can interfere
in a member state beset by serious
unrest. Bordyuzha assured journalists
last month that the Russian-led alliance
is not assuming “gendarmerie functions”
to help member governments
crack down on the opposition.
The CSTO set up in 2009 Collective
Operational Reaction Forces (CORF)
tasked with countering security threats
to the bloc. Armenia is due to host
CORF exercises in October.
The deepening Armenian involvement
in the CSTO announced by
Baghdasarian comes amid growing ties
between Yerevan and NATO. President
Serge Sargisian highlighted them when
he visited the NATO headquarters in
Brussels last week.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle with
President Serge Sargisian in Yerevan
last year. “We agree on something but
Azerbaijan then backpedals,”
Nalbandian said.
Yerevan also claims that Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev scuttled a framework
peace accord during a June 2011
summit with Sargisian that was organized
by Russia’s President Dmitry
Medvedev. It says Aliyev unexpectedly
demanded a dozen changes in the latest
version of the basic principles put forward
by the Minsk Group co-chairs.
Westerwelle and Nalbandian also
praised the current state of political and
economic ties between their nations.
Westerwelle reaffirmed his country’s
support for Armenia’s integration into
the European Union though the bloc’s
Eastern Partnership program.
Germany is one of Armenia’s leading
trading partners and its number one
export market in the EU. According to
Armenian government data, the total
volume of German-Armenian trade rose
by almost 18 percent to $404 million
last year, accounting for 7.4 percent of
the South Caucasus state’s overall external
commerce.
Germany is Armenia’s second-largest
foreign donor after the United States,
having allocated at least 220 million
euros ($290 million) in loans and grants
since 1995. It has also been the single
largest contributor to the EU’s separate
multimillion-dollar assistance to
Yerevan.
“I think our potential [for economic
cooperation] is much greater,” said
Nalbandian. “With joint efforts we can
do more.”
“We are also grateful to Germany for
its assistance provided to Armenia since
independence,” added the minister.
Westerwelle said Berlin is especially
interested in helping to strengthen the
rule of law in Armenia with various
assistance programs. That is essential
for the country’s sustainable economic
development, he said.

AGBU Debuts
Musical Armenia
Program for
Diasporan Youth
This Summer
YEREVAN — The world’s largest
Armenian nonprofit organization has
announced the launch of a new cultural
summer youth initiative, Musical
Armenia. Diasporan-Armenian musicians
are invited to explore the melodies of
their rich cultural heritage through this
music education program in Yerevan. The
program’s inaugural season will begin in
July 14 and continue for three weeks,
until August 4.
Musical Armenia will welcome all eligible
youth 18 years or older, who have
basic musical knowledge, have pursued
certain courses of study involving musical
instruments or voice training and wish to
have a new experience in the homeland.
Special classes will be held in accordance
with musical trends and the level of
knowledge and preferences of the participants.
“Art is an essential part of our culture,”
says AGBU Central Board member
Vasken Yacoubian, who spearheaded the
new addition to AGBU’s youth programs
in Armenia. “And Armenian music is a big
part of that cultural heritage that we must
keep alive in the youth of today. By exposing
young Armenians to the rhythms,
sounds and diversity of our musical life,
we can ensure that the Armenian spirit
stays alive everywhere.”
Musical Armenia is geared toward
Diasporan Armenians who play musical
instruments (piano, violin, cello, duduk,
guitar, etc.) and have some experience in
singing. Eligible youth will have the
opportunity to enrich their musical
knowledge and performing artistry by
attending master classes in their area of
expertise. Courses will be offered in classical,
contemporary (jazz, pop, etc.),
national (popular, minstrel) and spiritual
music. In addition, they will attend specialized
lectures on the music and performances
of Komitas, as well as Armenian
contemporary, jazz, popular, minstrel and
spiritual music, taught by Armenian musicians,
musicologists and experts.
The classes and lectures will be conducted
by well-known native Armenian
musicians, musicologists and experts,
including Anna Mayilian (spiritual music),
Tovmas Poghosian (minstrel song art),
Armen Tutunchian (jazz music), Gagik
Kinosian (folk dance), Anna Arevshatian
(contemporary music), Mher Navoyian
(spiritual and medieval music), Gevorg
Tappaghian (dudukist), Hakob
Djaghatspanian (guitar), Lucine Grigorian
(piano), Alina Pahlevanian (folk song art),
Aram Talalian (cello), Bagrat Vardanian
(violin) and Arusiak Sahakian (ethnographer).
Participants will be given the chance to
immerse themselves in the musical life of
the homeland by attending concerts,
engaging in dialogue with artists and
musicians and performing with peers.
While in Armenia, they will live in an
AGBU residence and take part in cultural
enrichment programs, as well as a variety
of recreational activities, sightseeing trips
and excursions.
The fee for participation in the Musical
Armenia program is $1,500, which
includes visa entrance fee, accommodations,
meals, local transportation, lectures
and activities. Participants are responsible
for their transportation costs to and
from Armenia.
Those who wish to participate in this
program must submit applications by May
15. Applications are available at
agbu.org/musicalarmenia.
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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
YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — Hotels, restaurants,
concert halls and night clubs here are
ready to receive about 25,000 Iranian tourists
who are expected to visit Armenia and to celebrate
Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, marked at
around the vernal equinox time.
“We stay in the Marriott Hotel, paying
$300 per day [for four people together]. Many
people [Iranians] come to Yerevan these days.
This is a preferable country for us [Iranians]
both for the quality of services and their
prices. We enjoy concerts, attend night clubs
and casinos, which we do not have in Iran,”
Rameza says.
Nonetheless, unlike last year, when many
Iranians visited Armenia, this year the number
of Iranians in the streets of Yerevan is quite
small.
Endris Tohin, director of a Yerevan-based
travel agency, which deals only with bringing
Iranian tourists to Armenia, says this year fewer
Iranians will visit Armenia unlike last year. Only
about 500 Iranians will come to Armenia with
the help of his travel agency.
“The problem is economical, related to the
political situation in Iran. The exchange rate is
very high in Iran now, and people buy currency
to get out of the country. One dollar costs
20,500 Iranian rials, whereas last December one
dollar cost 11,500 rials,” Tohin says.
Head of the Armenian Economy Ministry’s
Department of Tourism Mekhak Apresyan says
that tourism is a very sensitive sector (of economy),
and any event, both political and financial
affects it.
Apresyan ties the lack of Iranian tourists this
year with the recent heavy snow, which result-
INTERNATIONAL
Travel More Expensive, but Iranians Expected
In Armenia for Persian New Year
Armenian PM
Claims Massive
Military Buildup
GUMRI (RFE/RL) — Armenia has significantly
increased acquisitions of new and sophisticated
weapons in the last few years in response
to a massive military buildup in Azerbaijan,
according to Prime Minister Tigran Sargisian.
“Neighboring Azerbaijan has been spending
huge sums on strengthening its army in order
to forcibly resolve the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict,”
Sargisian said during a visit to Gumri this
week. “We are obliged to guarantee the security
of our citizens and the only way to do that is
to have a combat-ready army.”
“Today we can report to you that in the past
five years we have managed to solve that task,”
he told hundreds of local members of the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia (HHK). “In the
last three years alone we have enhanced the
level of our armament as much as we were able
to do during the first 17 years of our independent
statehood.”
“We have imported essential and qualitatively
new weapons and ammunition to the
Republic of Armenia, providing our army with
modern weapons and thereby imposing peace
on our foe,” the premier said. He gave no
details of those arms deliveries.
Armenian military officials have likewise
reported an ongoing army buildup. “We have
been enhancing our military capacity with arms
acquisitions in recent years,” Defense Minister
Seyran Ohanian said in January.
Ohanian said the Armenian government is
now successfully implementing a five-year plan
to modernize the national armed forces with
long-range weapons and other hardware. The
still-unpublicized program was approved by
President Serge Sargisian’s National Security
Council in December 2010.
Some of the long-range weapons already possessed
by Armenia were demonstrated for the
first time during a military parade in Yerevan
last September. Those included Russian-made
Scud-B and Tochka-U tactical ballistic missiles
capable of hitting strategic targets deep inside
Azerbaijani territory.
ed in impassable roads; however, he has not
denied the high exchange rate in Iran as a reason.
“We cannot settle this problem. If the
exchange rate grows, people buy less currency.
In this respect, we may have some fall in the
number of the visitors. We hope that it will not
have a very negative impact. Nonetheless, as
our colleagues of the private sector [travel agencies]
state, more Iranians will visit Armenia,
because weather conditions have become better,”
Apresyan says.
Armenia as a tourism market has been active
for Iran since 2007. Over the years, the number
of tourists visiting Armenia from Iran has grow,
based on various factors.
“One tourist who leaves Armenia being satisfied
will bring dozens of new tourists to
Armenia, who will come here having their
friends’ good impression about our country
in their mind. One tourist who leaves
Armenia being unsatisfied means that hundreds
of people will have a negative attitude
towards our country,” Apresyan says.
“Besides, Armenia has many sufficient attractions
with its historical-cultural values, wonderful
nature, legendary hospitability and
brilliant people.”
According to the data of the Armenian
Economy Ministry’s Department of Tourism, as
many as 20,000 Iranian citizens visited Armenia
during the Nowruz period in 2010, their number
in 2009 during the same period was 8,700
and some 25,000 spent their Nowruz in
Armenia in 2011. This year it is expected that
again some 25,000 Iranians will visit Armenia.
In 2010, a total of 120,000 citizens of Iran
crossed the border into Armenia, and in 2011 —
134,000. They pay 3,000 drams (about $8) for
the entrance visa (for 21 days).
Many Iranians, who visited Armenia say that
Armenia is a cultural area free from restrictions
they feel at home. Here they have opportunities
to communicate freely and to drink alcoholic
beverages.
“The peculiarity of this holiday is that most
people come here with their families, they rent
private houses and spend the holidays here.
They visit concerts of Iranian singers who visit
Armenia from the United States especially for
Nowruz,” says 36-year-old Ibrahim Olipur.
Director of ArmMelody Company Saman
Saeed says that he has been working in Yerevan
for several years, and he always organizes concerts
of Iranian singers in Yerevan during
Nowruz.
“The concerts are scheduled on March 21-25.
The tickets cost 26,000-30,000 drams (about
$66-$76). There is no such opportunity in Iran,”
Saeed says.
According to Apresyan, one Iranian tourist
spends $1,000 on an average during a trip to
Armenia.
Iranian tourists celebrate Nowruz in Georgia
and Azerbaijan, too. Last year Georgia removed
the visa regime with Iran, giving Iranians an
opportunity to enter Georgia freely.
“Along with competition I also see a collaboration
here. Very often tourists prefer leaving
for this or that country with tourism regional
packages. Last year five percent of the Iranian
tourists who visited Armenia also left for
Georgia enjoying those packages,” Apresyan
says.
Armenian Opposition Leader Quits
Race amid Nomination Row
By Tigran Avetisian, Ruzanna Stepanian
YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Opposition leader Raffi
Hovannisian has announced his withdrawal from one of the
forthcoming parliamentary election races in which he would
be running against another oppositionist.
In doing so, the founding leader of the parliamentary
Heritage party called for broader cooperation among different
opposition groups when it comes to single-mandate con-
Raffi Hovannisian
stituencies in the May 6 National Assembly election.
After the deadline for the submission of nominations last
week, it emerged that both Hovannisian and Nikol Pashinian, an outspoken newspaper editor
and senior figure of the much bigger opposition alliance, Armenian National Congress
(HAK), were among the candidates in Yerevan’s single-seat district No. 7. The constituency
covering much of Yerevan’s western Malatia-Sebastia administrative district is represented
in the current National Assembly by Samvel Aleksanian, an affluent businessman backed
by the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, seeking reelection.
Pashinian applied for registration as a candidate in that district before the announcement
of Hovannisian’s candidacy. Some HAK activists rushed to accuse the Heritage leader of
deliberately splitting the opposition vote in an area long regarded as Aleksanian’s fiefdom.
Hovannisian dismissed the speculation, suggesting that he had no knowledge of the
HAK’s nomination plans. Announcing his readiness to withdraw from the race in favor of
Pashinian, Hovannisian, at the same time, called for a broader cooperation among the
opposition groups in regards to the parliament seats that are contested in single-mandate
constituencies.
Hovannisian’s Heritage party and other leading opposition forces have nominated
dozens of candidates in many of the constituencies. Some of them will compete against
each other and thus are likely to make it easier for pro-government candidates to win the
elections.
Speaking to the media last week, Hovannisian said his party had offered to HAK and the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), the other current parliamentary
minority party, to agree on supporting single opposition candidates in single-seat constituencies.
The offer, which, Hovannisian said, was turned down by the HAK and called untimely by
Dashnaktsutyun, was, in particular, that they jointly support HAK candidates in 21 of the
districts, while in seven and 13 districts, respectively, the joint opposition candidates would
be Heritage and Dashnaktsutyun nominees.
Speaking at a press conference later last week, Pashinian said Hovannisian’s suggestion
that the HAK withdraw from five single-member district races in exchange for his withdrawal
from district No. 7 only was unacceptable. He described that offer as “illogical” and
said, therefore, it could not have become a subject for discussion or provided grounds for
negotiations.

4
International News
Armenian Girl Commits
Suicide after Blackmail
In Turkey
ISTANBUL (news.am) — A young Armenian girl
who had gone to the Turkish city with her stepfather
and half-brother, committed suicide after
being blackmailed by a Turkish man, with whom
she had had an affair.
Narine Mkrtchyan, 21, fell in love with a Turkish
man, her broother, Jora, saidd. At one pooint, they
broke up but not before he had taken nude photos
of her. The man’s brother blackmailed her, seeking
a relationship with her, in return for his not distributing
the photos. Later, both brothers threatened
to post the pictures online if they did not
receive money from Mkrtchyan.
Unable to cope with the ordeal, she committed
suicide.
Mkrtchyan’s stepfather discovered her body.
However, the family did not report her death to the
police as they were staying in Turkey illegally. Her
mothher, upon hearing the nnewwss and thee ciircumstances
leading to her death, contacted police in
Turkey.
Dink Widow, Sener
Attend Reception in US
Embassy in Ankara
ISTANBUL (PanARMENIAN.Net) — Journalist
Nedim Sener, who was recently released from
prison after spending nearly a year in jail, was
among the guests invited to a reception hosted on
Thursday, March 22, by US Ambassador Francis J.
Ricciardone in honor of a deputy from the main
opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP),
TTooddaayy’’ss ZZaammaann reported.
Sener’s release from jail has been welcomed by
the European Union, which Turkey aspires to join,
and the Turkish government also said the release
was a “positive development.”
But the detention of journalists including Sener
in coup plot cases has created a rift with the US in
the past.
In February 2011, the US ambassador received a
barrage of criticism from the Turkish government
when he said the US was trying to make sense of
Turkey’s stated support for freedom of the press
and the detention of journalists. “On the one hand
there exists a stated policy supporting a free press.
On the other hand, journalists are put in detention,”
Ricciardone had said.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused
him of being a “novice” in Turkish matters. The
reception at the US embassy, hosted in honor of
CHP Deputy Safak Pavey for a recent award she
received, was attended also by the CHP leader
Kemal Kiliçdaroglu; Rakel Dink, the widow of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, and two
deputies from Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peace and
Democracy Party (BDP).
Oxford University Gets
$41m from Erteguns
LONDON (Huffington Post) — The widow of
Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun has
donated more than 26 million pounds ($41 million)
to Oxford University to fund humanities scholarships
for graduate students.
The university announced the Mica and Ahmet
Ertegun Graduate Scholarship Program recently,
which will initially fund 15 annual international
scholarships for the study of subjects including literature,
history, music, art history, Asian studies,
Middle Eastern studies and archaeology.
That will rise to at least 35 scholarships a year.
The university said the donation is one of the
biggest in its 900-year history.
Mica Ertegun said her husband, who died in
2006, had loved the arts. She said the enriching
potential of the arts and humanities was especially
important “in these times, when there is so much
strife in the world.”
The son of a Turkish diplomat, Ahmet Ertegun
helped shape the careers of many legendary musicians,
including Ray Charles and Eric Clapton.
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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
INTERNATIONAL
Erdogan Raises Karabagh
Issue at Talks with Obama
SEOUL, South Korea (RFE/RL) —
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan offered his nation’s mediation
in settling the protracted Armenian-
Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno
Karabagh as he held talks with
President Barack Obama, before the
South Korea-hosted Nuclear Security
Summit last weekend.
The meeting between Obama and
Erdogan reportedly focused on the situation
in Syria but also addressed some
other regional concerns, including the
dispute in Nagorno Karabagh.
Turkish newspapers quoted Erdogan
as saying that while meeting with Obama
he raised the Karabagh issue, suggesting
that while Ankara was ready to try to
boost negotiations by working with
Azerbaijan, it expected the three main
mediating powers, including the United
States, to “step up pressure” on Armenia.
According to the newspaper,
Haberturk, the Turkish leader also said
that during the meeting he raised the
issue of the efficiency of the mediating
work being conducted by the
Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Minsk
Group, the main format co-headed by
the United States, Russia and France
that spearheads international efforts on
brokering a solution to the long-running
conflict. Erdogan, in particular, is
quoted as saying that the group has
been unable to find a way of settling the
conflict for two decades now.
The White House did not immediately
report on Obama’s discussion of
Karabagh with Erdogan.
SOEUL (RFE/RL) — Armenian
President Serge Sargisian has reaffirmed
his nation’s commitment to
nuclear security as he spoke before
world leaders at a South Korea-hosted
gathering on Tuesday.
In his speech before representatives of
more than 50 nations attending the
Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul,
including the leaders of the United
States, Russia and China, Sargisian
dwelled on the efforts made by his
South Caucasus country to enhance the
safety of its nuclear power plant and
establish mechanisms for a more effective
control over nuclear materials.
The two-day summit in South Korea
focused on the discussion of ways to
counter the mounting threat of nuclear
terrorism in the world.
In a statement at the close of the
gathering on March 27 the world lead-
President Barack Obama with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
The remarks by Erdogan made ahead
of the summit that was also to be
attended by President Serge Sargisian
came shortly after the three mediating
powers reiterated their call for a quick
peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-
Karabagh conflict.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
and French Foreign Minister Alain
Juppé issued a joint statement last week
on the 20th anniversary of the establishment
of the OSCE Minsk Group,
stressing that “any delay in reaching a
settlement will only prolong the hardships”
that the peoples of the region
have suffered. They also reiterated the
mediating powers’ strong opposition to
possible attempts by either warring side
to resolve the conflict by force, saying
that it “would bring only more suffering
ers said it was the “fundamental responsibility”
of all states to safeguard nuclear
materials and keep them out of the
hands of terrorists.
Sargisian elaborated on measures
undertaken by Armenia in this direction,
in particular the adoption of a law
stipulating control over the export and
transit of dual-use items, including
nuclear and radioactive materials, as
well as over the exchange of related
information and intellectual products.
He also spoke about progress made by
Armenia in retraining its customs personnel
and reequipping its customs
facilities to prevent the smuggling of
radioactive materials.
Sargisian reassured the world community
of Armenia’s strictest control
over the safe operation of its Soviet-built
nuclear station that the South Caucasus
nation plans to replace with a new one
to a region that has known uncertainty
and insecurity for too long.”
Meanwhile, the Armenian president’s
press office last week released
Sargisian’s message to the mediating
powers’ leaders on the 20th anniversary
of the OSCE Minsk Group’s establishment,
in which he underscores the
“tremendous work” that has been done
by the group’s co-chairs in “bringing the
parties’ positions closer together, developing
the basic principles of settlement,
relieving tensions and maintaining
peace [in the conflict area].”
Sargisian also assured the leaders of
the United States, Russia and France of
Armenia’s interest in finding a solution
to the Karabagh conflict and its commitment
to having a continued “positive
and constructive” involvement in the
Minsk Group-mediated peace process.
Armenia Stresses Commitment to
Nuclear Security at S. Korea Summit
President Serge Sargisian, center, at the meeting on March 27
later this decade. He said that as a
nation generating nuclear energy
Armenia “comprehensively” cooperates
with the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA), a global nuclear watchdog
body.
“A safe operation of the nuclear
power plant and raising the level of its
security, its physical protection, as well
as protection and control over the highactivity
fuel is among the priorities of
our government,” said Sargisian,
emphasizing that the inspection conducted
by the IAEA’s ad hoc
Operational Safety Review Team at
Armenia’s Metsamor plant last year reaffirmed
its full correspondence to the
international safety requirements set to
nuclear reactors of that generation.
In Seoul Sargisian also responded to
the remarks made by Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev that the
Armenian nuclear station poses a threat
to the region.
“This piece of brazen misinformation
presented by the president of Azerbaijan
about the Armenian Nuclear Power
Plant here does not surprise me,
because spreading distorted information
about Armenia has long been the
manner of action for Azerbaijan,” the
Armenian president said, according to
his press office.
Sargisian accused Azerbaijan and
Turkey of blockading landlocked
Armenia for two decades. “Besides causing
other problems, this blockade does
not leave Armenia any alternative in
ensuring its energy independence,” he
underscored.

Four Convicted in
Major Bank Fraud,
Identity Theft
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Four members of an
Armenian organized crime ring were convicted
in one of the largest bank fraud and identity
theft schemes in California history, the US
attorney’s office announced last week.
All four were Armenian Power members or
associates who targeted dozens of victims in
California, Nevada, Arizona and Texas, according
to Assistant Attorney General Lanny
Breuer. Over the course of the six-year conspiracy,
more than $10 million was stolen.
Arman Sharopetrosian, 33; Karen Markosian,
39; Artush Margaryan, 28, and Kristine
Ogandzhanyan, 28, were found guilty of conspiring
to commit bank fraud, attempted bank
fraud and various counts of aggravated identity
theft on March 16. They are due for sentencing
August 6.
Sharopetrosian is a member of the Armenian
Power organized crime group and was a ringleader
of the massive fraud scheme, while the
rest of the defendants were associates, prosecutors
said.
Using cell phones smuggled into Avenal State
Prison, the incarcerated Sharopetrosian and codefendant
Angus Brown coordinated a scheme
to obtain Social Security numbers and birth
dates and use the information to steal money
from the account holders.
“These defendants, including two individuals
who were operating from a prison cell, perpetrated
a massive fraudulent scheme on behalf of
a dangerous criminal enterprise,” said Breuer.
“Whether organized criminal groups traffic in
drugs, commit financial fraud or wreak other
havoc to keep themselves going, they must be
stopped.”
The scheme targeted high-value bank
accounts, transferred money out of the
accounts, had unauthorized checks printed for
the accounts and used forged signatures to
write checks.
In all, 20 defendants were charged in the
sophisticated and lengthy scheme, which
involved orders made from within prisons and
the assistance of bank insiders who had been
enlisted by the criminal organization.
To date, all but one of the defendants
involved in the scheme have been convicted.
Faye Bell is awaiting trial.
Those convicted face maximum sentences of
30 years in federal prison for each count of
bank fraud, 30 years for each count of conspiracy
to commit bank fraud and additional
mandatory two-year sentences for each count of
aggravated identity theft.
Tarkanian Doing ‘Very
Well’ after Heart Attack,
To Remain in Hospital
LAS VEGAS (CBSSports.com) — Doctors at a
Las Vegas hospital decided to keep storied former
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian overnight last
week for observation after a mild heart attack,
despite originally planning to release him, a
hospital spokeswoman said.
Mountainview Hospital spokeswoman
Amanda Powell said Tarkanian’s status had not
changed despite the change in plans. She said
he is still doing “very well.”
Powell declined to give further details.
Son, Danny Tarkanian, who planned to visit
his father last week, said his father is in the hospital’s
intensive care unit receiving oxygen.
The 81-year-old former coach was having
trouble with his oxygen levels and was being
tested for pneumonia or other conditions,
Danny Tarkanian said.
Danny Tarkanian said his sister, a nurse, was
by their father’s side and optimistic.
see TARKANIAN, page 8
TARKANIAN, from page 5
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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
Ara and Ginny Shrestinian have lived their wedding vows for 52 years, even under
duress with Alzheimer ’s disease.
True Love Knows
No Boundaries with
Shrestinians
ANDOVER, Mass. — “He’s still my rock. I hope I’m still his.”
Ginny Shrestinian sat beside her husband, Ara Shrestinian, feeding him lunch.
First soup, then a sandwich. One hand was wrapped around the food — the other
around his.
It was a special day at the Bedford VA Hospital. Today was Valentine’s, not that
it really mattered. With the Shrestinians, every day was one meant to be celebrated,
bound by love for 52 years.
By Tom
Vartabedian
The fact he has an advanced stage of
Alzheimer’s disease only heightens their relationship.
Hardly a day passes that she is not by
his side, tending to his needs…looking for that
elusive smile. She reached over to give him a kiss,
and he beamed with delight.
“I don’t know if he knows it’s Ginny by his side,” she said. “But he knows it’s
someone he recognizes and loves. That’s what matters the most to me.”
For 25 years, he served as a deacon at St. Gregory Church in North Andover,
never missing a Sunday. They would leave their Cape Cod home in the summer
on a Saturday to honor that commitment. For Ara Shrestinian, church and God
came before pleasure.
But not family. The death of a son, Steven, in 1996, devastated the couple. The
tragedy occurred on the eve of their wedding anniversary and they haven’t celebrated
one since.
Two years ago, church members brought out a cake after badarak and toasted
the two on their milestone. Disaster struck again when a daughter Susan
(Kulungian) was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008; her disease has since gone
into remission.
“He used to do all these things around the house like getting the car serviced
and taking care of all the manly chores,” Ginny Shrestinian said. “Now, I’m learning
to do them.”
Soft music filled the air. A dozen other patients shared company with Ara
Shrestinian, including a retired army colonel and a former surgeon at
Massachusetts General Hospital. Alzheimer’s doesn’t discriminate. It picks its victims
randomly.
At a time when education was at a premium, Ara Shrestinian graduated from
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1951 and spent 53 years with
Thompson & Lichtner in Cambridge as a civil engineer before retiring as vice-president.
The highlight of his career came in 1975 when a fire escape collapsed in Boston,
sending a young woman plunging to her death. Because of his expertise in
see SHRESTINIAN, page 9
Historian Kevorkian
Discusses Finer
Points of Genocide
At NAASR
By Alin K. Gregorian
Mirror-Spectator Staff
5
BELMONT, Mass. — The auditorium of the
National Association for Armenian Studies and
Research (NAASR) was packed on March 14 as
French-Armenian historian Raymond Kevorkian
spoke about his most recent book, the English
translation of which, titled The Armenian
Genocide: The Complete History, came out last
year.
Kevorkian, the director of the AGBU
Nubarian Library in Paris and a lecturer at the
Institute Français de Geopolitique, University of
Paris, said the focus of his book is “micro-history,”
which can shed light on the bigger picture.
He explained, “The goal is to get deep within
detail, on the local level, to base [documentation]
on a strong foundation.”
The book, therefore, tracks the trail of forced
marches and deaths from province to province,
town to town, even specific streets.
“I wanted to see if the process is the same in
every province,” he said. Research showed him
that indeed, they were not the same.
“I don’t use only Armenian sources, but I
worked on diplomatic sources, from consulates
and local leaders,” he noted. Among the consulates
whose documents he used were the
Austro-Hungarian, German and American.
A difference between his work and that of
many others, he explained, is that “most others
look at [the Genocide] as an international issue,
whereas I perceive it as an internal Ottoman
issue.”
He also looks at “hot” accounts from survivors,
namely, those given immediately after
Raymond Kevorkian
JIRAIR HOVSEPIAN PHOTO
their forced marches, many gathered by Aram
Andonian, from those who were from the
Eastern Provinces, southern Syria and
Mesopotamia.
Another source for such “hot” accounts was
the Istanbul Patriarchate, where accounts of
survivors from Sepastia on toward the west
were gathered. The Interior Ministry eventually
certified these testimonies and used them in
military trials.
Kevorkian noted that historians often challenge
survivor testimonies because their perspectives
can distort facts. But Kevorkian set
out to prove their veracity, whenever possible.
“I established certain criteria,” he said.
Regarding the deportation process, he noted
that “it was easy to zoom in on diplomatic, missionary
and local elite, but once they leave, the
see KEVORKIAN, page 9

6 S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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
By Sean Levisman
MIAMI (Miami New Times) — When speaking
of legendary DJs, you need look no further
than François Kevorkian. The man’s resume
reads like the history of popular dance music
itself. He cut his teeth at NYC’s seminal Studio
54 and The Loft during disco’s heyday, and at
the Paradise Garage during the birth of house
music.
What makes François K such a major role
model among DJs, however, is his relentless
commitment to sonic innovation. He may be old
enough to be the grandfather of a lot of the
kids at his shows, but François K is permanently
at the cutting edge of electronic dance music,
championing the latest sounds, from techno to
dubstep, and putting many DJs half his age to
shame.
Crossfade caught up with the man, the myth
and the legend ahead of his headlining gig at
the Electric Pickle this Friday to talk about the
old days of clubbing, why he is still relevant
after four decades in the game, and the future
of EDM.
Crossfade: What were the strongest impressions
you got from the NYC dance music scene
when you were first working there in the late
’70s? What would you are the main differences
between dance music culture then and now?
François K: Freedom and privacy. The great
thing about the ’70s is that it was an age of
innocence, and people didn’t have many of the
same things to worry about, like mandatory
photo ID checks, security cameras at the door
connected to the police precinct, catching a lifethreatening
disease from having casual sex with
someone they just met, or being forbidden from
doing many things by overly restrictive local
licensing laws, as well as the ominous feeling of
constantly being watched in the club by hawkish
security staff. Clubbing has become much
more of a streamlined business now, very utilitarian
and quite low on the scale of fantasy.
Bottle service is fine for people who thrive on
that, it’s just not been very easy to find people
willing to invest into venues that don’t build
their business model on revenue from alcohol
sales.
Crossfade: As the decades go by people seem
to romanticize the seminal dance clubs like The
Loft, Studio 54 and Paradise Garage more and
more. What do you think made them so special?
Is club culture today lacking something that
those establishments and their crowds had?
François K: Those were different times. Two
of the names you mention were totally private,
as in no amount of money will get you in if you
didn’t know someone who was a member.
That’s a different scene altogether. With regards
to The Loft, it was just a party, definitely not a
club. Someone deciding to invite people to his
house to have a party. Nothing more than that.
But because of that, it made it very different. As
far as Studio 54, the amount of ink that has
been poured on America’s fixation with celebrity,
trash gossip and drugs should show that not
very much has changed over the years in that
particular department. But I would argue that
bundling such a name with those of Paradise
Garage and The Loft may not be very fair, as
they did not have anything whatsoever in common,
besides having a sound system playing
music over speakers. As far as how it compares
to today, there are certain venues like Berghain
in Berlin who try to emulate a bit of the early
ethos of private parties, but it is a very difficult
thing to do because so much has changed in
the way we perceive and consume music, as well
as the way it is used for social interactions. And
those dreaded cell phones — yes, them.
Arguably, with less distractions, the experience
may have been far more intense and focused.
Crossfade: You’re one of only a handful of
DJs from your generation who is still going
strong after four decades. To what do you
attribute your longevity? Is there a secret to
staying fresh and relevant in a scene were
young new artists are emerging all the time?
François K: With regards to longevity, not
dying is always a great way to stay in the game.
You may think I am joking, but the list of my
contemporaries who have sadly left us all too
soon in the prime of their careers is quite a long
and sobering one. Which is to say that I feel
there were far many more DJs who were
arguably a lot better at it than me, and I just
happened to be one of those who still happens
to be around today. As far as the music, I have
always been attracted to things with an edge,
the new and fresh, so that may have helped in
keeping me current. But to be honest there is
no real plan behind this, it’s just how things
have worked out — there’s never been anything
deliberate about it. I have been getting a lot of
flack from people about it at times — for example,
starting to get into techno somewhere
around 2000, and the same way I got more of
this from people who saw my early support for
dubstep around 2007 as anathema. Age-old
dilemma, isn’t it?
So in a sense, if you keep changing and reinventing
yourself a bit, it is guaranteed that
some of the people who have been supporting
a particular phase of what you do are not going
to follow whatever your next move is going to
be. Because they are not interested in changing.
As long as this is something you’re comfortable
with, there’s no problem in following that
instinct, and I have been fortunate enough to
be able to do this so far — hopefully even managed
to connect with some new and younger
music lovers along the way.
Crossfade: How did your collaboration with
Cosmic Twins partner Derrick May first come
about and what was the concept behind the project
originally? What has he imparted to you as
a techno producer?
François K: We started doing this together in
2003 for a tour of Japan, and the name stuck.
We recorded a couple of tracks and have played
some more gigs together all over the world. Still
looking to do more when our schedules permit.
Derrick is one of the true originals, and has an
uncompromising attitude towards music that is
always a great deal of inspiration to be around.
Such a beautiful soul!
Crossfade: Why have you continued to make
the US your home all these years, considering
how much smaller the electronic dance music
scene is here compared to Europe?
François K: At the risk of sounding like a
cliché, I love New York for its people, its unique
diversity and high-octane environment full of
driven and very creative characters. Always
have and cannot think of another place I’d
rather be. A city where I can walk to most any
place I need to go to, and that feels like a little
village with lots of skyscrapers. I find this
human dimension very much missing from
most other car-centric cities in the US. And as
far as Europe, the diversity just isn’t there for
me in the same way. Props to Amsterdam,
Berlin, Tokyo, Paris and London for sure. But
not the same thing for me. This may well
change in the future, but I would be the first to
be truly surprised if it happened.
Crossfade: You’ve always been praised for
your forward-thinking approach to EDM. Lately
there seems to be a lot of nostalgia and the
recycling of classic house and techno sounds.
Why do you think producers are looking to the
past for inspiration instead of the future, and
what do you think the future of EDM is?
François K: Miles Davis said decades ago
that “every chord has already been played.” As
with fashion and many other aspects of the creative
arts, there have been many such cycles of
rehashing something that became old and giving
it new life. So I find nothing surprising that
suddenly the ‘90s would be trendy again. As far
as what I think the future of EDM is, your guess
is as good as mine. In recent times, artists like
COMMUNITY NEWS
The Legendary François K Talks Studio 54, Skrillex, and Burning Man
François Kevorkian
Skrillex have amply proven the point that audiences
are ravenously looking for something
shocking and that completely makes them go
ballistic with sounds. I’d expect more of the
same for the near future. Music with a shock
value?
Crossfade: The focus (or obsession, one
could say) of your long-standing Deep Space
NYC party is dub in all its permutations. What
was your first exposure to dub and what draws
you to this sound so much?
François K: In a sense, dub is what I do. It’s
perhaps a bit ironic that it took me so long to
figure out that this was where my affinity took
me, but better late than never. I became
exposed to dub in the late ’70s, and it immediately
and profoundly changed my approach to
mixing in the studio, as well as the choice of
material I would play as a DJ — but in general,
the way I would deal with sound. It’s an aesthetic
that I feel can be applied to any music,
rather than being a specific genre. There can be
a dub mix of a pop song just as much as one of
a vintage reggae record. With Deep Space (now
nine years running) I am trying to showcase
those links and apply this sort of treatment to
whatever music I choose to play there, by doing
this live while I play.
Crossfade: What do you have going on in
the studio these days? Any forthcoming projects
or releases?
IRVINE, Calif. — The Armenian History
Lecture Series at the University of California,
Irvine, (UCI) continued this month with a lecture
by Prof. Richard Hovannisian, professor
emeritus of Armenian and Near Eastern History
at the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA). Hovannisian’s talk, “The Changing
Landscape of Historic Western Armenia:
Reflections on a Journey into the Past,” took
attendees on a visual journey through contemporary
and ancient Armenia using slides from
his recent journeys through Armenia and historical
photographs.
More than 170 UCI students, faculty and
local community members gathered to hear
Hovannisian at the University Club. Many in the
audience were transported home again, seeing
images of Armenia where their parents and
grandparents grew up. For most of the students
in attendance, this was their first “trip” to
Armenia and what better tour guide than
Hovannisian, who wrote the definitive encyclopedia
on Armenian history.
After the lecture Charles Barsam, on behalf
of the Orange County Armenian Professional
Society, presented a check for $10,000 to Vicki
L. Ruiz, dean of the School of Humanities, to
support Armenian history at UCI.
Dr. Vahe and Armine Meghrouni, who last
December donated $50,000 to fund community
lectures and quarterly Armenian courses,
matched their 2011 donation with another
$50,000. Vahe Meghrouni spoke briefly on the
importance of confronting “revisionists, reductionists
and deniers” of Armenian history and
providing a place where students can get an
François K: Been recording a whole album
with Detroit legend Juan Atkins, as well as a
bunch of material with various other collaborators,
and will hopefully make some of this available
over time. To be honest, the main focus of
my time has been on live gigs and the demanding
travel schedule this entails. Last year saw
the premiere of a surround-sound project I put
together for Burning Man 2011. This doesn’t
have much to do with dance music at all, but a
lot more of it is related to a very atmospheric
and three-dimensional approach to sound, this
is taking quite a bit of my time and I will be
looking for other select opportunities to make
this happen where it makes sense to present it.
Think Pink Floyd, Tomita, Porcupine Tree,
Herbie Hancock and Steely Dan and you’ll have
a better idea of where this may be going.
CCrossffadde: What does the future have in
store for François Kevorkian? Do you see yourself
staying in the DJ game much longer?
François K: There doesn’t seem to be a shortage
of places to go and play at, many of them
being repeats of gigs that I have been playing
for a number of years, but lots of new ones just
as well. As long as the demand is there, I don’t
see a reason to stop. There are some other projects
I am also involved in, but they are still in
the music space, and would not prevent me
from continuing to play gigs.
Hovannisian Lectures on Armenian
History to the UCI Community
Prof. Richard Hovannisian lectures at the University of
California, Irvine.
accurate picture of Armenian history.
Ruiz awarded certificates of appreciation to
Sylvie and Garo Tertzakian and the Meghrounis for
their continued vision, support and dedication.
A camera crew from USArmenia television
network filmed the lecture and interviewed
guests afterwards. Coverage of his talk
was broadcast to more than 150 countries.
The quarterly lecture series — made
possible through gifts to UCI — offers
the local community opportunities to
learn more about Armenian history.
This past year the series included lectures
by Sebouh David Aslanian on
his book From the Indian Ocean to
the Mediterranean: The Global Trade
Networks of Armenian Merchants
from New Julfa and Tom Mooradian
on his memoir The Repatriate: Love,
Basketball and the KGB which chronicles
his 13 years behind the Iron
Curtain as an Armenian repatriate.
Undergraduate courses in Armenian
history continue in the upcoming
spring quarter with an offering in
modern Armenian history.
Armenian History at UCI was established
in December 2007 with the goal of providing
classes in ancient and modern Armenian history
to all interested students on a yearly
basis.
Daughters of Vartan
Arpie Otyag Scholarship
Award Program
WATERTOWN, Mass. — The Daughters
of Vartan Arpie Otyag will be awarding
scholarships to eligible recipients. Eligible
recipients include members of the
Knights and Daughters of Vartan and the
children, grandchildren and nieces of
Daughters in good standing, as well as
those of deceased Daughters, in good
standing at the time of their demise.
Previous recipients are not eligible.
Interested recipients can contact aurelian@aandaindustries.com
to request an
application.
The deadline to submit completed
applications to Arpie Otyag is April 15.

By Richard Pyle
NEW YORK (AP) — Born in a Japanese fishing
village just after his refugee family landed there
in a desperate 1919 escape from Russia’s
Bolshevik revolution, Roy Essoyan arrived in the
Soviet Union nearly four decades later as an
American journalist.
But after three years of hobnobbing with
Premier Nikita Khrushchev and other commu-
nist leaders, the Associated Press reporter’s Cold
War adventure ended abruptly. In 1958 he was
expelled for reporting that a serious breach had
developed between the USSR and Mao Tsetung’s
China.
By committing what the foreign ministry
called “a rude violation of Soviet censorship,”
Essoyan had exposed what became known in
diplomatic parlance as the “Sino-Soviet split” —
and earned himself a one-way ticket out of
Moscow.
From Hong Kong, a pulsating world away from
the dreary Soviet capital, Essoyan continued a
career that took him around the globe, with major
stops in Cairo, Beirut and finally, Tokyo.
In 1985, he retired to Hawaii and died there on
Thursday, March 22, his family said. He was 92.
Essoyan was the youngest child of Armenian parents
who in fleeing from Vladivostok as the communist-led
upheaval gripped Russia, became part of
that ethnic nationality’s 20th-century diaspora.
Stateless when they reached the coastal fishing
town of Tsuruga, where Essoyan was born,
the family found Japan welcoming to foreigners,
but destined to become less so as war-fevered militarist
factions gained influence and power.
After starting a new life in the city of Kobe, the
Essoyans moved in 1932 to Shanghai, which
offered its own business opportunities, and were
there when Japanese invaders took over half of
the city in 1937.
Essoyan had aspired to a journalism career
even before graduating from Shanghai’s Public
& Thomas Hanbury School in 1936. “I always
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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 7
wanted to write,” he said in a 2002 interview. ”I
thought I had a flair with things like essays and
what not.”
But when Shanghai’s English-language papers
refused to hire him as a cub reporter, the 17-yearold
youth shipped out on a Danish freighter, the
Peter Maersk, and spent the next year-and-a-half
at sea.
According to Essoyan’s daughter, Susan, “the
ship’s captain found his given name, Karekin, too
difficult and asked, ‘What do I yell when I need
you?’ They settled on ‘Roy,’ which later became
his byline,” she said.
Returning to Shanghai in 1939, Essoyan and
a friend teamed up to publish small news magazines,
and he was working as an editor for the
English-language Shanghai Times when World
War II finally reached Asia in late 1941, trapping
many foreigners in China.
Essoyan had been married on December 5,
1941, and when the paper called him to work on
December 8, saying war had begun, he hung up
the phone.
“I thought they were being funny,” he recalled.
“And sure enough I went out on the street and
Japanese soldiers were everywhere... overnight
they had effectively completed the whole
takeover by commandeering utilities and power
companies, the telephone company, the radio
stations.”
Life became hard during the occupation.
Essoyan’s older brother was killed by a hit-andrun
Japanese army truck and the Essoyans
found that being stateless did not protect them
from the harsh treatment endured by citizens of
western countries living in Shanghai’s famous
International Settlement.
“It was better to have a government standing
up for you,” Essoyan said in the 2002 interview.
As the conflict ended in 1945, Roy, then 26, got
a $90-a-month job with the AP in Shanghai and
impressed his boss enough to be offered a visa and
assignment to Hawaii. There he became a US citizen
and burnished his English, his fourth language
after Armenian, Russian and Japanese.
He also lost his wife, Sadie, and a son, Daniel,
to illness.
In 1953 he married Betsey Biggs, a reporter
for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. She survives,
along with their four children, Catherine, David,
Susan and Stephen, and nine grandchildren.
After a steady news diet of Hawaiian volcanoes
and VIP visits to the islands, the Russian-speaking
Essoyan was tapped in 1955 — the height of
the Cold War — to join AP’s Moscow bureau.
Years later, he recalled how foreign correspondents
were forced to live in state-assigned apartments
where elevators took passengers up but
not down and government eavesdropping was so
pervasive that “even the lampshades were
bugged.”
Denied contact with ordinary Russians,
reporters scoured propaganda-laden newspapers
and official pronouncements for nuggets of news
and never missed diplomatic receptions where
Soviet officials might turn up. But everything
OBITUARY
Roy Essoyan, 92 — Reporter Who Broke News of Sino-Soviet Split
Roy Essoyan in Beirut in 1971
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was subject to strict and sometimes arbitrary
censorship.
In 1958, Essoyan slipped past the censors a
“news analysis” saying Khrushchev and Mao Tsetung
were secretly but sharply at odds over Mao’s
refusal to agree to an international summit meeting
unless his communist regime replaced
Nationalist China as Beijing’s representative.
Essoyan had already been warned twice by
Soviet censors, but his expulsion from Moscow —
a distinction regarded by many western journalists
as a badge of honor — was likely assured
when the influential Washington-based columnist
Joseph Alsop singled him out for praise.
“If the Russian censors have permitted
Essoyan to say that Nikita Khrushchev has suffered
a public setback, then Nikita is out,” Alsop
told his readers.
That wasn’t what happened, Essoyan noted
later. The censors had not approved his story,
and Khrushchev was not out. Essoyan was.
However, being banished from Moscow did not
totally end his interaction with Soviet officials.
During a visit to Indonesia a few years later,
At a pub called Chez Andre, from left, AP Photographer Harry
L. Koundakjian, Miss Universe, Lebanon’s Georgina Rize, Roy
Essoyan with Gen. Aram Sulukjian, commander of the Lebanese
Air Force, 1967
Khrushchev spotted a familiar face — Essoyan’s
— among the press, and to the dismay of other
reporters, invited the American to join him for a
private talk.
As they chatted in Russian, Khrushchev made
a sneering comment about Essoyan’s baseball
cap: “Why do you wear those silly beanies?’’
Essoyan responded by playfully sticking the cap
on the Soviet leader’s head — a moment captured
by photographers for a worldwide audience.
Based in Hong Kong after leaving Moscow,
Essoyan helped AP cover the early days of the
Vietnam war, accompanying South Vietnamese
troops and their US advisers on helicopter-borne
operations.
Essoyan described one such mission as
“gamesmanship, beautifully orchestrated and
achieving absolutely nothing because the Viet
Cong knew what was happening, the (South)
Vietnamese didn’t want bloodshed. I wrote a
lovely, long story which ended by saying, ‘As we
flew away, the flag of South Vietnam was flying,
but tomorrow morning the communists would
be back.’ And this is what happened... most of
the time.”
After a brief stint in Cairo, Essoyan was named
AP’s chief of Middle East operations in Beirut in
1965 and became its chief of North Asia services,
based in Tokyo, in 1973, coming full circle to the
land of his birth.
Colleagues admired Essoyan as a plain-speaking,
old-school professional with a lively sense of humor
but always ready to battle with New York editors
when he deemed it necessary.
Harry Koundakjian, a fellow Armenian in
Beirut who later photographed Lebanon’s civil
war for AP, recalled that New York chiefs had
ordered Essoyan to “fire Harry” after his photos
from earthquake-ravaged Iran showed up only in
Life magazine.
“Roy answered back, saying I was only a stringer,
and AP’s New York and London photo desks had
earlier rejected my photos. Then came another message:
Hire Harry,” Koundakjian recalled.
James Abrams, an ex-Peace Corps volunteer
who joined AP in Tokyo in 1979,
recalled Essoyan as “everyone’s
mentor” in a bureau stocked with
legendary AP veterans and ambitious
newcomers.
“Everyone, from the uptight
Japanese newspaper executives
who loved his company, to the
young Japanese and American
reporters who learned from him,
were infected by his hearty laugh
and buoyant take on life,” said
Abrams, a long-time member of
AP’s Washington, DC staff.
“Roy Essoyan understood
Japanese feelings and always took
care of his local staff,” said
Shigeyoshi Kimura, a retired AP
newsman in Tokyo. “Roy was the
first bureau chief to promote staff
social interaction, invitations to
AP events, outings and visits at
his home. Appreciating Japanese reticence, he
encouraged wives and children to join in, saying,
‘Everyone is a member of our AP family.’ He was
the best.”
In interviews after retiring to Hawaii in 1985,
Essoyan offered a nostalgic view of the fastpaced,
demanding craft of wire service reporting.
“It was a great life, 40 years of expenses-paid
vacation,” he told one interviewer. “Think of all
the places that people want to go to, whether it’s
the Pyramids or the Sphinx or the Great Wall or
the Taj Mahal, I’ve been there...
“We used to say, ‘how else do you get to talk
to kings and emperors and presidents and prime
ministers?’”
“The AP was more than a family to me,”
Essoyan said. “It was like a nationality.”
(Richard Pyle is a former foreign correspondent
who spent seven years in Tokyo as AP’s
Asia news editor.)
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8 S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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
Armenian Sisters’ Academy
Hosts Grandparents’ Day
RADNOR, Penn. — March 8 was
“Grandparents Day,” a special day of tribute at
the Armenian Sisters’ Academy. The fifth-grade
students, under the direction of Armenian
teacher Tamar Panosian, had been planning
Fifth-grade student Haig Megerian shares a hug with his grandmother
Anahid Megerian.
this day for months to honor and celebrate
their grandparents and let their family elders
know that they make a difference in the children’s
lives.
LOWELL, Mass. — Armenians from
Merrimack Valley and Southern New
Hampshire will gather Saturday, April 21, for a
march and flag-raising ceremony recognizing
the 97th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.
A procession will begin at 10 a.m., led by the
Lowell Armenian-American Veterans Post
honor guard and children from the community,
followed by a program on the steps of City Hall
as well as the raising of the Armenian flag.
A proclamation will be offered by Mayor
Patrick Murphy.
The event is being sponsored by the
Armenian National Committee of Merrimack
Valley and will honor the memory of 1.5 million
Armenians persecuted by the Ottoman Turks
during the genocidal years of 1915-1923.
Tarkanian Doing ‘Very Well’ after Heart Attack
“She’s not too worried yet,” he said. “At his
age, pneumonia could be a pretty serious thing.
We hope that’s not it and we certainly hope
they find out what the problem is with why the
oxygen’s not getting through.”
The heart attack was mild, Danny Tarkanian
said. He said his father feels fine physically, but
was scared when the attack happened.
Jerry Tarkanian’s daughter, Jodie Diamant,
told the Las Vegas Review-Journal her
father started wheezing during a doctor’s
visit on Tuesday and was taken to the hospital.
An EKG test showed he was having a
heart attack.
Jerry Tarkanian coached the Runnin’ Rebels
for 19 seasons from 1973 through 1992, taking
his team to back-to-back Final Fours and win-
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Sister Emma Moussayan, principal, welcomed
the guests. She expressed how they play an
important role in their family’s lives.
“You are the pillars of the community, and
you are the ones who instill the values of life
and the love of God in
your grandchildren’s
hearts,” she said.
A few tears were shed as
some students recounted
their grandparents’ lives
and the fond memories
they hold with these special
individuals. Several
students sang, played the
piano and danced.
Beaming with pride,
each grandparent affectionately
accepted a scrapbook
filled with pictures
and memories that were
made by their grandchild.
The afternoon concluded
with a group picture,
followed by a luncheon
prepared and served by
the fifth-grade parents.
It was a memorable experience for all the
children and their grandparents.
Greater Lowell Armenians to Commemorate Genocide
The commemoration will include representatives
from area churches, including Sts.
Vartanantz Armenian-Apostolic Church,
Chelmsford; St. Gregory Church, North
Andover; Armenian Church at Hye Pointe,
Haverhill, and Ararat Congregational Church,
Salem, NH; Armenian Relief Societies of Lowell
and North Andover; Armenian Youth
Federation; Armenian Christian Youth
Organization of America; Lowell Armenian
Revolutionary Federation and Merrimack
Valley Knights of Vartan.
Those wishing to participate in the march are
asked to gather at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of
Merrimack and John Streets.
A reception will follow inside City Hall, cosponsored
by the Armenian Relief Society and
Sts. Vartanantz Women’s Guild.
ning the school’s first national championship in
1990. He finished with a 509-105 record at the
school.
Tarkanian, nicknamed “Tark the Shark,” was
known during his career as much for his wins
on the court as his colorful personality and
clashes off the court with NCAA and school
administrators.
UNLV has embraced the coach since then,
naming its basketball floor for him and hiring
one of his former players, Dave Rice, to coach
the team.
Fans of UNLV, which lost its first game in the
NCAA tournament last week to Colorado, regularly
gave Tarkanian rousing ovations as he
attended games and sat courtside.
569 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA
COMMUNITY NEWS
From left, students Aram Ekimyan, Artur Mazloumian, Armine Sanosyan and Morris
Sarafian, along with science teacher Nanor Markarian
TCA Arshag Dickranian School High School Wins
1st Place in Competition of DWP’s Science Bowl
LOS ANGELES — On Saturday February 25, the Tekeyan Cultural Association (TCA)
Arshag Dickranian School’s high school students won first place in the Franklin Lu
Hands-On Competition of the Regional Science Bowl Competition held at the Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power’s (LADWP) John Ferraro Building downtown. This was
the second time Dickranian students impressed the science community of LADWP after
winning first place in the same competition in 2008.
Under the guidance of the senior science teacher Nanor Markarian, seniors Morris
Sarafian and Armine Sanosyan, juniors Aram Ekimyan and Onnig Ashikyan and sophomore
Artur Mazloumian answered science-related questions and built a mechanical claw
to pick up and transport objects.
The LADWP Science Bowl is an official regional competition of the Department of
Energy National Science Bowl and is open to all public and private schools of the Los
Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
“Success in this competition shows how our teachers are dedicated, how serious our
students are and how well they are prepared to present their school and their community
in the scientific community of Los Angeles…I sincerely congratulate our teachers and
students for this prestigious success,” said Principal Vartkes Kourouyan.
Located at 1200 North Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, the TCA Arshag Dickranian
Armenian School is a federally tax exempt, pre-K to 12th-grade private educational institution.
For more information, visit www.dickranianschool.org.

KEVORKIAN, from page 5
people in the convoy are the only ones to go”
on that journey. As a result of the study of such
details, he said, “we have the facts for the number
of caravans, the number of people, the
provinces, routes, how many left and how many
arrived officially in the Syrian desert and
Aleppo.”
The death toll was definitely heavier in the
Eastern Provinces, he said. About 5 to 10 percent
of those who were on the caravans survived.
In the Western provinces, he said, the
deported traveled with their families, mostly on
trains [rather than on foot] which increased the
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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
chance of survival.”
Next, he said, he studied the Teshkilat-i-
Mahsusa’s central role in the destruction of the
Armenians. “Now we can zoom in on the number
of groups of Teshkilat and how they operated,”
he explained. “We can distinguish
between official and unofficial killers.”
Kevorkian gave examples of the codified
methods of property seizure by the Turkish officials.
Many ways were used to confiscate property,
often detailed officially. The leaders of the
Young Turks local clubs were among the first to
receive their share of the loot, all documented.
For example, the Austro-Hungarian consulate
COMMUNITY NEWS
Raymond Kevorkian Discusses Finer Points of History At NAASR
The Detroit United Armenian Committee
for the commemoration of the
97 th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
presents a panel discussion
“When and how the government of Turkey may recognize the
Armenian Genocide.”
Edmond Azadian, Moderator with distinguished panel….
Professor Gerard J. Libaridian teaches in the History Department at the University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and holds the Alex Manoogian Chair in Modern Armenian
History. He is also Director of the Armenian Studies Program.
Dr. Libaridian was co-founder of the Zoryan Institute for Contemporary Armenian
Research inCambridge, Mass., and director from1982-90), and editor of the Armenian
Review (1983-88). From 1991-97, Dr. Libaridian served as adviser, and senior adviser
(foreign and security policies) to the former President of Armenia, Levon Ter-Petrossian,
as well as First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (1993-94) of the newly independent republic.
He has lectured extensively worldwide and his works have been published in many languages. The French
edition of his most recent work, Modern Armenia. People. Nation. State, (2004) was published in Paris in
2006. Libaridian is now completing two new studies, In Search of the Savior: Armenian Liberation Ideology
from the 16 th to the 19 th Centuries and Anatomy of Conflict. Nagorno Karabagh and the New World
Order.
Mr. Turgut Kerem Tuncel
Turgut, born in Ankara, Turkey, is a PhD. candidate in Sociology in the
University of Trento, Italy. He holds a BA in Psychology with a minor
degree in Sociology and a MA in Political Science. His research interests
are diasporas and transnational communities, collective memory and
identity, and the Caucasus. In his dissertation, Turgut focuses on the
Armenia-Armenian diaspora relations and the perceptions of homeland
among the Armenians in diaspora.
Manoogian Simone Foundation Pre-doctoral Fellow, Armenian Studies Program,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Dr. Ara Sanjian is Associate Professor of Armenian and Middle Eastern History and the
Director of the Armenian Research Center at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Born in Beirut, Lebanon, he received his education there. He received his master’s degree
in history at Yerevan State University. He received his PhD in modern history of the
Middle East at the School of Oriental and African Studies, the University of London.
From 1996-2005 he was Chairman of the Department of Armenian Studies, History and
Political Science at Haigazian University, Beirut. In 2003, he was the Henry S.
Khanzadian Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies, California State University, Fresno. His research
interests focus on the post-World War I history of Armenia, Turkey and the Arab states of Western
Asia.
He is the author of Turkey and Her Arab Neighbors, 1953-1958: A Study in the Origins and Failure of the
Baghdad Pact (2001), as well as a monograph and a number of scholarly articles. He is currently working
on a book-length project on the Armenian quest for Mountainous Karabagh under Soviet rule in 1923-1987.
Join us on Sunday, April 22 at the AGBU Manoogian School
Multipurpose Room � 1:00 Reception � 1:30—3:30 Program
2012 Participating Organizations: Tekeyan Cultural Association, ADL Detroit Chobanian Chapter, Knights of Vartan,
Nareg Shashavan Lodge, Daughters of Vartan, Wayne State University Armenian Studies Program, Detroit Armenian
Women’s Club, Armenian Research Center U of M Dearborn, Detroit Armenian Genocide Committee, AGBU, Armenian
Assembly of America.
provided information on the seizure of silk and
other textile factories owned by Armenians in
Bursa. A favorite method was to invite the
owner of such a factory to the local governor’s
house, at which time the factory owner would
be persuaded to sell” the factory to the Vali and
receive gold as payment, only to have to return
the gold in another room on his way out. This
charade happened over and over until all the
factories were seized.
Kevorkian said this particular playacting
showed that “even the process of theft was
made administrative,” rather than just outright
seizure.
The shops similarly were confiscated
for a temporary period of
time, where a needed good was
sold at inflated prices. Once the
profits were made and then dried
up, the officials would lose interest
and just leave the shops.
Traditionally, he explained,
there was no middle class in the
Ottoman Empire, as trade, manufacture
or business were relegated
to non-Muslims. The Muslims,
instead, were members of the ruling
class, and were leaders in the
military, administrative and political
spheres.
With the Industrial Revolution and the
increased wealth of the “lower classes” in business,
the Young Turks realized that they were
SHRESTINIAN, from page 5
concrete, Ara Shrestinian was called upon the
scene by Boston authorities to investigate the
matter.
His final analysis led to solutions that were
hailed by the industry. Accolades aside, for him
it was all in a day’s work.
“He had a knack for always coming up with
the right answer,” said Ginny Shrestinian. “My
friends used to always kid me about dating an
MIT grad. We go back to the days when his family
ran a market in Haverhill. We got married a
year after we met.”
As senior deacon of his church, Ara
Shrestinian represented the voice of authority.
In some ways, God was his co-pilot.
“I always feel at peace with myself and the
church,” he often said. “It’s been a release valve
missing out on a lot of money.
Finally, the government officials realized that
if they killed the entire members of a family,
save for one young girl, that girl could marry a
Turk, who could inherit the family’s wealth.
Kevorkian also spoke about “a broader demographic
engineering” practiced by the
Ottomans, who not only killed Armenians, but
moved Cherkez and other Muslim immigrants
to Zeytoon and Kharpert immediately to take
their places.
During the program, Kevorkian spoke in
Armenian, with English translation provided by
Khatchig Mouradian (left) translated for Raymond Kevorkian
Khatchig Mouradian, editor of the Armenian
Weekly.
The Armenian Genocide: The Complete
History is available at the NAASR bookstore.
True Love Knows No Boundaries with Shrestinians
for me. A day doesn’t go by when I don’t count
my blessings and feel thankful for the world
around me.”
He sang in the choir, served as choirmaster
for three years and was a trustee for 12. Among
his interests was hosting foreign exchange students
and being a handyman around the house
while doting over his six grandchildren, ages 14-
19.
Daughter, Susan, and son, David, have joined
other family members in providing overwhelming
support, along with relatives and church
friends.
Nothing filled his heart more with joy than
seeing some young acolyte following in his
steps, often stepping aside to give them greater
visibility on the altar.
Dementia started taking control in 2007.
Ginny Shrestinian began noticing signs like
moving the wrong pieces on a backgammon
board. She began driving him to work and
would patiently wait until he finished his business.
Two years later, he retired. He has been at
the VA hospital over a year now after being
transferred from a nursing home in North
Andover.
One quality that hasn’t been affected is his
appetite, especially choreg and other Armenian
foods, which Ginny Shrestinian may bring. The
photographs he once treasured and the music
he adored has suddenly turned into empty
memories.
“When the grandchildren visit, it turns into a
special moment,” Ginny Shrestinian said. “He
responds to them in very subtle ways. My husband
always had a brilliant mind and to see this
happen to him is very unfortunate. Every day
with him becomes a precious gift.”
9
JIRAIR HOVSEPIAN PHOTO

10 S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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

S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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
New York
M E T R O
Armenia’s Minister of Defense Visits Diocese
VISIT, from page 1
In remarks, Nazarian underlined the importance
of Ohanian’s visit. “I am proud that you
had the opportunity to discuss expanding
Armenia’s involvement in the peace-making
process at the United Nations,” he said. He
added that he is pleased to see Armenia playing
a role on the global stage.
Ohanian expressed his gratitude for the
warm hospitality extended by the local community.
“We are celebrating the 20th anniversaries
of the independence of Armenia and Nagorno-
Seyran Ohanian presents the Primate with a
medal.
Karabagh, as well as the 20th anniversary of
the establishment of Armenia’s armed forces,
and these milestones speak highly of our people’s
tireless dedication to preserving their
nationhood,” he said.
Ohanian also spoke about the role of the
Armenian Church in providing spiritual nourishment
for the Armenian people in the 20
UN, from page 1
On that same day the small country of San
Marino also became a member of the organization.
The secretary-general spoke with praise of
these aforementioned countries, which in a short
period were able to adapt themselves to the plans
of the United Nations and become a part of this
family. So many countries becoming members of
the UN on the same day was unusual.
Being invited on that day by Ambassador
Garen Nazarian, permanent representative of
the Republic of Armenia to the UN, to the official
reception, in my mind I went back 20 years
to March 2, 1992, when the president of the
General Assembly of the UN, Ambassador
Samir S. Shihabi of Saudi Arabia, opened the
meeting. Representatives from the Armenian
From left Oscar Tatosian, Papken Megerian, Hagop Vartivarian, Seyran Ohanian and Dr. Jacques Gulekjian
years since independence. As an example, he
cited the ways in which Armenian clergy inspire
Armenian soldiers by serving as chaplains in
the Armenian army.
community were present that morning too.
The UN General-Secretary of that time,
Boutros Boutros-Ghali, placed on the agenda
the application of the above-mentioned countries
to become members of the organization
which had already been ratified by the Security
Council.
Naturally it was an historic, unprecedented
day for these newly independent countries,
especially for Armenia and its entire people,
because we had paid very dearly as a nation in
order to obtain full independence. There were
tears in the eyes of our compatriots, the result
of spiritual experiences full of patriotism and
pride. Armenia was represented by its foreign
minister, Raffi Hovannisian. Alexander
Arzoumanian, the first ambassador of Armenia
At the conclusion of his remarks, Ohanian
presented Barsamian with a medal. A questionand-answer
session followed.
Ohanian is currently on an official visit to the
to the UN, and Armen Sargsian, Armenia’s
ambassador to Great Britain, were present.
And the Primate, Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, the patriotic clergyman Archbishop
Mesrob Ashjian (who passed away little
more than a decade later), and other
notable Armenian public figures, including
Louise Simone, president of the
Armenian General Benevolent Union,
and Hrair Hovnanian, president of the
Armenian Assembly of America, were
present from the community. Our state
representatives sat at a table where the
Republic of Armenia was registered.
The necessity of finding a solution to
the Karabagh crisis was mentioned by
the representatives of the United
States, Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the
Russian Federation and the European
Community, in accordance with the UN
Charter and the protection of minori-
ties and human rights, and that it must
be done through peaceful negotiations.
In this way, the Karabagh issue became
internationalized that day.
The first foreign minister of Armenia, Raffi
Hovannisian, spoke. He first greeted those present
in Armenian and then continued to speak
in English, declaring that his country wanted a
peaceful resolution of the Karabagh issue.
The representatives of the invited countries
and approximately 30 compatriots, led by
Boutros-Ghali, were invited to the ceremony of
the raising of the flags at 1:30 p.m. Thousands
of Armenians had gathered outside of the UN.
Their applause amazed the foreign dignitaries
present as well as the Armenophile Boutros-
Ghali. Hovannisian raised the flag. The
Armenian delegation was then led to a private
hall where the invitees exchanged wishes and
congratulations while toasting with champagne.
Irma Der Stepanian, Papken Megerian,
Vatche Ghazarian, Kevork Marashlian and I
were present as members of the Armenian
Democratic Liberal Party. My late wife, Arpi,
11
United States, where he is scheduled to meet
with various US government officials, including
his counterpart, US Defense Secretary Leon
Panetta.
20th Anniversary of Armenia’s Membership in the United Nations
From left, Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian of the Prelacy, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian of the Diocese,
Ambassador Garen Nazarian, Dr. Philian, Papken Megerian, Hagop Vartivarian and Ani
Tchaghlasian
who worked many years at the UN and was also
a party member, agreed to accept the responsibility
for the protocol for the Armenian delegation
upon the request of Arzoumanian.
Ambassador Garen Nazarian, back right, listens as
Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon speaks.
The tricolor henceforth began to float in
front of the UN headquarters, with Armenia
now a part of the international community. This
was the just dues of a people with a 3,000-year
history and its homeland. To be a witness to
this touching ceremony means testifying to the
coming generations about what pride my generation
experienced that day.
In agreement with the Permanent
Representation of the Republic of Armenia, various
events and meetings are planned throughout
the year to celebrate this anniversary of the
membership of Armenia in the UN.
In particular, on April 28, at the initiative of
the Tekeyan Cultural Association, a celebratory
concert will take place in New York’s Merkin
Concert Hall, with the participation of singers
from Armenia and the diaspora.
(Translated from the Armenian original.)

12 S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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
Saturday
April 28, 2012 at 8pm
Merkin Concert Conc ert Hall
at at The The Kaufman Kaufman Center Cent Center
129 West West
67th Street
New
York,
NY
Tickets
$100 $75 $75 $50
Marie Zokian 201.745.8850
Missak
Boghossian Boghos sian 212.819.0097
Hamazkayin Office Offic e 201.945.8992
Organized ganized by the
Organized
by the
COMMUNITY NEWS
Participating P articipating Legendary and Popular P opular Artists Artis Artists
Of
The Republic Of Armenia
Raysa Megerdchian Meger dchian & Ruben Mat Matevosyan evosyan
Arevik Are
vik Ghariby Gharibyan an & Johnny Roubian: F FFrom
rom
YYerevan
er erevan
Yeghishe Y eghishe Manouchary
Manoucharyan: an: Tenor
of Metropolitan Metr opolit opolitan
Oper Opera a
Victoria Vict oria A AAvetisyan:
vetisy
an: Mezzo Sopr Soprano ano of the Bos Boston ton
Oper Opera a
Vicken
Tarpinian: T arpinian: Popular P opular Singer From F From
France Fr
anc ance
The Philharmonic Community Symphony
Orchestra Orchestr
a of Rhode Island
Konstantin Konst
antin P PPetrossian
etros
sian
Conductor Conduct Conductor
REBIRTH:
Dedicated
to
the
Dual Dua
l 20th
Anniversaries
Anniver
s saries
of
The
Membership
oof
f TThe
he
Republic Republi
c oof
f AArmenia
rmenia
to
The
United
NNations
ation
s aand
nd
The
Establishment
of
The
Armenian
AArmed
rme
d FForces
orces
Tekeyan Cultural
Association
Associa
t tion
Hamazkayin Armenian
EEducational
ducational
&
Cultural
SSociety
ociety
The Armenian Relief Society
Knights Of Vartan Vart
an

Carla Garapedian
To Speak about
Digitization of
Genocide Accounts
BELMONT — Filmmaker Dr. Carla
Garapedian will give a lecture, titled “The
Digital Revolution: Armenian Genocide
Survivor Testimonies and the Shoah Visual
History Archive,” on Friday, April 13, at 8
p.m., at the National Association for
Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR)
Center, 395 Concord Ave. The lecture will be
co-sponsored by the Armenian Film
Foundation (AFF), of which Garapedian is a
board member, and NAASR. The program
will be in memory of Dr. J. Michael Hagopian
(1913-2010), founder of the AFF and
NAASR’s First Board member from
California (1959-65).
Garapedian will discuss new developments
in the way Armenian Genocide survivor and
witness testimonies are being made available
to universities around the world via the
Shoah Foundation Institute’s Visual History
Archive. The Shoah Foundation, founded by
filmmaker Steven Spielberg, contains 52,000
Holocaust survivor video interviews. It is now
including testimonies from other genocides,
including the Armenian
Genocide. Hagopian’s 400 filmed survivor
interviews will be the first of the Armenian
Genocide testimonies to be included in this
digital collection. Garapedian, the project
leader for the AFF’s digitization effort, will
give a demonstration of the powerful search
engine, as well as discuss the challenges of
presenting survivor information via the
Internet.
Garapedian is the director of the film
“Screamers,” which was widely credited with
helping to change the public debate on recognition
of the Armenian Genocide in 2006 and
2007. Other films include “Lifting the Veil,”
about the brutal treatment of women in
Afghanistan, and “Iran Undercover,” about
the underground student movement in Iran,
which won the Edward R. Murrow Award in
2005 as part of the PBS “Frontline World”
series. She worked closely with Hagopian on
his “Witnesses” trilogy.
Garapedian earned a PhD in international
relations at the London School of Economics
and Political Science before working as a producer,
director and correspondent based in
London. She is the recipient of the Armin T.
Wegner Humanitarian Award, the ABGU
Generation Next Community Hero Award and
was recently given the Clara Barton Medal of
Gratitude from the Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute.
More information about Garapedian’s lecture
or NAASR and its programs for the furtherance
of Armenian studies, research and
publication may be had by e-mailing
hq@naasr.org or writing to NAASR, 395
Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478.
Carla Garapedian, right, with director Steven
Spielberg
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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
Arts & Living
Charlie Chaplin played by Jerry Arzoumanian
Reincarnated Charlie Chaplin
Inaugurates ‘Vision Créative
Tekeyan’ in Montreal
MONTREAL — A bewildered Charlie Chaplin rambles into a packed hall with his
umbrella and guided by a flood light saunters to the front platform. As the laughter
and the applause subside, a voice in the dark starts a dialog with Chaplin. It is
Fred Karno, his mentor, who brings up the highlights of his protégé’s tumultuous
life from rags to riches as a pioneer of the earliest black-and-white, silent-movie stars
in the early 1920’s. The dialogue ended when the aged Chaplin was invited to
receive the honorary Oscar: he declares, “Charlie did not need the Oscar, the Oscar
needed Charlie.”
He then performed brief episodes of his trademark clips — the dance with the
loaves, the ruthless storm that almost blows him off the ground with his umbrella,
etc., scenes that brought smiles and hope to a generation struck by two devastating
World Wars
and a devastating
Depression.
The second
part of the program
featured
the screening of
the famous film
“Gold Rush,” a
Silent Era classic,
starring
Chaplin.
Most appropriately,
since
From left, Lt. Mike Bajakian, Demci Arzoumanian (producer),
Jerry Arzoumanian, Eddi Husseindjian, Dr. Levon Ketchian and
Sarkis Ekizian
Chaplin paved
the way of the
movie industry
in the early years
of the 20th cen-
tury, his reincarnation, played by the young comic Jerry Arzoumanian, inaugurated
the Montreal Tekeyan Cultural Association’s new visual arts “Vision Créative
Tekeyan” center, whose aim, as declared by master of ceremnoies Marie Laure
Cimitier, is to encourage the young lovers of art and culture to get involved in creative
projects. She also announced that the next activity will be dedicated to the
late French-Armenian movie producer Henri Verneuil on the occasion of the 10th
anniversary of his death. Verneuil’s masterpiece, “Mayrig,” will also be shown.
This endeavor was the brainchild and the production of Demci Arzoumanian, an
accomplished professional artist in his own right and a member of the Executive of
TCA Montreal. Lighting was conducted by Mike Bajakian, the sound engineer was
Dr. Levon Ketchian and technical managers were Roupen Boyadjian and Eddi
Husseindjian, chairman of the Executive of TCA. The photographer was Sarkis
Ekizian. Clips of this event can be seen on YouTube.
— H.A.
13
Art Exhibition
Commemorating
97th Anniversary
Of the Genocide
PARAMUS, NJ — While Armenia does not forget
its past, it is always looking ahead to the
future and today Armenia contributes much to
the worlds of art, science and culture.
The Gallery Bergen of the Bergen
Community College together with the Center
for Peace Justice and Reconciliation announces
a group exhibition, titled “Fractured
History/Reconstructing Identity: Degrees of
Westernization in Armenian Painting and
Other Mediums,” which will run April 3 to 26.
The exhibition will be composed of contemporary
works by 21 Armenian artists based in
Armenia and the diaspora, including: Assadour,
Gagik Aroutiunian, Arevik Arevshatian, Ashot
Bayandour, Ruben Grigorian, Arman Grigorian,
Sarkis Hamalbashian, Hamlet Hovsepian, Aram
Jibilian, Vasken Kalayjian, Mariam Khachatrian,
Haig Kocharian, Vartoush Magarian, Karine
Matsakian, Kardash Onnig, Rudik Petrosian,
Vahan Rumelian, Ararat Sarkissian, Arthur
Sarkissian, William Saroyan and Shanoor.
The exhibition is curated by Vicki Shoghag
Hovanessian, who has been an avid collector
and promoter of Western and Armenian art
over the past three decades.
Hovanessian, who has curated exhibitions in
Armenia and United State for the last 15 years,
pays a long-standing and essential tribute to the
accomplished group of Armenian artists whose
fractured history and reconstructed identity
remains to be recognized.
The public is invited to the opening reception
on April 3, 5-8 p.m. at the Gallery Bergen,
Bergen Community College West Hall, 400
Paramus Road.
Armenian Cellist
Hakhnazaryan to
Join Springfield
Symphony in
Concert
By Andrew McGinn
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (Springfield News
Sun) — When the Springfield Symphony
Orchestra (SSO) booked the winning cellist of
the International Tchaikovsky Competition
before the competition had even been held, it
was sort of like agreeing to go on a blind date.
The SSO knew it could trust the Tchaikovsky
Competition, but even your best friend can misjudge
someone’s character every once in a
while.
Luckily, the mystery cellist, Narek
Hakhnazaryan, is turning out to be Prince
Charming.
The young Armenian, who took gold last
June at the prestigious competition in Moscow,
will appear with the SSO at Kuss Auditorium
on March 31.
A true rising star, Hakhnazaryan has been
asked by the Chicago Symphony to substitute
this spring for superstar cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
“That speaks for itself right there,” said Peter
Stafford Wilson, SSO conductor. “We knew
that engaging the winner of the Tchaikovsky
would bring us a star soloist, but this proves it.”
Originally, Wilson had wanted the guest cellist
— whomever it might have been — to perform
Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo
Theme.
see CELLIST, page 15

14 S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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
By Jirair Hovsepian
LOWELL, Mass. — On March 17, four adjudicated
Armenian music students from various
public schools in the state joined other
young musicians in a concert sponsored by
the Massachusetts Music Educators
Association (MMEA) in its 40th annual
Northeastern Junior District Concert at
Lowell High School auditorium.
The process of selection was from 100
Massachusetts public schools that sent over
1,500 of their best students to be judged in
their fields of music proficiency. The 360 children
who were selected, including four
Armenians, became part of the 2011-2012
Northeastern Junior District Boys’ Chorus,
Girls’ Chorus, Concert Band and Orchestra
and were invited to take part in three days of
intensive rehearsals followed by the concert
on March 17.
The day of the concert was no less challenging
than the rehearsals, beginning with
rehearsals at shortly after 8 a.m. and the first
concert of the choruses starting at 1 p.m. The
Concert Band and the Orchestra had their
turn at the 3 p.m. concert to a packed auditorium.
The Girls’ Chorus was conducted by Dr.
Christine Noel, the artistic director of the
Carillon Women’s Chorus in Rhode Island
and associate conductor of the Providence
Singers. Noel is the founding artistic director
of the award-winning Rhode Island Children’s
Chorus and director of choral activities at
Clark University.
Out of 49 members of the chorus, one
Armenian name stood out, Arpi Parseghian,
from Arlington. Parseghian sang in the alto
section of the chorus. Their program consisted
of Song for the Mira (with oboe) by
MacGillivray/Calvert, My Heart Soars by
Herderson, O Danny Boy with arrangement
by Strommen, Ching a Ring/Great Gittin’ Up
Mornin’ by Linda Spevacek, Make a Joyful
Noise by Kirby Shaw and An American
Anthem (with French horn) by Naplan.
There were no Armenians in the Boys
‘Chorus, comprising 71 singers. Anthony
Trecek-King conducted the chorus accompanied
by Nathan Skinner. Trecek-King is the
artistic director of the Boston Children’s
Chorus.
At 3 p.m., Kevin Kardel took the podium to
conduct the Concert Band that included
three Armenians, in a band with 122 musicians,
including Andrew Eurdolian, oboe,
from Belmont, Shant Arakelian, clarinet II,
from Lexington, and Haig Hovsepian, alto
saxophone II, also from Belmont.
Kardel, of the Brockton schools’ music
department, has been teaching there since
1997. The selected program for this concert
was Golden Vanity by Ralph V.
William/Wagener, Foundry by John Mackey,
Danny Boy with arrangement by Warren
Barker and Fantasy on Childhood Songs by
David Moore.
The Orchestra was conducted by Catherine
Gagnon, music director/conductor of the
Warwick Symphony Orchestra. There were
ARTS & LIVING
Armenian Musicians in 40th Annual Northeastern Junior District Concert
Andrew Eurdolian, oboe
JIRAIR HOVSEPIAN PHOTO
Entertainment Fridays
and Saturdays
The orchestra, conducted by Kevin Kardel
Shant Arakelian Haig Hovsepian
no Armenians among the 118 orchestra musicians.
The program was Pomp &
Circumstance No. 4 by Elgar/Ryden,
Rhosymedre by Vaughan Williams/Foster
and Slavonic Dance Op. 46, No. 8 by
Dvorak.
Sponsor a Teacher in Armenia and Karabagh 2012
Since its inception in 2001, TCA’s Sponsor
a Teacher’ program has raised over $518,000
and reached out to 4,064 teachers and
school workers in Armenia and Karabagh.
✄
JIRAIR HOVSEPIAN PHOTO
JIRAIR HOVSEPIAN PHOTO
JIRAIR HOVSEPIAN PHOTO
❑ Yes, I want to sponsor teachers in Armenia and Karabagh to continue
helping them to educate the children, our future leaders. I would like to have
the teacher’s name and address.
❑ $160
Name
Address
❑ $ 320 ❑ $ 480 ❑ other $—————————
City
Tel:
State Zip code
Make check payable to: Tekeyan Cultural Association – Memo: Sponsor a Teacher 2010
Mail your check with this form to:
TCA Sponsor a Teacher
5326 Valverde, Houston, TX 77056
Your donation is Tax Deductible.

S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 2 0 1 2
Writer Receives Grant for William Hutt Biography
By William Chin
MISSISSAUGA, Canada (Mississauga
News) — A widely-published local writer has
received a pair of grants from the Ontario
Arts Council. Keith Garebian is the author of
18 books — and counting. He was one of only
21 writers, from 178 applicants, to receive
the $12,000 Works in Progress Grant, awarded
by a seven-member jury.
He also received a separate $1,500 grant. He’ll
use the funds to write a biography of William
Hutt, who made his mark as one of the world’s
greatest classical actors while performing in
Canada, primarily at the Stratford Shakespeare
Festival. Hutt died in 2007 at age 87.
“The significance of the grants is twofold for
me,” said the Lakeview resident. “This is the
second Works in Progress Grant that I have
won and it is for biography, whereas the first
one three years ago was for a poetry manuscript
that became Children of Ararat.”
Garebian, 68, has signed a contract with
Oxford University Press to publish a hardcover
edition of the Hutt book early in 2013. Born in
India to an Armenian father and an Anglo-
Indian mother, Garebian holds a doctorate in
Canadian and Commonwealth literature from
Queen’s University. Garebian’s reviews and articles
have appeared in more than 100 newspapers,
journals, magazines and anthologies. In
2000, he became the first critic-at-large to be
appointed by a public library, when he was contracted
to write theatre and book reviews for
three years on the Mississauga Library
System’s website. Trained as a teacher, he
taught in Quebec and Ontario before turning to
writing full-time about 12 years ago.
Garebian joined the exodus of Quebeckers to
other parts of the country following the 1980
sovereignty referendum. He has been living in
Mississauga since 1983.
Garebian is a two-time winner of the
Mississauga Arts Award for literary arts.
Writing Hutt’s biography is a happy convergence
of Garebian’s two loves: writing and theatre.
He considers Hutt among the top 10
actors in the world. “He always cast a spell on
the audience with his strong stage presence and
natural voice,” he said. Although Hutt appeared
on stage in London and New York, Garebian
points out he joined Stratford during its inaugural
season in 1953 and trod its boards until
2005. “He’s the perfect example of a leading
Canadian actor who believed he could have a
career in his own country ‚— and that’s exactly
what he accomplished,” said Garebian. This will
be Garebian’s second book about Hutt, whom
he met and befriended in 1984. William Hutt:
A Theatre Portrait was published four years
later.
In 1995, he edited William Hutt: Masks and
Faces — a collection of tributes by prominent
writers to mark Hutt’s 75th birthday.
“A lot of people who read the first biography
asked me to write his complete life story.
Plus, there’s a wealth of information available
for exploration since then to 2007 — the year
of his death,” said the author, when asked
why he’s undertaking another biography.
The 560-page hardcover book will be published
next March or April.
ARTS & LIVING
T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R
40 Days of Musa Dagh to
Be Reissued on April 24
NEW YORK (Publishers Weekly) — Known for The Song of Bernadette (1941), which
was turned into an Oscar-winning movie, Jewish writer Franz Werfel (1890-1945) was also
the author of one of the most popular Book-of-the-Month Club titles ever, The Forty Days
of Musa Dagh.
For the past 10 years, the book has been out-of-print,
but publisher David Godine will reissue it next month on
Genocide Remembrance Day, April 24, in an uncut
$22.95 trade paperback edition translated by James
Reidel that restores roughly 25 percent of the original
German text. To underscore the importance of Werfel’s
work, Godine is also publishing the first English-language
edition of the author’s novella, Pale Blue Ink in
a Lady’s Hand (1940), also translated by Reidel, about
an Austrian bureaucrat, his trophy wife and a Jewish
woman from his past.
Although the story of The Forty Days resonated in
much of the US and Europe from its initial publication,
it was by no means universally embraced. In February
1934, the German government seized copies of the novel,
and while Armenians revere the book, the Turks deny
that Genocide took place and have tried to undermine it.
Franz Werfel
In the 1930s, pressure from the Turkish and French governments prevented a film based
on the book from being made, and more recently, opposition to the novel swayed Mel
Gibson and Sylvester Stallone to give up on the idea of turning it into a movie.
Film or no, Godine is hoping to capture review attention for its new edition, which editor
Susan Barba, the granddaughter of a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, regards as
“my book.” The press delayed publication for two years in order to get it right, making it
both the longest novel, and the book with the longest gestation period, published by
Godine.
Armenian Cellist
Hakhnazaryan to
Join Springfield
Symphony in
Concert
15
CELLIST, from page 13
But, Hakhnazaryan will be performing
Haydn’s Cello Concerto in D Major in Chicago,
and asked if he could play it here as well.
“This would be an excellent dry run for him,”
Wilson said.
He was more than happy to change the program
at Hakhnazaryan’s request.
“We’ll probably get a better performance of
the Haydn out of him than we would’ve the
Tchaikovsky,” Wilson explained. “Helping him
out is only going to pay us dividends.”
And, as far as the piece goes, “I think we’re
trading up,” Wilson said.
The program, which also features the world
premiere of The Great Divide by Cedarville
University’s Steven Winteregg, underwent one
other slight change as well.
Originally, Wilson had planned on performing
Beethoven’s Second Symphony, but
switched to the composer’s Fourth Symphony.
The Haydn concerto and Beethoven’s second
are in the same key.
“I didn’t want everybody dreaming in D
major that night,” Wilson said.
Narek Hakhnazaryan

16
By Daphne Abeel
Special to the Mirror-Spectator
Although the subtitle is a bit of a misnomer,
since this book is not entirely about the
Armenian community in China, the volume is,
nevertheless, in the main, a collection of stories
and vignettes that chronicles one of the more
exotic communities of the Armenian Diaspora.
Certainly, it is true that members of the
Armenian community have been flung far and
wide — merchants and traders to India, immigrants
to Europe,
Canada and the
United States — but
the relatively small
group of people who
chose to move to
Harbin in northern
China and later
Shanghai make up
that unusual band of
refugees the author
calls the “two-percenters.”
In his introduction,
he defines them in the following way: “A twopercenter
is a person who leaves his home, his
fortune and sometimes even his country to create
a better life during times of trouble.... Even
in times of war, famine and chaos, the vast
majority of any community will stay where they
are and try to survive in familiar surroundings.
Not a two-percenter. The two-percenters will
continue to move on, even into the most exotic
or difficult settings.... The two-percenters in
these stories gathered first in Harbin and then
in Shanghai. In each city they formed a popu-
Lenten Recipes:
Petites Choregs
(Manr Choregner)
INGREDIENTS
2 1/4-ounce packages active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups warm water
3/4 cup, plus 1 teaspoon, sugar
3/4 pound margarine
2 pounds, plus 1 1/2 cups, all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup non-dairy creamer (such as Coffee Mate)
2 tablespoons Ener-G Egg Replacer (press down firmly when measuring)
Glaze:
1/4 cup orange or grapefruit juice
1/4 cup sesame seeds, optional
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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
lation of two percenters.”
Amongst these two-percenters was a small
community of Armenians, who, fleeing the ravages
of World War I and persecution by the
Ottoman Empire, found their way to China. It
was the Armenian Relief Society that set up the
houses in Shanghai that eventually became
known as the Armenian Social Club. Its purpose
was twofold: first, it helped refugees get
settled in their new surroundings, but it then
served as a meeting place for like-minded people
to gather and swap stories.
Shanghai, in the first three decades of the
20th century, was a destination not only for
especially adventurous
Armenians, but
also for Jews,
Iranians, the French
and the English. The
city was a heady mix
of businesses, hotels,
restaurants and other
institutions that
served this cosmopolitancommunity.
Even today, visitors
to 21st-century
Shanghai can be
treated to a glimpse of the fading, old French
quarter with its still-attractive, moderate-sized
buildings (in contrast to the mad skyscraper
building boom) and tree-lined streets.
One of the main threads in Sergoyan’s
account is the story of his parents, George
Sarkisian and his wife. George was born in
Baku in 1912, just two years before the onset of
World War I. His grandfather, wary of the international
upheavals and threat to the Armenian
community, instructed his son, Levon, to emigrate
to China. In 1917, at the age of 5, George,
DIRECTIONS
1. Add yeast to 2 1/2 cups of the water, stir in the 1 teaspoon sugar, then set aside in a
warm place, covered to proof a few minutes. Melt the margarine.
2. Measure the 2 pounds plus 1 cup flour into a large bowl. (Reserve the 1/2 cup flour
for later.) Add baking powder, salt, and remaining sugar. Mix until well incorporated.
3. Make a well in the center and add the proofed yeast, melted (not hot) margarine, nondairy
creamer, remaining water and egg replacer. Mix until well blended — it will be a
soft dough. Now use the remaining 1/2 cup flour to scrape the sides of the bowl and
your hands clean of the dough. Blend all the excess flour into the dough.
4. Cover with a plastic wrap, then cover well with towels or a sweater and set aside in a
warm place to rise, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
5. When dough has risen, punch down once, then, taking a handful of dough at a time,
roll or pat out to a 1/2-inch thickness. Cut into 6 x 1/2-inch strips. Twist some into
rounds and some into a loose, overhand knot. (When baked, these shapes will resemble
small snails and turtles.)
6. Place them on baking trays about 1/2-inch apart. (A 12 x 16-inch baking tray will hold
35 of these.)
7. Let rise a 1/2 hour, then brush tops with the juice, sprinkle with sesame seeds and
brush again with juice. Bake in preheated 350 degree over for 15-20 minutes, turning
tray around once to give it an even golden color.
Yields: About 140 pieces.
Notes: (1) For a decided orange flavor, substitute 1 cup orange juice for 1 cup of warm
water in step 3. (2) During non-lenten occasions, substitute 1.5-oz can of evaporated milk
for the non-creamer, reduce water to 1 1/4 cups, substitute 4 well-beaten eggs for the
Ener-G Egg Replacer, and for the glaze, use 1 egg yolk and 1 egg, well beaten together.
(3) The Ener-G Egg Replacer is sold in health food stores and can be ordered directly
through the company’s website, www.ener-g.com.
(This recipe is from the book Classic Armenian Recipes: Cooking
Without Meat by Alice Anteasian-Mariam Jebejian.)
ARTS & LIVING
Tales of the ‘Two-Percenters’ Depict Armenian Community in China
Book Review
The Gathering Place: Stories
from the Armenian Social Club in
Old Shanghai. By E.G. Segoyan.
coffeetownpress. 200 pp. 2012. ISBN
978-1-60381-123-1
with his father, his mother and two siblings
made the arduous journey to Harbin in northern
China, stopping for a short time in Irkutsk
on the way. Levon, unhappily gambled away the
$30,000 his father had given him and when
they arrived in their new home, they were
entirely destitute. In the meantime, what
remained of the family back in Baku was massacred
by the Turks and the Kurds. George
would never see these relatives again.
Unfazed, Levon scraped together enough
money to open a small restaurant in Harbin, but
the family remained very poor and Leon suffered
from deep depression. Harbin was then a
small village and important mainly as a stop on
the Chinese Eastern Railway, which was an
extension of the Trans-Siberian Railway.
Most of the inhabitants of Harbin were either
Chinese or Russian, but there were approximately
150 Armenian families living there as
well. There were also Americans, British and
French and once the Russian Revolution got
underway, there was a heavy influx of White
Russians and others who opposed the
Bolsheviks. By the 1930s, an identifiable Jewish
community had also formed, encompassing
those fleeing from Soviet anti-Semitism and
also Hitler’s racist policies in Germany.
Sergoyan describes the Harbin of the first
two decades of the 20th century in the following
manner: “In many ways, Harbin preceded
Shanghai as a haven for refugees who were
moving from Europe and Russia and quickly
became more European in architecture and
style than any other Chinese city. Harbin neighborhoods
were reminiscent of European Russia,
with wide tree-lined boulevards, European style
mansions and art decor.” The residents of this
international community were apt to be fluent
in many languages, including Russian, Chinese,
English and French.
In 1927, when George was 15, he managed to
pass himself off as Jewish for a time and found
a job in a barbershop. Although his Armenian
identity was finally exposed, the Jewish owner
had come to value him so much that he kept
him on. In 1933, George’s father died, and he
moved with his mother and two sisters, first to
the city of Dairen, and finally in 1937 to
Shanghai, where he lived until 1949, the year of
the Communist Revolution. It was in Shanghai
that he met his future wife, Nadia, and for some
time he earned his living in the immensely-popular
casinos.
At the time, China was undergoing enormous
upheavals. Occupied in part by the Japanese,
there arose a growing conflict between the
Communists and the Nationalists, led by Chang
Kai Shek.
Although Sergoyan mentions them only in
passing, there were a number of Armenians
who thrived even under Japanese occupation.
There was Mamikon Kardashian who owned a
popular nightclub, Kavkas, that catered first to
Russians and Armenians in Shanghai, and after
World War II to American soldiers. And there
was Yervand Hamamdjian, an import/export
businessman, who traveled to Egypt for artifacts
and was the treasurer of the Armenian
Social Club. Finally, there was another
Armenian, nicknamed Shiska, who was a fixer
and go-between for many financial transactions.
Sergoyan includes interesting stories of other
individuals such as Rev. Assoghig Ghazarian,
who came to Harbin to preside over the
Armeno-Gregorian Church. He came from
Jerusalem and took over the Harbin church in
1937 when he was 27. He would come to
Shanghai regularly to preside over services
see REVIEW, page 17

Bobelian’s Children
Of Armenia
Released As
Paperback
NEW YORK — Publisher Simon &
Schuster has released the paperback
version of Michael Bobelian’s Children
of Armenia: A Forgotten Genocide and
the Century-Long Struggle for Justice.
Starting in 1915, the Ottoman
Empire slaughtered up to 1.5 million
Armenians. After an immediate
groundswell of support for the “starving
Armenians” led by Woodrow
Wilson, the atrocities were wiped from
the public’s consciousness and the perpetrators
were never held accountable.
This groundbreaking book profiles
the leading players — Armenian
activists and assassins, Turkish diplomats,
US officials — each of whom
played a major role in furthering or
opposing the century-long Armenian
quest for justice in the face of Turkish
denial of its crimes, and reveals the
events that have conspired to eradicate
the “forgotten Genocide” from the
world’s memory. And it does so in a captivating,
easy-to-read narrative.
Children of Armenia has been widely
praised.
The new edition is available at
Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and
bookstores nationwide.
The author, lawyer and journalist has
lectured about human rights across the
nation, including MIT, Tufts University,
Columbia University, Cal State Fresno
and the University of California,
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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 17
Berkeley. FLORIDA
Tales of the ‘Two-Percenters’
Depict Armenians in China
REVIEW, from page 16
there and he and George became friends. Much
later in life, he moved to Los Angeles where he
served as archbishop of the Armenian Apostolic
Church.
In 1940, George met Nadia Oganjanov, whose
family was originally from Kars. They were
introduced through the Armenian Social Club
and shared an interest in amateur theatricals.
They married, and when World War II ended in
1945, George found work with the American
military, who hired him as an interpreter thanks
to his mastery of many languages. Eventually,
after many vicissitudes and a stay in the
Philippines, the couple reached California
where George was immediately able to get a job
with Montgomery Ward. They thrived in
California where they made investments in real
estate, ran several businesses, bought several
homes and lived comfortably. They retired to
Seattle in 1986.
In addition to tracing the story of this single
couple, his parents, Sergoyan has also included
chapters of background history on events in
Europe, China and Russia.
As he says in his introduction, he has relied
on friends and family for the stories he tells in
this book. One only wishes there had been
more detailed memories and documentation,
particularly of the lives of the Armenians in
Harbin and Shanghai. The reader has to supply
what is missing and can only imagine the rich
and complex lives these refugees lived as they
endured and survived through wars, civil wars
and the effort to establish themselves in a new
country where the language and customs were
totally foreign. A handful of photographs enliven
the text.
The author holds degrees in aeronautical and
mechanical engineering and has worked in the
aerospace industry for 40 years. For the past 20
years, Sergoyan has been a Boeing senior engineer
in Seattle.
The book is available on Amazon.com and on
Kindle after May 15. Bookstores and libraries
may order the book wholesale through Baker &
Taylor and Ingram.
ARTS & LIVING
Toronto Psychologist Studies How the Brain Responds to Beauty
By Anne McIlroy
TORONTO (Globe and Mail) — For Toronto
psychologist Oshin Vartanian, it is not enough
to say beauty is in the eye of the beholder — the
beholder’s brain is his area of interest.
Vartanian is at the forefront of the burgeoning
field of neuroaesthetics, which seeks to
apply the rigor of neuroscience to understanding
artistic disciplines such as visual arts,
dance, music, architecture and design — and to
learn more about how the brain processes beauty.
Over the past decade, researchers have shed
light both on what parts of the brain are
involved when we create art (for instance, what
areas light up when a jazz musician is improvising)
and which parts are active when we are
moved by music or a painting.
Vartanian, an adjunct assistant professor at
the University of Toronto-Scarborough, is focusing
on architecture and design — he hopes a
greater understanding of how and why we
respond to features in the buildings in which we
live, work, study and visit will help shape the
design of spaces more suited to particular functions,
like teamwork or creative thinking.
C A L E N D A R
APRIL 21-22 — Armenian Food and Music Fest - 2012. Saturday, 11
a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday, 12-5 p.m. Armenian food, pastries, including
Mediterranean specialities. Arts and crafts vendors and music, children’s
carnival area, bounce houses, face painting, games and fun
surprises. St. Mary Armenian Church, 4050 NW 100 Ave., Cooper
City. Festival Hotline: (954) 450-5578. For information, e-mail
stmaryfl@aol.com.
MASSACHUSETTS
APRIL 27 — St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School, 9th
Annual Wine Tasting Fundraiser. Springstep. Medford, MA. $75.
For information, call (617) 750-2498.
MAY 24 — Celebrating 80 and Beyond, Benefit for the Armenian
Mirror-Spectator. Royal Sonesta Hotel. Details to follow.
MICHIGAN
APRIL 14 — Tekeyan Cultural Association and ADL present
Annual Gourmet Dinner Dance and Program, celebrating 20
years of Tekeyan’s cultural and educational mission in Armenia.
Honoring Man of the Year Mihran Hoplamazian. Entertainment by
violinist Harry Hovkimian and his ensemble. 7 p.m. Open bar, mezza
and gourmet dinner, $75/person. For tickets, call: Ara Belian (248)
200-8030, Diana Alexanian (248) 334-3636 or Pam Coultis (248)
646-7847. At St. John’s Armenian Church Cultural Hall, 22001
Northwestern Highway, Southfield. To benefit Komitas Choir of St.
John’s Armenian Church, Tekeyan Sponsor a Teacher Program and
the Orphans’ Higher Education Fund in Armenia.
NEW JERSEY
MAY 19, 2012 — HMADS Gala Dinner Dance. Details to follow, June
25. HMADS 30th Commencement Exercise at 8 p.m., Kalustyan Hall.
OCTOBER 28 — Save the date. The Armenian American Support
and Educational Center, Hye Doon, celebrates its 35th anniversary.
Felician College, Lodi. With the participation of Akh’tamar
Dance Ensemble and other talented guest performances. Details to
follow.
NEW YORK
APRIL 22 — “Turkey is Guilty of Genocide, Denying the
Undeniable is A Crime,” Armenian Genocide Commemoration
at Times Square. 2 p.m., 43rd and Broadway, New York City.
Sponsored by Knights and Daughters of Vartan, Inc. Co-sponsored by
AGBU, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian National
Committee of America, ADL-Ramgavars, Armenian Council of
America with the participation of: Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), Prelacy of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian
In an experiment carried out this summer
with colleagues in Spain, he scanned the brains
of volunteers while they looked at images culled
from the files of Danish architects. Some of the
rooms had high ceilings, others had low; some
had curvy lines, others were square or rectangular.
The participants appraised each one,
deciding if it was beautiful and, given the
choice, if they would enter.
Previous studies suggest that our response to
music and visual art may be rooted in the amygdala,
an almond-shaped region of the brain that
helps us react to potentially dangerous situations.
An area called the orbitofrontal cortex
that is activated by pleasant smells or tastes —
like freshly baked bread — is turned on when we
enjoy paintings or music. So is the anterior
insula, an area frequently activated by visceral
emotional experiences.
Vartanian and his colleagues want to know if
the same processes are at work in the perception
of architecture and design.
They are still analyzing the results from the
experiment, which builds on earlier work that
suggests people prefer high ceilings to low
ones, that they feel more creative and comfortable
with more space above their heads. There
is also evidence that square objects are more
likely to activate the amygdala than round ones.
This may be because our brains react to environments
with sharp or jagged edges as a
potential danger, he says.
Some critics have dismissed neuroaesthetics
as an attempt to reduce art to a biological reaction,
or as too simplistic an approach to understanding
something so complex. Alva Noë, a
professor of philosophy at City University of
New York, has argued that “neuroscience,
which looks at events in the brains of individual
people and can do no more than describe and
analyze them, may just be the wrong kind of
empirical science for understanding art.”
Ralf Weber, a German architect who helped
organize a conference in Germany in 2010
aimed at bringing designers and researchers
together, says scientists long to be accepted by
the world of artists and designers.
“Aestheticians believe that the work of the
artist or designer might profit from the scientists’
insight into the mind of the audience, and
allow one to reach a deeper understanding of
the eternal principles of good design and beautiful
art which theorists have been promoting
for centuries,” Weber says. “Artists and designers,
on the other hand, often view the results as
a form of interference in their creativity.”
On April 27, St. Stephen’s Armenian
Elementary School will hold its ninth Annual
Wine Tasting Fundraiser in Medford, Mass.
Tickets are $75. For information, call (617) 750-
2498.
Catholic Eparchy for US and Canada, ACYOA, AYF, Armenian youth
organizations, Armenian university and college clubs. For free bus
transportation to and from Times Square, call: Diocese (212) 686-
0710; Prelacy (212) 689-7810, NJ; Sona (551) 427-8763; Holy
Martyrs, John, (718) 631-2247; St. Sarkis, Eddy, (917) 885-9729; St.
Vartanantz, NJ, Kostan, (201) 741-9789; Paramus, Andy (201) 368-
2791; Holy Cross, NJ, Very Rev. Vazken Karayan (201) 865-2790,
Queens Armenian Center, Sako, (516) 805-5816 and Brooklyn,
Tigran, (374) 291-7765 or visit www.knightsofvartan.org, click April
24, http://april24nyc.com, www.armenianradionj or
www.theforgotten.org.
APRIL 28 — Rebirth Concert: dedicated to the 20th anniversary of
both the Armenian National Military and Armenia’s membership to
the United Nations. Organized by the Tekeyan Cultural Association of
NY/NJ. With the participation of renowned artists from Armenia and
the Philharmonic Symphonic Orchestra of Rhode Island, to take place
at 8 p.m.; the Merkin Concert Hall of Kaufman center, 129 West
67th St., New York City. Save the date. Details to follow.
MAY 12 — Shushi hosts a Gala Dinner Dance for an evening of
“Celebration,” 20th anniversary of Shushi’s liberation, Mother’s Day.
Anniversary of Shushi Dance Ensemble, Kavookjian Hall, 630 Second
Ave., New York City. Details to follow.

18 S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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
Mirror-
T H E A R M E N I A N
Spectator
Established 1932
An ADL Publication
EDITOR
Alin K. Gregorian
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Aram Arkun
ART DIRECTOR
Marc Mgrditchian
PRODUCTION
Dilani Yogaratnam
SENIOR EDITORIAL COLUMNIST:
Edmond Azadian
CONTRIBUTORS:
Florence Avakian, Elizabeth Aprahamian,
Daphne Abeel, Dr. Haroutiune
Arzoumanian, Taleen Babayan, Prof.
Vahakn N. Dadrian, Diana Der
Hovanessian, Philip Ketchian, Kevork
Keushkerian, Sonia Kailian-Placido,
Harut Sassounian, Mary Terzian, Hagop
Vartivarian, Naomi Zeytoonian
CORRESPONDENTS:
Armenia - Hagop Avedikian
Boston - Nancy Kalajian
Philadelphia - Lisa Manookian
Contributing Photographers:
Jacob Demirdjian, Harry Koundakjian, Jirair
Hovsepian
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Notice to Contributors
COMMENTARY
By Edmond Y. Azadian
It is the time of year when Diaspora Armenians — especially
in the US and Europe — go through the motions, intensify lobbying
activities, raise expectations and on April 24, suffer the
anticlimactic results of their fervor and political activism.
Lately, a few countries have discovered a convenient method
of dangling the issue of genocide recognition before their adversaries.
After gaining some political mileage, they relegate the
case into oblivion, until the next opportune period.
The US has been among those countries; Israel is another
one. For many years, the Israeli government had flatly denied
that the Armenian massacres amounted to genocide. That
shameful statement was made emphatically by then-President
Shimon Peres during a trip to Ankara, when relations between
Israel and Turkey were rock-solid. Recently, however, the Israeli
Knesset has held hearings about recognizing the Armenian
Genocide, as a response to Turkey’s belligerence against that
country. Also, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee
(AIPAC) in the US and other lobbying groups — which march
lockstep with the Israeli government — had indicated publicly
that they would stop their campaign against the passage of the
Armenian Genocide by the US Congress. Those quarters have
raised hopes throughout the Armenian world only to resort to
their traditional oppositionist tactics to justify their inaction.
The excuse for some political pundits is that “it is not the proper
time to recognize the Genocide.” If relations are tense with
Turkey, the voices of wisdom in Washington and Tel Aviv say
“we do not wish to further aggravate relations with Turkey.” On
the other hand, when relations are smooth, there is all the reason
“not to jeopardize our relations with a trusted ally.”
Therefore, this continuous mantra always generates excuses
that “it is not the right time to recognize the Genocide.” One
wonders when that elusive “right time” for the recognition of
the Genocide would be.
No one pinned too much hope on President George Bush
when it came to the issue of human rights but Bill Clinton and
Barack Obama had gained tremendous political mileage on
sounding moralistic issues, only to fail miserably. Bill Clinton’s
belated apology in Kigali to the Rwandans for his inaction during
that country’s genocide, a decade after his tenure in the
White House, sounds hollow, disingenuous and insulting. The
UN headquarters, the White House and all the capitals of the
world had ample warning about the impending genocide in
Rwanda, but no action was taken, because someone somewhere
had a vested interest in the murder of 800,000 Tutsis in less
than 100 days.
Even the head of the UN military mission there had warned
the headquarters. He defied his superiors to take action, but
was removed from his post to facilitate the grisly task of the
Hutus.
In the case of the Armenians, Bill Clinton demonstrated the
same kind of insensitivity by ordering the Republican Speaker
of the House Dennis Hastert not to bring the resolution to the
floor, realizing that enough votes were there for its passage. Mr.
Hastert was later rewarded generously by the Turks for his “services”
in the US Congress.
Today, Hillary Clinton’s dilly-dallying on Genocide recognition
seems to be the continuing echo of her husband’s policy. It is
no wonder that Obama’s human rights advisor had labeled her
as a “monster.”
However, that advisor, Samantha Power, is not without baggage
herself. Power rose to prominence through the publication
of a masterful book, A Problem from Hell, which delved into the
Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust.
In time, she gained the reputation of a principled human
rights missionary, until she joined President Obama’s National
Security Council as the senior director of multilateral affairs.
She was the front person of Obama’s election team who convinced
Armenians that the Messiah’s second coming was around
the corner and that upon election, Obama would recognize the
Armenian Genocide. After President Obama powerlessly surren-
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Are We in for Another Deception?
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dered to the unelected functionaries of the State Department
dancing around the “G” word, the White House once again
resorted to the creative inventions of Power who crafted the
president’s Martyr’s Day statement by substituting the word
“genocide” with the Armenian phrase “medz yeghern,” borrowing
that ruse from the late Pope John Paul II. The pope had substituted
the Armenian term in a sermon in Armenia, when
nobody expected him to politicize the issue by playing with
words.
Ever since her credibility was damaged, Power has kept a low
profile. However, unbelievably, she has played a hawkish role in
Obama’s Libya policy by advocating the invasion of a sovereign
country on the “human rights” principle.
We may conclude without much hesitation that the Armenian
Genocide, Libya’s murderous invasion and human rights are all
marketing tools for Ms. Power to promote her political career.
France is another country which has used, on and off, the
Armenian Genocide issue to block Turkey’s accession to the
European Union. Recently, both candidates for president, the
incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy and his Socialist rival, Francois
Hollande, found a useful political tool in the issue. France has
at least recognized the Armenian Genocide, but it has so far
failed in the criminalization of its denial.
This column was not party to the jubilation and the hype
when the French Senate passed the resolution to criminalize
the Genocide denial. Instead, we qualified it as a partial restitution
of France’s betrayal of Armenians in Cilicia.
When the Constitutional Court judged the resolution to be
unconstitutional, without touching the Gaysot Law which has
the same legal framework for the Holocaust, the entire process
was shown to be a charade. When the French arms industry was
threatened by Turkey — similar to the US counterpart — it reacted.
And all those who know Sarkozy were sure that he would
pull a trick out of his sleeve — as he has always done in his political
career — and save face. And he did by refusing to pre-empt
the action of the Constitutional Court, which he knew was coming.
He did not sign the resolution into law, allowing time for
Turkey and its lobbyists to garner enough votes to take the case
to the Constitutional Court, where it was doomed. Even
Sarkozy’s UMP party members acted against his will with
impunity. No one to this day from Sarkozy’s office and his inner
circle has come up with a plausible explanation as to why he did
not act when action was imperative.
Today, Sarkozy promises to draft a new resolution, after the
May elections, when he will be off the hook whether he wins or
loses his bid for a second term.
The Socialist Presidential candidate has offered the same deal
to the Armenians, which may start the game all over if he wins
the Elysee Palace.
Once geared into the political process, we are not supposed to
relent. We have a new opportunity here in the US legislature as
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) introduced
a new resolution to the Senate.
We cannot disappoint them by our inaction, because they
have never disappointed their Armenian constituents.
Menendez’s blocking of Matthew Bryza’s appointment to the
embassy in Baku was an act of defiance of historic magnitude.
The Senate Resolution is similar to the House Resolution.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi delayed bringing the resolution
to the floor arguing that there were not enough votes to pass
the resolution.
Her delaying tactics offered ample time to the special interest
groups and the administration to twist arms until it really decimated
the number of the supporters.
We are not sure yet if the resolution has enough support in
the Senate and the House. We have to be thankful to its
champions and supporters and work on the remaining legislature
to act. Win or lose, we are already accustomed to disappointment.
We can start the game all over next year until
the centennial of the Genocide. There are no promising signs
yet of meaningful action in Armenia and in the diaspora while
Turkey has already taken pre-emptive strikes to render our
centennial drive irrelevant.
tor. Photos will be returned only if a selfaddressed
and stamped envelope is
included.
— The M-S will publish only one article
about an upcoming organizational
event. For major special events, exceptions
may be made only by special
arrangement with the editors.
— Telephone numbers, ticket prices and other
details (at the discretion of the editors) will not
be included in press releases, but should be
reserved for calendar listings and advertisements.

My Turn
By Harut Sassounian
State Dept.’s Disgraceful
Censorship Of a Report
Blacklisting Turkey
Each passing day brings new revelations of the Obama
administration’s shameful schemes to cover up Turkish
misconduct.
The latest scandal involves the State Department’s
covert attempt to alter the contents of a report by the US
Commission on International Religious Freedom
(USCIRF), condemning the Turkish government’s violations
of the religious rights of Christian minorities.
USCIRF is an independent bipartisan federal agency established
by the US Congress to make “recommendations
unburdened by foreign policy considerations other than
the defense of religious freedom,” according to a
Commission member.
The Commission issued a lengthy report on March 20,
outlining in great detail “the Turkish government’s systematic
and egregious limitations on the freedom of religion
or belief that affect all religious communities in
Turkey and particularly threaten the country’s non-Muslim
religious minorities.”
The report recommended that the US government designate
Turkey as one of the world’s 16 worst violators of
religious freedom, along with Burma, China, Egypt, Eritrea,
Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia,
Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
The Commission’s recommendation sharply downgraded
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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 19
LETTERS
ALMA Reacts to Genocide
Suppression Request Inserted in Flyer
To the Editor:
We deplore and are outraged to see any and all efforts on the part of any to question,
advocate omission of or deny the Armenian Genocide regardless of its source and at all
times throughout the past 40 years of Armenian Library and Museum of America’s
(ALMA) existence.
As chairman of the Armenian Library and Museum of America, I acknowledge there has
been an unfortunate tampering by some third party in a press release announcing a joint
program scheduled for March 21, with the French Cultural Center in Boston and with an
urging not to mention the Armenian Genocide. Although that pernicious statement was
removed before publication in the Armenian Mirror-Spectator, unfortunately it was sent
with such an admonition to a number of individuals on the French Cultural Center’s mailing
list.
That insulting sentiment inserted by an unknown third party does not in any way represent
the views of the Armenian Library and Museum of America, Inc. or any of its officers,
directors or trustees. Also I emphasize and, as you know, the French government
long ago officially acknowledged the Armenian Genocide and is indeed now doing its best
to affect legislation, making denial of the Armenian Genocide a criminal offense subject
to punishment by imprisonment and fines.
From its very beginnings in 1971 to the very present, ALMA, as a fundamental policy
and cornerstone and altar of its existence, has always solemnly and regularly respected,
commemorated and lamented the tragedy of the Armenian Genocide and has always
strongly condemned anyone from denying the Genocide or advocating omission of any reference
thereto where appropriate. Starting in 1973, ALMA commenced an elaborate
multi-year program recording the oral histories of hundreds of Genocide survivors. Almost
from the time we opened at our present building in 1990 to the very present, we have had
mounted a permanent Genocide Exhibit as the only exhibit at ALMA which is permanent.
Last year we replaced it with an updated Genocide Exhibit professionally designed at great
expense. We spent hundreds of hours to prepare a 10 panel Travel Genocide Exhibit for
exhibition at non-Armenian sites. Currently that exhibit is at the Holocaust Museum in
Richmond, Va. where it will remain for six months ending this July, if not extended. We
have provided various smaller exhibits about the Armenian Genocide to numerous venues
from here to the west coast for over 20 years. We mounted the first website recounting
the Armenian Genocide in the name of the Armenian Genocide Museum/Institute in
Yerevan more than a decade ago. That was their first website on the Armenian Genocide.
We have lent objects for display at the Armenian Genocide Museum in Yerevan and elsewhere.
Let no one think for even an instant that the Armenian Library and Museum, its officers,
trustees and staff, will tolerate efforts to ignore, deny or denigrate the Armenian
Genocide.
— Haig Der Manuelian
Chairman of the Board, ALMA
COMMENTARY
Turkey’s status from a previous “watch” list country to the
black list of 16 “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC).
As expected, Turkish officials resorted to their usual disparaging
tactics, rejecting the Commission’s findings. Far
more troubling were the insidious actions of turkophiles in
the State Department. Nina Shea, one of the nine USCIRF
commissioners, wrote an alarming article revealing how
the Obama administration quietly pressured the commission
to soften its condemnation of Turkey.
Ms. Shea disclosed to the National Review, a major
national publication, that Assistant Secretary of State for
Human Rights Michael Posner had forced one of the commissioners
to change his position in Turkey’s favor, after
being tipped off by another commissioner, an Obama
appointee, that the Commission had voted 5-4 to black list
Turkey in its annual report. By then, the report had been
issued and it was too late to alter the Commission’s recommendation,
designating Turkey as a major violator of
religious freedom. As required, the report was submitted to
President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and
Congressional leaders.
It was later revealed that Don Argue, President of
Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, was the
commissioner who was pressured into changing his mind
on Turkey. Ironically, two days after this report was issued,
the terms of service of Shea, Argue and three other commissioners
ended.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry, reacting sharply to the
Commission’s critical designation of Turkey, declared the
report to be “null and void.” Turkey’s Ambassador to
Washington Namik Tan described the report as “politically
motivated.” The Commission’s chairman, Leonard Leo,
shrugged off the Turkish protestations. “I don’t really care
what the [Turkish] Foreign Minister thinks, because the
report is not for him, it’s for the State Department,” Leo
told the Turkish Today’s Zaman newspaper.
Regrettably, a State Department spokesperson persisted
in covering up Turkey’s abusive record when he told
EurasiaNet.org: “the Department does not support
Turkey’s CPC designation, although it believes the country
needs to do more to expand religious freedom.”
The Commission’s report included a long list of grave
charges, accusing the Turkish government of:
• imposing “burdensome regulations,” denying “full
legal status to religious groups, [and] violating the religious
freedom rights of all religious communities.”
• interfering with “minority religious communities’
affairs; societal discrimination and occasional violence
against religious minorities; limitations on religious dress;
and anti-Semitism in Turkish society and media.”
• denying “non-Muslim communities the rights to train
clergy, offer religious education and own and maintain
places of worship.”
• continuing longstanding policies that “threaten the
survivability and viability of minority religious communities
in Turkey.”
• restricting the religious freedom of “the Greek,
Armenian and Syriac Orthodox Churches, the Roman
Catholic and protestant Churches and the Jewish community
as well as for the majority Sunni Muslim community
and the country’s largest minority, the Alevis.”
The report described in great detail the restrictions
imposed on the Armenian community, including the
Turkish government’s prohibition of training new clergy
and its interference “in the selection process of the
Armenian Patriarchate’s religious leadership.”
The Commission recommended that the US government
urge Turkey to “abolish Article 301 of the Turkish Penal
Code which restricts the freedom of thought and expression
and negatively affects the freedom of religion or
belief.” The report also acknowledged that “even starting a
discussion on genocide of Christians that occurred 100
years ago is a criminal offense in Turkey.”
Ironically, after meeting with Turkish Prime Minister
Erdogan in South Korea on March 26, President Obama
told the media: “I congratulated the Prime Minister on the
efforts that he has made within Turkey to protect religious
minorities!” It is shameful that unscrupulous US officials
are treating a federal agency’s painstaking research and
solid recommendations with such contempt!
Erdogan Persona Non
Grata in Germany
I
T was supposed to be another celebration of Turkish-German relations, but it turned
out to be an embarrassment for leading representatives of both nations. Prime Minister
Tayyip Erdogan had been chosen to receive something called the Steiger Award along
with numerous personalities from Europe, including a Swedish monarch and a former
German president. The award has been presented every year since 2005 to outstanding
individuals for their contributions in categories including charity, sports, music and
European relations. This year in the city of Bochum in the industrial Ruhr region,
Queen Silvia won it for her work in charity, former German head of State Horst Köhler,
for tolerance, and Erdogan was honored in the category, Europe.
But it did not get that far. Once the news had broken that Erdogan had been selected, several
organizations in Germany representing Turkish minorities mobilized to protest. Led by the
Alevis, they organized a massive demonstration in Bochum for March 17, the day of the prize-giving
ceremony. Among the 25,000 people who turned out were large numbers of Kurds and
Armenians. The grounds on which
By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach
these communities objected to the
award for Erdogan were essentially the
same: pointing to the refusal to
acknowledge historical facts of mas-
sacres against minorities and continuing policies of repression against them, the associations
demanded the prize be withdrawn. The Alevis referenced the court decision to abandon the case
regarding the 1993 massacre of Alevis; the Kurdish organizations cited persecution of Kurds, as
well as of journalists who have addressed their issues and the Armenians denounced his denial
of the 1915 Genocide and continuing persecution of Christians. Among those protesting were
the Working Group for Recognition of Genocide (AGA), the Alevi Community in Germany
(AABF), the Armenian Academic Association (AAV 1860), the Central Council of Armenians in
Germany (ZAD) and the German Journalists Union (DJV). Turkish-German author Dogan Akhanli
supported the initiative of the AGA. Other accusations raised included the refusal to recognize
Cyprus, massive arrests and reported torture, and Erdogan’s hostility to integration of Turks in
Germany.
Several German human rights groups lent their voices to the protest, arguing that Turkey has
maintained a repressive policy against free speech, criminalizing journalists and punishing them
not only through jail sentences but also physical abuse, torture and murder. The case of Hrant
Dink is emblematic. Even a political official of the Christian Social Union party, Alexander
Dobrindt, characterized the decision to award Erdogan as “tasteless” and “bizarre,” citing “insufficient
press freedom” among other expressions of intolerance.
According to the Steiger Award’s website, the jury “honors personalities who are outstanding
for their honesty, openness, tolerance and humanity.” (1) In fact, “the term ‘Steiger’ comes from
the coal mining industry and stands for the honesty and openness of the miners, known as
‘Steiger’ (pit foremen).” The wording of the group’s motivation for choosing the Turkish prime
minister is telling. “For years,” it read, “His Excellency Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has
endeavored to effect a democratic change in his country. In the current days, it is clear that
Turkey has assumed as key role in the Near East. Turkey is thus of decisive strategic significance.
The economic potential of Turkey and its function are not to be underestimated. Turkey
see GERMANY, page 20

20
GERMANY, from page 19
has long since become an important partner
for Germany and Europe.” As the Central
Council of the Armenians in Germany (ZAD)
declared, “We protest against Erdogan’s being
awarded a prize which promotes tolerance and
humanity and honors contributions to
Europe’s growing together. The Turkish prime
minister stands for the opposite in every
point.” The Alevis called it a “slap in the face of
all minorities in Turkey who are subjected to
state-organized ‘intolerance and inhumanity.’”
DJV Chairman Michael Konken charged:
“Whoever harasses journalists and hinders critical
reporting stands for neither humanity nor
tolerance.”
Once it became clear that the calls for
demonstrations would generate thousands of
protestors in Bochum, one after another, the
state politicians who had been slated to participate
in the ceremony found other things to do.
These included Minister President (governor)
Hannelore Kraft, who made known that she
had other commitments in Berlin, and Justice
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 3 1 , 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
Erdogan Persona Non Grata in Germany
Minister Thomas Kutschaty, who was to speak
in Kraft’s place. Ecology Minister Johannes
Remmel, slated to deliver a speech in
Erdogan’s honor, also stayed away. Former
Chancellor Gerhard Schröder was then
announced as the person who would step in to
present Erdogan the prize.
The Steiger Award group scurried to control
the damage. First, a statement appeared on
their website clarifying that Erdogan “receives
the award in representation of 50 years of
German-Turkish friendship,” ie, not as an individual
but a representative of the Turkish people.
Then the group said that, in the name of
tolerance it would accept protest and added
that, by the same token, Erdogan should have
the right to “explain himself” when receiving
the prize; surely he would use his thank you
speech to “clear up misunderstandings.” The
statement went so far as to admit that “some
criticism of the prime minister is justified,” but
urged dialogue instead of calls for boycotting
the event. Curiously, and in direct contradiction
to the formal motivation for honoring
Turkey Admits Its Slow Legal System
Often Leaves People Unfairly Imprisoned
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s government
admitted last week that its slow legal system
often leaves suspects jailed for years without
a conviction, and it promised to investigate
thousands of complaints such victims
have filed at Europe’s top human rights court.
There are around 131,000 people in
Turkey’s 370 prisons, and about 37,000 of
them are being held while awaiting verdicts
in their cases, according to information
obtained by The Associated Press on Friday
from the Justice Ministry under a Freedom of
Information Act inquiry.
International observers have criticized
such abuses in Turkey, a country that has
long been vying for membership in the
European Union.
Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babaçan said
last week that the lives of some of people in
Turkey are being ruined by the slow legal
process.
“Either the people’s lives are ruined
because justice has not been realized, or you
put the people in jail and they stay there for
years without knowing what the verdict
would be. They are not convicts,” Babaçan
said at a news conference.
He said his government is establishing a
commission to review the thousands of complaints
that have been filed at the European
Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg,
France, regarding lengthy detentions in
Turkey.
Babaçan said one reason for the delay in
verdicts is a shortage of prosecutors and
judges in Turkey, and that means even the
simplest court cases often take three or four
LAWSUIT, from page 1
inquiry, because of questions about who was
paying Schmidt’s attorneys’ fees. The House
ethics committee ruled last summer that
Schmidt had unknowingly received about
$500,000 in legal fees, paid on her behalf by the
Turkish Coalition of America.
While clearing Schmidt of wrongdoing, the
committee said the funds represented an
improper gift and instructed her to repay the
funds.
Schmidt has since said the fees amounted to
about $440,000.
Schmidt’s defamation suit was proceeding,
with the two parties filing motions and girding
for trial. At the same time, Schmidt and
Krikorian were headed for another political
showdown in the 2012 House race.
But Krikorian, who ran as a Democrat, lost in
the March 6 primary to William R. Smith, a
years to complete.
At a separate news conference, Justice
Minister Sadullah Ergin said Friday that the
number of complaints filed at the European
Court of Human Rights against Turkey is
expected to reach 3,500 by late September.
International observers have criticized the
long detentions of hundreds of suspects,
including top military figures, academics and
journalists, who are accused of involvement
in alleged conspiracies to topple the government
of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan. Some of the suspects have been in
jail since 2008 without being convicted of a
crime.
Ergin said the European court will decide
next week whether to pick one such complaint
as a test case to see if Turkey can
resolve it. That will determine whether other
such settlements are possible or whether the
court will impose steep fines on Turkey.
“We hope that the number of cases against
Turkey will be significantly reduced through
settlement,” Ergin said.
Turkey’s justice system is extremely slow,
and Ergin said the statute of limitations had
expired on 14,000 cases last year alone.
A Turkish court ruled last week that had
happened in the case of five suspects being
tried over an arson attack that killed 37 people
in 1993 in the central city of Sivas. Most
of the victims in that arson attack were Alevi
Muslims, members of Turkey’s largest religious
minority, and they were allegedly targeted
because of their beliefs. Ergin said
Friday that 79 other suspects in the case
have been convicted and sentenced.
Schmidt Drops Defamation Suit
political unknown. And Schmidt was defeated
in the GOP race by Cincinnati doctor and Iraq
war veteran Brad Wenstrup.
Schmidt’s election loss raised questions
about whether she will repay her outstanding
legal tab. Once she is out of office, she has no
obligation to comply with the House ethics
committee’s ruling. As a lame-duck lawmaker, it
will be harder for her to raise money for her
legal expense trust, an account she set up to
repay the money.
Brunsman said he didn’t know if the prospect
of racking up more legal bills prompted her
decision to drop the defamation case. “I’m not
aware of whether that was a factor,” he said.
Asked if this was the beginning of the end of
the years-long legal and political battle between
Schmidt and Krikorian, Brunsman noted that
Schmidt still has the right to refile the case if
she wants.
Erdogan, the website carried a qualification
saying, “The awarding is explicitly not an
assessment of the domestic and foreign policy
of the Turkish prime minister.” One wonders
why, then, they had praised him by name for
his democratization efforts and his strategic
role in the region.... Again, the stress was on
Erdogan as a “representative” of the Turkish
people; again, the plea was for “critical dialogue”
not boycotts. And, it concluded by
reporting that “The numerous critical points of
Kurdish representatives and also of the Central
Council of Armenians have been taken note of
in Ankara.”
The attempted damage control came too
late. On the eve of the event, the Turkish prime
minister cancelled his trip to Germany. The official
reason was the crash of a Turkish helicopter
in Afghanistan, which had led to 17
deaths, 12 of them Turkish soldiers. The
Steiger Award committee solved the problem
first by announcing Erdogan would not receive
the award after all, because he had cancelled
his visit. Then it struck the category Europe
from this year’s program. Gerhard Schröder
consequently bowed out. And that was that.
Those who had mobilized against the award
celebrated their victory. Azat Ordukhanyan,
chairman of the Council of Armenians in
Germany, stated, “We have shown that with
other associations we can be strong” and
spoke of a “political signal.” Up to that point,
he added, only the official voice of Ankara had
been perceived as the voice of immigrants from
Turkey.
It was not the first time Erdogan had raised
a furor in Germany. Some of his earlier visits
were accompanied by controversy, especially in
2011 when he participated in ceremonies commemorating
the 50th anniversary of the
German agreement with Turkey regulating the
status of guest workers. Speaking in public,
Erdogan railed against the “assimilation” of his
compatriots, dubbing it a “crime against
humanity” comparable to anti-Semitism. What
was acceptable, he said, was “integration,”
meaning that Turks in Germany should learn
the national language, but only on a voluntary
basis; “whoever declares German language
competence to be the most important condition
[for immigrants] is violating human
rights.” Furthermore, he specified that the
German authorities should coordinate integration
with government officials in Turkey.
On the one hand, this was seen as interference
with Germany’s integration policy — in a
country where there are 3 million people of
Turkish background, a third of them German
citizens. On the other, it appeared to be in strident
contradiction with his own “assimilation”
policy, which discriminates against minorities.
Whereas Erdogan insisted that Turkish as a
mother tongue should be privileged and
Turkish language schools and universities
should be established in Germany, his government
would not demand the same for Kurds,
Armenians and other minorities at home.
See the Steiger Award website:
http://www.der-steiger-award.de/de/award for
details. The founder of the Steiger Award is
Sascha Hellen, a journalist and media consultant,
from Hellen Medien Projekte GmbH.
There is no information given to identify who
the members of the jury are and how they
deliberate.
(Muriel Mirak-Weissbach is the author of
Through the Wall of Fire: Armenia - Iraq -
Palestine: From Wrath to Reconciliation,
2009.)
Mirror-Spectator
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