Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
THE ARMENIAN
Mirror-Spectator
Volume LXXX, NO. 1 1 Issue 4 10 5
Foreign Minister
not be opened until
Eduard Nalbandian the Karabagh con-
flict is solved.
ArmSwiss Bank Opens in
“The Turkish Yerevan
side is informed, and we are confident that
they realize that we exclude the condition- YEREVAN (Armenpress) — The opening ceremony
ing of the normalization of Armenian- of the ArmSwissBank took place here on
Turkish relations by the steps towards the September 17 with the participation of the
settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh con- Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargisian and
flict,” Nalbandian said in his reply also post- other officials.
ed on the Ministry’s official website Executive Director of the bank Gevorg
(www.armeniaforeignministry.com). President Serge Sargisian Machanian noted the bank was the result of four
“Trying to link those two processes years of work, while Sargisian expressed hope that
could ruin one and the other. A number of the bank will increase competition in the banking
countries, including the Minsk Group co- system.
chair countries, have expressed the same
position. They have repeatedly stated that
the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
Armenia Celebrates The owner of ArmSwissBank is Vardan
Sirmakes, who is also the founder of Franc Muller,
a Swiss watch company.
relations must be without preconditions.”
Nalbandian said that “with this mutual
understanding we have started and
18th Anniversary Sargisian Awards
see WARNING, page 3 YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — President Serge Sargisian sought to emphasize Baroness Cox Medal
the link between “all generations” and “all Armenians” in the accomplishment YEREVAN (Armenpress) — President Serge
of sovereign Armenia as he addressed the nation on the 18th anniversary of Sargisian recently received Vice Speaker of the
Sargisian Explains independence Monday.
Describing the anniversary of the September 21, 1991 referendum in which
Great Britain’s House of Lords, Baroness Caroline
Cox.
Negotiations to Armenians overwhelmingly pronounced in favor of living as an independent
nation as a holiday that “all generations of the Armenian nation coveted and
The presidential press service said Cox has been
awarded the Order of Honor for her contribution to
Armenian Parties sensed deep in their hearts,” Sargsyan emphasized that all of those genera-
tions of Armenians, without exception, were guided by the same vision:
the development of Armenian-British.
“This award shows the gratitude of the Armenian
“Independent Armenia that epitomizes freedom, human and national dignity people,” Sargisian said at the meeting.
and, ultimately, the right and historical ability to create good and beauty.” The two also discussed the Turkey-Armenia
By Irina Hovannisian see ANNIVERSARY, page 2 Protocols and Sargisian’s trip abroad to discuss
them with diasporan communities.
YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — President Serge
Sargisian acknowledged that his conciliatory
policy toward Turkey is fraught with pitfalls
for Armenia on Thursday as he discussed it Journalists Gormus and Haas Receive INSIDE
with leaders of more than 50 Armenian par-
ties mostly loyal to his administration.
The five-hour meeting, held behind
International Dink Award
closed doors, was part of “internal political
consultations,” which the Armenian and
ISTANBUL (Today’s Zaman) — Turkish
journalist Alper Gormus and Israeli journal-
University, said after receiving the award
that he carries a great responsibility
Armenian
Turkish governments have pledged to hold ist Amira Haas became the first recipients of because he has fears that he could do some-
before signing fence-mending agreements
next month.
the Hrant Dink International Award this
past week, given in the name of Hrant Dink,
thing improper to undermine the meaning
of the award.
Robin Hood
“I, too, see risks; I too have concerns,” a Turkish-Armenian journalist who was mur- “I saw Hrant Dink right after the See page 12
Sargisian said in his opening remarks pub- dered in 2007 by an ultranationalist youth Supreme Court of Appeals upheld a lower
licized by the presidential press service. He allegedly for insulting Turkishness. court’s decision to convict him. I had gone
nonetheless defended Armenia’s dramatic Ali Bayramoglu, the head of the award to Agos for an interview with him. During
rapprochement with Turkey that began committee of the International Hrant Dink the whole interview, he spent all his energy
shortly after he took office in April last year. Foundation established by the Dink family, explaining why it was impossible for him to
INDEX
Armenia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,3
“Let us judge together,” continued said at the ceremony that “what we are ‘insult Turkishness,’” Gormus said.
Arts and Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Sargisian. “Are we sacrificing our convic- looking for is what Hrant symbolizes,” in The award committee recalled that Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 17
tions and our belief in truth with these doc- reference to his ideals, which were “purified Gormus, the former editor-in-chief of the Community News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
uments, or are we paving the way for dri- out of discrimination,” and people who fol- now-defunct Nokta weekly, was acquitted Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
ving them home instead of confining our- low those ideals taking risks for a more just last year in April of charges of libel for run- International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
selves to secluded purity? Let us under- world. ning a story that featured excerpts from a
stand that together.” Gormus, a columnist for the Taraf news- diary, allegedly penned by a former naval
see POLICY, page 3 paper and a faculty member at Bilgi see AWARD, page 4
2 S A T U R D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 0 9 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R
ARMENIA
Senior Mi nister
Y ER EVA N ( A r menp res s) — Upon the i nvi tat i on of
P r e s i d e n t S er g e S a r g i s i a n , S i n g a p o r e ’ s S e n i o r
Opposition Leader Levon Ter-
Mi nister Le e Kuan Yew is in A r menia on an of f ic ial
vi si t .
Yew was Sin gapor e’s f ir st pr ime mini ste r an d head-
ed the exec ut ive power of t he st ate for 3 1 year s. Lee
Petrosian Vows Not to Run if All Are
Kuan Yew is known as t he foun de r of Singapore ’s
m o de l o f e c o n o m i c r e f o r m s .
Sargi sian gave Yew A r men ia’s Medal of H on or for
United against President Sargisian
hi s wor king towar d the e stablishment of r elat ions YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow) — and developing bilateral relations protocols with Turkey,
bet ween t he t wo states . Armenia’s opposition leader has unveiled by Yerevan and Ankara on Dashnaktsutyun and the Ter-
Sargi sian an d t he Mi nister exc hanged t houghts on promised not to run for president if August 31 are potentially damaging to Petrosian camp have not yet recon-
t he Si ngapore’s deve lopment model and disc ussed t he other political forces help his move- Armenian national interests. Among ciled their political feud stemming
oppor tunity of conduc t i on of consult at ions on t he ment topple President Serge Sargisian their concerns is the provision about from Ter-Petrosian’s controversial
ac hi eved exper i enc e. in what appears to be a veiled attempt setting up an intergovernmental sub- decision to ban the Diaspora-linked
to win the backing of political forces commission “to implement a discus- party in Armenia in the 1990s. Also,
(potentially) opposed to both. sion on the historical dimension” that for 10 years Dashnaktsutyun support-
Armenian A mbassador Speaking before thousands of sup- could be construed as agreement to ed the government of Robert
porters in downtown Yerevan on discuss, i.e. “question” the 1915-1918 Kocharian, who effectively forced Ter-
Meets Egypt ian Minister September 18, Sargisian’s nemesis Armenian Genocide in Turkey. Petrosian to resign over his perceived
Y ER EVA N ( A r menpr ess) — A r meni an A mbassador to Levon Ter-Petrosian reiterated his ear- Ter-Petrosian’s opposition alliance conciliatory stance in the Karabagh
Egy pt A r me n Mel kony an met Sep tembe r 7 wi t h t he lier assurances that he considered was among those forces that, despite settlement and support for the inter-
Egy pt ian I nter nat ional Cooper at ion Mini ste r Fay za himself “only a tool in the matter of welcoming normalization with national mediators’ 1997 peace plan.
A bul Naga. restoring the constitutional order in Turkey, criticized these points of the Dashnaktsutyun, now as a national-
T he A r meni an gover nme nt’s pr ess of f ic e said t he Armenia” and was ready “to perform protocols. Ter-Petrosian’s Armenian ist force spearheading the protests
of f ic ial s di scussed pr osp ec ts of development of t r ade this role until the end.” National Congress, however, indicated against the current Armenian-Turkish
— economi c c ooper at ion bet ween A r men ia and Egypt Ter-Petrosian’s similar platform in the it was more worried about develop- plan, refuses to call for President
as well as p lans for t he f if t h sess ion of t he A r meni an- wake of the disputed February 2008 ments in the Karabagh conflict that Sargisian’s resignation, instead hold-
Egy pt ian inter -gover n ment al c ommi ssion sc heduled presidential election failed to present a has largely been linked with the ing his Foreign Minister Edward
for 2 0 10 in Yer evan. challenge to Sargisian’s official first- Armenian-Turkish process. Nalbandian responsible for what it
round win, resulting in Armenia’s worst “The Congress alone cannot avert views as “diplomatic failures.”
street violence in its history. the danger that Karabagh faces today, On one occasion, however, a senior
Exhibition by Edward In his nearly hour-long speech at the even through mobilizing all its Dashnak representative acknowledged
Friday rally, Ter-Petrosian focused on efforts,” Ter-Petrosian said. “Some that a possible scenario of Ter-
Sasun Opens in Yerevan the current Armenian-Turkish rap- doubt this bitter truth and sometimes Petrosian’s coming to power was one
Y ER EVA N ( Pan A r meni an. Net ) — A n exhibit ion of prochement and the Armenian- accuse the Congress of avoiding deci- of the deterrents that kept the party
wor ks by t he ar t ist E dwar d Sasun opene d in the H ay Azerbaijani talks over the Karabagh sive action and, instead, waiting for from demanding that Sargsian step
A r t Cul tur al C enter, wi t h sup por t of t he D iaspor an conflict. He harshly criticized the cur- Serge Sargisian’s failure in the down.
Mi nist r y, on Sep tembe r 1 8 . Fi f ty-f ive wor ks b y t he rent administration for failing in both Karabagh issue. The Congress does “Our problem is that if a leadership
ar t ist ar e in t he exhi bit. negotiations and, in particular, rejected not need power gained at the cost of change implies the coming of several
“ Most of my wor ks are in p r ivate c ollec t ions, so it as pro-Azerbaijani the latest peace plan losing Karabagh.” figures of the Armenian National
was dif f i cult to c r eate an exposit ion. Visi tor s c an see for Karabagh proposed by the interna- Ter-Petrosian also pledged not to Congress to power, then we have no
my wor ks of f ir st ye ar s and pai nt in gs t hat I have c r e- tional mediators that Sargisian and his run for president if Sargisian steps guarantee that these forces will not
ated over t he past t wo year s , ” Sasun said. Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev down. pursue an even more conciliatory poli-
“ I have been away a l on g t ime f rom my homel and, appear to agree on in principle following “If Sargisian resigns from the presi- cy than the current ones,”
an d t hi s e xhi bit i on i s a st atement t hat I have their several meetings this year. dent’s office, I will not run for this Dashnaktsutyun’s chief foreign policy
r etur ned, ” Sasun sai d. Reiterating his support for normal- office, unless [former president] spokesman Giro Manoyan said in July
Sasun was bor n i n 1 9 5 5 in A r men ia and has li ved ization with Turkey, Ter-Petrosian, Robert Kocharian is nominated as a when his party first formally moved to
in T hailand for t he l ast e ight ye ar s. A f ter rec ei ving a however, charged that despite candidate,” he said. seek Nalbandian’s retirement.
degr ee in c yber net ic s f rom Yer evan St ate Uni ver sity, “Sargisian’s sacrifice of the Genocide” Several political forces, including Another addressee of the Ter-
in 1 9 8 0 he e ntere d t he A c ade my of Fine A r ts. H e has Turkey will not agree to open the bor- the Armenian Revolutionary Petrosian offer could be the pro-gov-
c r eated about 7 0 0 paint i ngs, most of whic h ar e in der and establish diplomatic relations Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), oppose ernment Prosperous Armenia party,
pr i vate c ol lec t ions. T he ar t ist’s f i r st solo e xhibi t ion until the Karabagh conflict is both the current administration and known for its firm views on national
was held in A r menia i n t he l ate 1 9 8 0 s in Kamo. resolved. the movement of Ter-Petrosian, who issues but, like Dashnaktsutyun, also
Sargisian’s opponents have insisted led Armenia from 1991-1998. known to have been ex-president
that several points in the draft proto- Despite being both opposed to sev- Kocharian’s support base in the previ-
cols on establishing diplomatic ties eral points in the government-backed ous government.
S A T U R D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 0 9 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 3
ARMENIA
INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL NEWS
Community News
Chicken Community Rallies
Behind Incarcerated
California Man Accused
Charlie: Of Molestation
By Mike Rosenberg
Southern California’s
Deep-Fry King BELMONT, Calif. (San Mateo County Times)
— Throughout the mid-1990s, Sara Galloway
said she and her teenage friends spent plenty of
time alone with Michael Kazarian, the former
By Elina Shatkin Belmont chamber of commerce president facing
child molestation charges.
LOS ANGELES (Los Angeles Times) — If the Kazarian made frequent overnight visits
image of slender, sunblocked yoga moms care- while dating Galloway’s mother, when Sara was
fully selecting organic kale at the local farmers 14- to 16-years-old, and often took care of her
market has become a cliché of “California liv- while her mother worked odd hours.
ing,” then the county fair in all its sticky, sug- Kazarian, now 50, never made the slightest of
ary, deep-fried glory is the wildly excessive awkward or sexual comments, Galloway said. In
opposite. fact, Galloway still relies on Kazarian as a father
For 26 years, one man has been doing his figure, even though her mother and Kazarian
best to bolster the fortunes of anti-cholesterol split up years ago.
drug makers by tantalizing fair-goers with some “So Michael kind of stepped up to the plate
of the most imaginative — and most gluttonous and he was pretty much my second dad,” said
— deep-fried concoctions at local fairs. Sarah Galloway, now 27 and a speech therapist
Armenia’s UN Ambassador Garen Nazarian speaks at the Diocesan Center in Richland, Wash. “Stupid things, like I went
They call him Chicken Charlie, and at his
eponymous stand he has offered deep-fried on a date, and he gave me a 20-questions drill.
pickles, olives, s’mores, peanut butter and jelly He would never, ever even think about anything
sandwiches, Twinkies, cheesecake, cupcakes,
frog legs, White Castle cheeseburgers and
At the Diocesan Center, Armenia’s nasty like that. That’s just not Michael.”
Sarah Galloway and her mother, Kim, are just
a few of many friends, church members, busi-
more. Name it, and Chicken Charlie has proba-
bly battered and fried it.
New UN Ambassador Meets ness colleagues and community members who
are rallying in support of the incarcerated for-
Plenty of vendors offer breaded, oil-soaked
concoctions, but few have so thoroughly dedi- Armenian-American Community mer chamber head. They recently helped lower
his bail by $500,000.
cated themselves to the Way of the Deep Fryer.
“There are many other fried foods at the fair, NEW YORK — On Monday, September 14, a reception was held at the Diocesan But prosecutors are standing their ground,
but I specialize in it. I make it my life,” he says. Center to welcome Garen Nazarian, the new representative of Armenia to the and next month the owner of Beau Monde
An immigrant with a yen to become a police United Nations (UN). Flooring in Belmont will stand trial in San
officer, he took a slight detour and through Organized by the Eastern Diocese and the Fund for Armenian Relief, the Mateo County Superior Court. Prosecutors say
hard work and innovation ended up as evening was attended by some 150 people, who gathered to meet Nazarian and to he repeatedly fondled and spanked in a sexual
Southern California’s deep-fry king. hear him speak about his delegation’s goals at the UN. manner the daughter of his former girlfriend
Born in Syria to Armenian parents, Charlie Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church from 1999 to 2002, when the girl was 8- to 10-
Boghosian arrived in the United States at age of America (Eastern), called Nazarian “especially well-practiced in the arena of years-old.
11 with his family. They eventually settled in international organizations, having served as Armenia’s UN ambassador in Prosecutors filed 18 child molestation-related
San Diego, where at age 14 he got a summer Geneva, Switzerland, and on several influential international bodies.” felony charges against Kazarian in May and, if
Barsamian also noted Nazarian’s “ability to stand on principle, as well as his convicted, he could spend the remainder of his
eagerness to engage others and seek common ground.” life behind bars.
Acknowledging that he assumes his position at a critical moment in history, Kazarian’s court-appointed attorney, South
Nazarian said the Nagorno Karabagh peace process and Armenia-Turkey relations will San Francisco-based Steve Chase, said he had a
be two central issues for courtroom packed with well-dressed people in
Armenia’s UN mission. their 30s to 70s supporting Kazarian during a
He stressed that the recent court hearing in which a judge lowered
delegation would treat his bail from $1.5 million to $1 million. Chase
each matter indepen- had filed 10 declarations of support from com-
dently, and would work munity members and friends.
toward both the continu- “I left him there with (Sara) all the time, and
Chicken Charlie Boghosian ation of Nagorno- it was never a problem,” said Kim Galloway. “If
Karabagh negotiations I had a little child, I would trust Michael 100
and the normalization of percent with that child at any time.”
job from local vendor Bob Jackson selling char- relations with Turkey. Another likely witness is John Dahlberg, a
broiled corn at the San Diego County Fair. “I Nazarian said longtime friend who was on the parish council
worked it that summer, and I really enjoyed it,” Armenia plans to extend with Kazarian at St. John Armenian Church in
says Boghosian, 40. “I enjoyed cooking and sell- its involvement in global San Francisco. Dahlberg, who spent eight years
ing corn. I enjoyed the people at the fair. I Ambassador Garen Nazarian and Archbishop Khajag
agenda issues and Barsamian speak with members of the Armenian- as a part-time officer at the Oakland Police
enjoyed the atmosphere.” strengthen its interna- American community during a reception at the Department, said Kazarian fits no profiles he
One summer led to another, and 12 summers tional presence. Diocesan Center held to welcome the ambassador to knows for molesters.
later Boghosian had worked his way through “Protection of peace New York. Dahlberg, Chase, the Galloways and others
high school and college selling fried food. In in our complex region is interviewed for this story described Kazarian as
1996, he and Jackson bought a trailer special- another vital issue,” he a well-liked community and church leader. He
izing in broasted chicken, a method of “pres- said. “We consider that the key to it is multilateral cooperation among all coun- installed flooring at the Armenian Church a few
sure-frying” chicken. Jackson suggested the tries of the region and among the neighbors.” years ago and refused to charge anything
name “Chicken Charlie” for its alliterative Also speaking during the evening’s program, Diocesan Council Chairman Oscar beyond material costs.
appeal, and the seeds of a dynasty were sown. Tatosian reflected on the Diocesan Center’s prominent role in Armenian-American “It was unthinkable that he would mistreat or
One day while working a fair in Miami, he life, as the hub of major community events. hurt anyone, especially a child,” Dahlberg said.
noticed a vendor selling deep-fried Twinkies. “I “So many great and influential figures of our generation — Armenian and oth- “I’ve never heard a negative word about
liked the idea, but I didn’t like the way it tast- erwise — have come here, to meet the people, and address our concerns,” he said. Michael Kazarian in 10 years.”
ed,” Boghosian says. “It had been dipped in a Dr. Movses Abelian, Armenia’s past UN ambassador, said he experienced a warm Prosecutors still believe they have a strong
very thick, wet batter and you could barely reception at the Diocese when he first came to New York 17 years ago. He recalled case. In addition to the girl’s claims, San Mateo
taste the cream inside. I decided to dip it in an how Armenia’s diplomats occupied an office at the Diocesan Center even before police set up two phone calls between her and
egg wash and roll it in dry, sweet flour, creating Armenia became a member of the UN in 1992, and thanked Archbishop Kazarian to monitor their conversations.
a thin crust that was very crispy and crunchy. Barsamian for his assistance and encouragement. “Many, many people who we prosecute are
You could taste how nice and warm the Abelian — who currently serves as the secretary of the UN General Assembly’s otherwise in their lives good members of the
Twinkie was.” The year he debuted it at the LA Administrative and Budgetary Committee and as a member of the Committee on community,” said Chief Deputy District
County Fair, 2001, he sold 10,000 pieces. Programme and Coordination — also thanked Kevork and Sirvart Hovnanian for Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. “The allegations are
“After that, everyone asked: ‘What will you donating the brownstone in Midtown Manhattan, where the offices of Armenia’s that they did something, they acted wrong, not
do next year?’ That question stayed in my head. UN Mission are housed. that they’re bad people.”
When the season was over, I bought some see AMBASSADOR, page 8 His supporters are still hoping his reputation
portable fryers for my kitchen at home and can be turned around during the trial, slated to
see CHICKEN CHARLIE, page 8 start October 16.
S A T U R D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 0 9 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 7
COMMUNITY NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
Tekeyan, in Search of God his book to coincide with the 40th anniversary
of the establishment of Tekeyan Cultural
Association’s Los Angeles Chapter. He first
thanked God for his full and rich life, and then
Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of
North America. He said that the struggle to
believe or not to believe in God is not unique to
Vahan Tekeyan; it is rather universal and every
her teacher had entered the class. She then he thanked the association for sponsoring the reasoning individual is engulfed in this dilemma
By Kevork Keushkerian read two pieces from his book, one of which publication of his book and the various people until a satisfactory resolution surfaces and
was about the passing on of Vahan Tekeyan. who had taken part in the program. Finally, he gives that inquisitive person a lasting peace of
Dr. Marzbed Margosian, author, educator and thanked the general audience for being there mind.
GLENDALE, Calif. — Poet Jaque Hagopian’s a former scientific researcher at Harvard for him. A light reception followed the presentation
book presentation, Tekeyan, In Search of God, University in Cambridge, was called upon to The final speaker of the evening was Very and the members of the audience had a chance
took place on Sunday, September 13, at the present the book. He said that the book is com- Rev. Dajad Yardemian, vicar general of the to meet with the author.
Glendale Public Library. The event was orga- posed of three sections. He then presented
nized by the Tekeyan Cultural Association’s those sections in detail, analyzing and evaluat-
(TCA) Los Angeles Chapter. ing them. He pointed out that Hagopian had
Mistress of Ceremonies Lora Kuyumjian wel- started writing in French, before he ventured
comed the audience and pointed out that this
book was the 12th publication of Tekeyan
into writing in Armenian.
The first section of the book deals with
Southern California’s Deep-Fry King
Cultural Association, sponsored by the newly- Vahan Tekeyan. He is a humble, communicative CHICKEN CHARLIE, from page 6 But Boghosian, who still loves working
established Yervant Azadian Literary and humoristic human being, contrary to the started experimenting.” behind the counter at his booths, won’t be giv-
Endowment Fund. She then invited to the podi- general impression that he had been gruff. This In 2002, Boghosian introduced deep-fried ing up the fair life any time soon, especially the
um the first speaker of the evening, Parsegh section also deals with his beliefs on God and Oreos, which he dips in pancake batter, deep- LA County Fair, which runs through October
Kartalian, to introduce Jaque Hagopian, the his constant struggle to find Him, as revealed fries, drizzles with chocolate syrup and dusts 4. It has a special place in his heart, he says. “I
author. through his poetry. A good example would be with powdered sugar. The next year, he deep- like it the best, and I started a lot of my inven-
Kartalian had known the author early on, his famous poem, “The Armenian Church.” In fried avocados using fish-and-chips batter. The tions there. I love people’s reactions when they
from the days when they were both in Cairo, short, Margosian noted, it is a research depict- year after that, he invented his infamous Krispy come up to the stand and see that we’re frying
Egypt. He noted that Jaque Hagopian was born ing his perception of religion. Kreme chicken sandwich: a raspberry jelly-filled something like frog legs. They say: ‘Are you
in Jerusalem in 1917 and once in Cairo, he mas- The second section is a journalistic diary of doughnut, sliced in half, stuffed with a seasoned crazy?’ Then they say: ‘Let me try one.’”
tered the Arabic Language to be able to be events taking place from 1937 to 1945, when chicken breast and topped with honey sauce.
admitted to the Fouad I University. He gradu- he passed away. Jaque Hagopian’s acquain- “We have sold tens of thousands of those,” he
ated from that prestigious institution with a tance with poet Vahan Tekeyan had started in
degree in pharmacy. 1938, stated Margosian. This section deals
says. This year at the Orange County Fair, he
debuted the Zucchini Weenie, a turkey frank
St. Peter Armenian
Kartalian then dwelled upon the close rela-
tionship the author had with the prince of
with Vahan Tekeyan’s agony, pain and misery,
especially towards the end of his life when he
tucked in a hollowed-out zucchini that’s dipped
in corn dog batter and (what else?) fried.
Church Anniversary
Armenian poetry, Vahan Tekeyan. It was this
intimate acquaintance that eventually gave
fell sick. He was a lonely man, no one to go
to and no one to open up to, as he was not
It’s not as easy as it looks, according to Dinner Dance Gala
Boghosian. “There is an art to frying food.
birth to the idea of writing this book, he men- married and had no family members sur- What type of batter to use, whether you’re WATERVLIET, N.Y. — On Saturday,
tioned. rounding him. going to use it wet or dry, how thick it should October 24, the Anniversary Dinner
Kartalian noted that he had also known the The last section looks like a parade of the be, how much time it spends in the oil. And we Dance Gala celebrating the 110th anniver-
author’s brother, Yervant Hagopian. Finally, well known in the Armenian literary, political, get rid of our oil every day. That makes a big sary of St. Peter Armenian Apostolic
painting a clear picture of the author’s charac- cultural and religious arenas that have touched difference in the flavor.” Church and the 95th anniversary of the
ter, he said that love sticks out as its main fea- upon the life of Vahan Tekeyan, said Margosian. He also uses different batters — six to be exact Women’s Guild of St. Peter Armenian
ture. Love towards God, love towards the In a film version of this section, this would have — for the more than 20 items he sells. One for Church will be held. The event will take
Armenian language, love towards mankind and been a list of guest appearances that come and vegetables, one for broasted chicken, one for place at Michael’s Banquet House, 1019
especially love towards Vahan Tekeyan, he con- go, well woven in the plot of a true life story of chicken wings and frog legs, a sweet pancake New Loudon Road, Latham, from 7 p.m.
cluded. a giant in the Armenian literary world of the batter for some of the desserts, a corn dog bat- to midnight, featuring The Philly Kef
Ovsanna Rakoubian, a former student of 20th century, concluded Margosian. ter and a dry batter just for the Twinkies. Band. Dinner dance ticket prices include
Jaque Hagopian’s Armenian language class in When the author took to the podium, he These days, Boghosian is looking to expand cocktail hour, salad and choice of three
Beirut, Lebanon, fondly recalled the first day mentioned that he wanted the publication of beyond county fairs. He hopes to open his first dinner entrees, dessert and coffee.
restaurant in the San Diego area in 2010 and Children’s dinner dance tickets are avail-
wants to have a chain of restaurants stretching able also. Dance only tickets are available
from San Diego to L.A. within five years. He’s with admission beginning after 9:30 p.m.
At the Diocesan Center, Armenia’s New UN also working on a line of deep-fryers and cook- A 50/50 raffle drawing will be held; a
sponsorship booklet is also available.
Ambassador Meets Armenian-American Community ing equipment, and he’s halfway through a
cookbook tentatively titled, Chicken Charlie’s For more information, contact the
AMBASSADOR, from page 6 Nazarian — well-educated, accomplished, expe- at the Fair: 101 Ways to Blow Your Diet. No church office.
Addressing Nazarian, Abelian said he was rienced in diplomacy — as Armenia’s official rep- one can accuse him of dishonesty.
hopeful that Armenia would continue to build resentative here in the United States.”
on its diplomatic ties and overall development. Nazarian most recently served as Armenia’s
“I’m sure the coming months and years will ambassador to Iran. Prior to that, he acted as Telephone (617) 924-7400
show that it is a time for peace; it is a time for the advisor and chief of the cabinet to the for-
prosperity for Armenia,” he said.
Barsamian spoke about the close relationship
between the diaspora and Armenia.
eign minister of Armenia; as ambassador to the
United Nations in Geneva and held a staff posi-
tion in Armenia’s embassy in Moscow.
Aram Bedrosian
“The existence of the Republic of Armenia is
not merely important to us, as members of the
He has also served as a member of the United
States Intergovernmental Commission and as a
Funeral Home, Inc.
diaspora: it is our other half, as it were. And the vice president of the World Conference Against Continuous Service By The Bedrosian Family Since 1945
success or failure of the Armenian people as a Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and
whole depends on the strength and mutual sup- Related Intolerance. MARION BEDROSIAN
558 MOUNT AUBURN STREET
Giragosian
port, the good will and trust, of both the dias- Nazarian is a graduate of Yerevan State PAUL BEDROSIAN
pora and our homeland,” the Primate said. University and the Diplomatic Academy of WATERTOWN, MA 02472 LARRY BEDROSIAN
“With such thoughts in mind, it is a pleasure Moscow. He is married, with a daughter and
to be able to look to a man like Ambassador son.
F U N E R A L H O M E
Nardolillo Est.Funeral
1906
Home
John K. Najarian, Jr.
Rhode Island’s Only Licensed Armenian Funeral Director
From right, Randy Sapah-Gulian, chairman of the FAR Board of Directors; Dr. Movses Abelian, secre-
tary of the UN General Assembly’s Administrative and Budgetary Committee and member of the 1278 Park Ave. Cranston, RI 02910 (401) 942-1220
Committee on Programme and Coordination; Garen Nazarian and his wife; Archbishop Khajag 1111 Boston Neck Rd. Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 789-6300
Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese; Oscar Tatosian, chairman of the Diocesan Council and
Arto Vorperian, program manager at FAR www.nardolillo.com
New York
S A T U R D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 0 9 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 9
M E T R O
M E T R O
Roots of Outlaw Figures 1986 after a long and successful career as dancer,
soloist and assistant director with Antranig.
Tickets to the performance are available from
BELMONT, Mass. — Harvard University’s Prof. James Russell presented his research the AGBU.
on the Epic of the Blind Man’s Son, its shared Armenian and Turkish heritage and its
influence on the world’s thirst for stories of outlaws at the National Association for
Armenians Studies and Research (NAASR) last week.
Russell, who has served as the Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies at Harvard
since 1992, has written several books on Armenian literature, including An Armenian Ignatieff, Pamuk
Epic: The Heroes of Kasht and Hovhannes Tlkurantsi and the Medieval Armenian
Lyric Tradition, among others. Join Toronto
The September 17 lecture, Russell’s first for an Armenian audience since a presen-
tation on Armenian magical scrolls at the Armenian Library and Museum of America
(ALMA) late last year, centered around not only an outline of the Epic of the Blind
Authors’ Festival
Man’s Son, but also the historical and sociological forces that made it endure. TORONTO (CBC) — Nobel laureate Orhan
Known to most by its Turkish name, Pamuk will rub shoulders with crime writer
Roudolf Kharatian Köroglu, the epic comprises roughly 30 parts, Kathy Reichs and graphic artist Seth at this
By Thomas C . Nash or “branches.” Reciters would tackle one part a year’s International Festival of Authors (IFOA)
Mirror-Spectator Staff night for 30 days (for Muslim reciters, during here.
master’s degree in choreography and stage pro- the month of Ramadan), accompanying them- IFOA, scheduled for October 21-31,
duction from the Moscow Institute of Theatre selves on instruments. Boiled down, it is the announced 44 prominent authors for the 2009
Arts (GITIS). story of a son, Köroglu, armed with a magical horse and super strength he acquired festival this week.
Since his arrival in the US, Kharatian has from drinking foam from a river, seeking revenge on the king who blinded his father. Liberal Leader
been a respected teacher and coach, producing Köroglu becomes a roving bandit and minstrel in the kingdom, attracting followers Michael Ignatieff,
many medalists and world-class dancers. He has along the way. He is an archetype found in many cultures: “The brave and cheerful ban- who could be
been on the faculty of the Kirov Academy and dit who rebels against unjust authority and robs from the rich and gives to the poor,” caught up in an
the School of the Washington Ballet. He has according to Russell. election cam-
guest taught and lectured throughout North All of this, Russell points out, begins to take shape five centuries before the story of paign by this fall,
America and has taught such companies as Robin Hood begins to be told. will be among
American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet and the “The historical Robin Hood of the 14th century seems to have inherited in literature the guests.
Kirov Mariinsky Ballet. the ready-made deeds and features of a folk epic narrative perhaps five centuries older.” His memoir,
His work, the duet “Dialogue,” was one of the Köroglu takes place across Central Asia and is influenced by multiple cultures and True Patriot
featured works during the Dance Metro DC languages. Love: Four Orhan Pamuk
Awards Presentation at the Kennedy Center’s “The Soviet Armenians knew [the epic] from a famous opera and from Russian trans- Generations in
Terrace Theatre on Monday, September 14. lations,” Russell said. “Few surmised that its roots are in part in their own country and Search of
Kharatian will be the featured guest at the culture, partly because it has been appropriated by Turkey and Azerbaijan as their Canada, was published earlier this year.
March 3, 2010 installment of “Happenings at national epic, and partly because its characters are indeed Muslims, with Turkic and It tells the story of his mother’s family, the
the Harman” at the Harman Center for the Persian names, and most versions of the epic are in Turkic languages ... though there Grants, who over three generations, conducted
Arts. And a retrospective of Kharatian’s work is are also Kurdish, Persian and Armenian variants.” a spirited argument about what Canada was
planned for March 7, at the Performing Arts The shared history, Russell said, may be a large factor as to why the epic is so little- and what it should be.
Center in Silver Spring, Md., as part of the studied today by those interested in Armenian studies. Pamuk, the Turkish writer who has been
“Three Dancers” program. “The cultural divide ... has become so wide that the idea of a shared literary work of tried in his native country over his outspoken
Kharatian will take up the post of artistic this kind has become almost inconceivable,” Russell added. views on Turkish history, is to read from his
director of the National Ballet of Armenia at the Quoting German communist scholar Ivan Olbracht, Russell said, “Man has an insa- newest work, The Museum of Innocence.
end of September. Said Kharatian: “The tiable longing for justice and so he rebels against a social order which denies it to him. Seth is the pen name of Gregory Gallant, the
National Ballet of Armenia is a high-level com- Whatever world he lives in, he accuses that social order, or the entire material universe, Canadian graphic artist known for comics such
pany of very well-trained dancers. However their with injustice.” as Palooka-Ville. The festival also has drawn
world-view has been limited to the Russian and “Man is filled with a strange, stubborn urge to remember, to think things out, to New Yorker graphic artist R.O. Blechman.
Soviet experience. I hope to broaden their hori- change things. And in addition he has the urge within himself to have what he cannot Other guests include Garrison Keillor, cre-
zon by introducing the best works of both past have — if only in the form of a fairy tale. That is perhaps the basis for the heroic sagas ator of “A Prairie Home Companion,” Man
and present from around the world. More impor- of all ages, all religions, all peoples and all classes.” Booker nominee Sarah Hall, author of How to
tantly, Armenia has a rich and unique tradition Listen to the complete lecture online at www.mirrorspectator.com. Paint a Dead Man and International IMPAC
in dance and the arts, which I look forward to Dublin Literary Award-winner Michael Thomas,
presenting to the world.” author of Man Gone Down.
S A T U R D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 0 9 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 13
WENTWORTH GALLERY
Obama and Tom Brokaw. It tells the story of
GEVORG
Olympic medalists Tommie Smith and John
Carlos, who return to Mexico City 40 years after
Presents
stirring controversy by raising their fists in the
air during their medal ceremony and, in the pro-
cess, raising awareness of the struggle for civil
rights in America and basic human rights
throughout the world.
Heart of Americans
ture that contributes to the fight for social con-
2:00-9:00 PM
es of conscience, each representing a different facet
of the peace movement inside Israel,” says Zaven
Khachaturian, Arpa Film Festival curator,
Schaumburg, IL 60173
receive this year’s Arpa Foundation Award. Over
its 60 year history, AEF has been committed to
Additional exhibitions:
supported the establishment of hundreds
of Armenian day schools around the world. A
HMADS Presents Comedy with Kev Orkian To purchase tickets directly through the
Carnegie Box Office, visit
newly-established AGBU Performing Arts
Fellowship Program.
www.carnegiehall.org. To sustain and expand our support for future
BAYSIDE, N.Y. — The Friends of Holy crowd favorite and a comedic legend in both For decades, AGBU grants have been award- worthy candidates, AGBU NYSEC invites you to
Martyrs Armenian Day School (HMADS) pre- British and Armenian circles. This pianist ed to hundreds of talented and qualified stu- join them in raising funds on the occasion of
sents a perfor- extraordinaire also has a revamped musical- dents of Armenian descent studying in the per- this benefit concert for the AGBU Performing
mance by comedy repertoire. forming arts who have demonstrated excellence Arts Fellowship Program. A generous tax-
Armenian come- Orkian honed his skills and perfected his in their chosen fields. These awards enable deductible donation toward this event will
dian Kev Orkian comedic timing at Brunel University, where recipients to achieve their potential, laying the make a dynamic difference in the performing
at New York’s he studied drama and music and also trained foundation for their future as they celebrate arts aspirations of new and succeeding genera-
Flushing Town for a two-year national diploma in the per- their heritage and identity. In 2008, the AGBU tions of Armenian youth.
Hall, 137-35 forming arts. He made his West End debut in
Northern Blvd., “Fame” and was in the original production of
in Flushing, “Happy Days,” the musical. He has taken his
Ahnert to Give Talk at St. Leon Armenian Church Timagahantes Baronyani 1860agan Bolisi Mez
A Masquerade Party in Baronians 1860s Istanbul
RIDGEWOOD, N.J. — Margaret Ajemian- imprint on the story of survival as she simulta-
:adyragan Ja,gyro3; Barahantes
Ahnert, noted author of The Knock at the neously weaves the tale of a loving mother-
Door: A Journey through the Darkness of the daughter relationship.
Armenian Genocide will discuss her book and Ahnert counts as her friends and supporters A Murder Mystery Dinner Theater
later be available for discussion, on Friday, former Gov. Hugh Carey and Manhattan District
October 2, 7:30 p.m. in Abajian Hall, St. Leon Attorney, Robert Morgenthau, whose grandfa- Badrasdov;yamp` #arov; {a;majyani
Armenian Church here. ther, Henry Morgenthau, was the US ambassador Prepared by Harout Chatmajian
The book is an account of her mother’s har- to the Ottoman Empire from 1913 to 1916 and
rowing escape from her birth town of Amasia in one of the first to raise an alarm there.
Ottoman Turkey and the unspeakable crimes A limited number of copies of The Knock at
she survives and witnesses during her year-long the Door will be available that night for sale;
journey to the safety of American shores. however those interested are urged to contact
Ahnert retells her 98-year-old mother’s tale the church to reserve a copy in advance.
from her bedside in the Queens Armenian Refreshments will be served after her presen-
Home — and in the process leaves her own tation.
Donation: $60 ! BYOB ! Dress Code (Optional): 1860’s Attire & Mask
For Tickets, Call Marie Zokian (201) 745-8850, Noushig Atamian (718) 894-5878
Maro Hajakian (201) 934-3427 or Missak Boghosian (212) 819-0097
S A T U R D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 0 9 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 15
BOOKS
Two Arab Novelists on the Frontline in English Khoury said that forcing a prisoner to write
his life story “is a bizarre technique, but it is,
unfortunately, used in Arab prisons.”
Arabic Literary Translation in 2006. a punishment for his having sympathized with Yalo is of Assyrian background and Khoury
By Susannah Tarbush Taher and Khoury were in London recently, the Urabi revolt, the failed nationalist uprising links his story in modern Lebanon with the
en route to Edinburgh, to participate in a ses- that led to the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian war and to thread of blood stretching from the massacres
sion of the Edinburgh International Book British colonial rule. Mahmoud’s wife insists of Assyrians, along with Armenians, in Turkey
Among the Arab writers who have had nov- Festival. They appeared at the Frontline Club, on accompanying him on the hazardous jour- in 1915.
els published in the UK in English translation West London, in an event billed as an ney to the oasis. She is determined to try to sal- Taher said the idea of victim and victimizer
this year, two names in particular stand out: Edinburgh taster. They discussed their work vage her shaky marriage and to find the tomb is also reflected in the themes of Sunset Oasis,
Bahaa Taher of Egypt and Elias Khoury of with the prominent cultural journalist Maya of Alexander the Great. Things turn out disas- whether in relation to Mahmoud, or to
Lebanon. Both are major literary figures in the Jaggi of the Guardian newspaper before the trously. Alexander the Great who “while victimizing
Arab world, and thanks to the magic of trans- floor was thrown open for questions. Khoury, 61, is the author of 12 novels, six of others was at the same time defeating himself.”
lation, they are becoming increasingly known The writers spoke eloquently, and with a gen- which have appeared in English translation. He Taher expressed some caution over experi-
to the English-reading public. erous sprinkling of humor, about their own is particularly known for his 1998 novel Gate mentation. He has read Yalo twice and discov-
The English version of Taher’s novel Sunset work and on wider issues of Arab literature and of the Sun, an epic narrative of the Palestinian ered that it has “a form of its own; you cannot
Oasis, published by the Hodder & Stoughton politics. The subjects ranged from narrative 1948 naqba (catastrophe). Possessor of a doc- categorize it.”
imprint Sceptre, hits UK bookstores this week. techniques, to portrayals of victim and victim- torate from the Sorbonne in Paris, he is editor- “I find that in our modern literature there
The Arabic original was in 2008 the first-ever izer, women in novels, Arab prison literature in-chief of the cultural supplement of the daily are some writers who are writing experimental
winner of the $60,000 International Prize for and torture methods and the impact of inva- newspaper An-Nahar and Global Distinguished things just for the sake of experiment not
Arabic Fiction (IPAF). sion and occupation on fiction writing. Professor of Middle Eastern and Islamic because they have really something new to
Khoury’s novel Yalo was published in Taher, born in 1935, is the author of six nov- Studies at New York University. add, or because they believe that they should
English in June by the MacLehose Press els and five short story collections. Sunset Yalo is set in the early 1990s in a prison out- modernize Arabic literature, but just because
imprint of London publisher Quercus and has Oasis is the fourth of his novels to be translat- side Beirut. The protagonist, Yalo, is repeated- they want to be unusual and do not want to be
already garnered some highly favorable ed into English. ly tortured, interrogated and forced to write conventional writers, and in cases where the
reviews. The novel is set in late 19th century Egypt accounts of his life. He relates how he joined a writer is not very experienced or very talented
Like Sunset Oasis, Yalo was translated by under British colonial rule, and depicts police barracks during the civil war, deserted to Paris, this could be a very dangerous development,”
Humphrey Davies, one of the most eminent officer Mahmoud Abd El-Zahir, who is sent to was picked by a Lebanese arms dealer to he concluded.
translators of Arabic literature. Davies’ transla- the rebellious Berber-speaking oasis town of become a security guard, had an affair with his
tion of an earlier Khoury novel, Gate of the Siwa in the remote west of Egypt as district boss’s wife and became a robber, voyeur and (This article originally appeared this week
Sun, won the inaugural Banipal Prize for commissioner and tax collector. His posting is rapist. He falls in love with one of his victims, in the Saudi Gazette.)
16 S A T U R D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 0 9 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R
C A L E N D A R
O CT O B E R 16-17 — S t . J a m e s 62n d A n n u a l B a z a a r. F r i d a y
CALIFORNIA a n d S a t u r d ay , 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Armenian food, shish kebab,
S E P T E M B E R 22 – O CT OB E R 27 — M i cha e l B o b e l i a n , chicken kebab, losh kebab, kheyma and eetch. (served from
a u t ho r o f Ch i l d r e n o f A r m e n i a , published by Simon & 11 a.m.-8 p.m.) Armenian delicacies and pastries. Boereg,
Schuster, will participate in a series of readings and book manti, yalanchi, porov kufteh, tourshi, choereg, cream and
signings. This groundbreaking book is the first to chronicle nut khadaif, bourma, baklava and more. Booths and ven-
the aftermath of the first genocide of the 20th century, dors including the country store, Armenian items, attic trea-
recounting the Armenian struggle for justice in the face of sures, jewelry and spa vendors, candy sale. $100 raffle.
silence and denial. For more info., www.childrenarmenia.com. (Only 350 sold. Purchase by September 30 to be entered in
• September 29 — 7 p.m., at the Glendale Public Library, 222 a $500 special early-bird drawing. Grand prize: $5,000; sec-
E. Harvard St., Glendale, Calif. ond-fourth prizes: $1,000. Fifth-eighth prizes: $500) and $2
• October 1 — 7 p.m., at the Fresno Public Library (Fig Garden raffle. Silent auction including art from Armenia and
Branch), 3071 West Bullard Ave., Fresno, Calif. Jerusalem, jewelry, gift certificates and sporting events. St.
• October 18 — 4 p.m., at the Ararat-Eskijian Museum, 15105 James’ Mosesian Cultural and Youth Center, 465 Mt.
Mission Hills Road, Mission Hills, Calif. Auburn St., Watertown. For info., call (617) 923-8860.
• October 27 — 7 p.m. at Chaucer’s Bookstore, 3321 State St., O CT O B E R 23 & 25 — A r me n i a n F e s t i v a l , A r m e n i a n Ch u r ch
Santa Barbara, Calif. o f O u r S a v i o u r, offering the most delicious shish, losh and
chicken kebab on char-broiled grills. Freshly-made kheyma,
N OV E M B E R 7 — A r m e n i a n P r o fe s s i o n a l S o ci e t y H o n o r s
kids meals available, raffle/prizes, beer and wine. The best
D r. Va r t a n Gr e g o r i a n as their Professional of the Year.
authentic Armenian baked goods, country store, music and
Sheraton Universal, Los Angeles. Tickets: $150.
fun for the entire family. Friday, October 23, 5-9 p.m., and
N O V E M B E R 8 — S a y a t N o v a D a n c e C o m p a n y o f B o s to n
On October 3, St. Stephen’s Armenian Sunday, October 25, 12-5 p.m. Cultural Center, 34 Boynton
t r a v e l s t o Ca l i fo r n i a to present its dynamic “Power in
Elementary School presents YerazArt St., Worcester. (508) 756-2931.
Rhythm” performance at Glendale High School Auditorium,
1440 E. Broadway, Glendale. For tickets, contact Young Musicians from Armenia in a N OV E M B E R 1 — A r me n i a n Ch i l d r e n ’s Co n ce r t , fe a t u r i n g
www.itmyseat.com. N o u n e K a r a p e t i a n a n d Ts a p i k n e r. Sunday, 3 p.m. First
concert sponsored by the Khatchig Armenian Church, 380 Concord Ave., Belmont. Kids, bring a
Babikian Fund on Saturday, 4 p.m. at pillow to sit on. Tickets: $15 in advance; $20 at the door. To
FLORIDA
the National Heritage Museum, 33 purchase in advance, call Liana (617) 744-0595. Sponsored
F E B R U A RY 6, 2010 — Cu p i d Ca p e r s F un N i g ht , presented by Erebuni Saturday School and Amaras Art Alliance. For
Marrett Road, Lexington, Mass. The
by Women’s Guild St. David Church Boca Raton, featuring more info., visit www.erebunischool.org or
Onnik Dinkjian, vocals; Ken Boyajian, oud; Mal Barsamian, young artists, pictured above, will www.amaras.org.
clarinet; Ara Dinkjian, guitar and Noubar Boyajian, dumbeg. perform classical works. For tickets N OV E M B E R 6 — W i n e Ta s t i n g , 7-9 p .m . S t s . Va r t a n a n t z
Save the date. Details to follow. and info., call (617) 335-1159 or (857) A r me n i a n Ch u r ch , 180 Old Westford Road, Chelmsford.
991-0297. Tickets: $30 per person (before October 24) $35 thereafter.
Includes brief wine presentation, appetizers and wine.
MASSACHUSETTS Contact Carol Hildebrand (978) 618-6982 or e-mail stswine-
S E P T E M B E R 19-O CT O B E R 10 — W h i s t l e r H o u s e M u s e u m tasting09@gmail.com.
ce l e b r a t e s A r s hi l e G o r k y . 243 Worthern St., Lowell, call N OV E M B E R 6 — J a z z N i g h t s @ A L M A w i t h S t e v e
(978) 452-7641 or e-mail jdyment@whistlerhouse.org. Cultural and Youth Center, Keljik Hall. 465 Mt. Auburn St., T a s h j i a n ’s Cl a s s i c G r o o v e at Armenian Library and
Exhibit opens on Wednesday, September 16. On Saturday, Watertown. Featuring Bob Raphalian (oud), Leon Janikian Museum of America, Watertown. ClassicGroove returns to
October 10, at 6 p.m., an original play will be performed by (clarinet), Harry Bedrossian (keyboard and vocals), Kenny the stage, performing an exciting range of jazz favorites in
Regina Eliot Ramsey about Willem De Kooning and Gorky. Kalajian (guitar) and Leon Manoogian (dumbeg). $25 per ALMA’s Contemporary Art Gallery. The concert begins at 8
S E P T E M B E R 28 — F i r s t A n n u a l S t s . Va r t a n a n t z Go l f person. Tables of 10 may be reserved with advance pay- p.m.; museum doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $15
To ur n a m e n t and outing, Butter Brook Golf Club, Westford. ment. For tickets, contact Melanie Khederian at (617) 694- (includes one complimentary glass of wine for 21+). ALMA
$150, includes golf, cart, prizes, reception and awards din- 1057 or at mkhederian@gmail.com. All proceeds to benefit members, students and JazzBoston members (with proper
ner. 1 p.m., shotgun start. Dinner only, $35. Proceeds to the 2010 ACYOA General Assembly and National Sports ID) pay $10. Visit www.almainc.org or call (617 926-2562 to
benefit Sts. Vartanantz Youth Scholarship Fund. Contact Ara Weekend hosted by St. James ACYOA. preorder your tickets/make table reservations.
at (978) 251-4845, Steve at (978) 808-2820 or e-mail: O CT O B E R 4 — P r e s e r v a t i o n o f A r m e n i a n M o n a s t e r i e s o f
N OV E M B E R 6 — “ T h e G o l d e n Vo i ce s o f O p e r a ,” featuring
StsVGolf@earthlink.net. I r a n : H i s t o r y , C h a l l e n g e s a n d A cco m p l i s h m e n t s .
Yeghishe Manucharyan, Victoria Avetisyan and Yelena
O CT O B E R 2 — J a z z N i g ht s @ A L M A w i t h A r m e n D o n e l i a n Presenter: Varoujan Arakelian, architect. Sunday, 3 p.m.
Dudochkin with Tatyana Dudochkin, piano. Celebrate 2009
T r i o at Armenian Library and Museum of America, Armenian Cultural Foundation, 441 Mystic St., Arlington.
Armenian Cultural Heritage Program. Sponsored by Holy
Watertown. Donelian (piano), David Clark (bass) and Admission is free and open to the public. Co-sponsored by
Trinity Armenian Church and Choir of Greater Boston. Friday,
George Schuller (drums) will perform music from their latest the Armenian Cultural Foundation, the Armenian Society of
8 p.m. Longy School of Music, Edward M. Pickman Concert
album “Oasis.” The concert begins at 8 p.m. in ALMA’s Boston and the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and
Hall, 27 Garden St., Cambridge. Tickets: $25 per person. The
Contemporary Art Gallery; museum doors open at 7:30 Cultural Society.
program will include favorite arias, duets and romances,
p.m. Tickets $15 (includes one complimentary glass of wine O CT O B E R 4 — Ce l e b ra t i o n o f A r me n i a n I n d e p e n d e n ce including Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Tigranyan, Abrahamyan,
for 21+). ALMA members, students and JazzBoston mem- D ay ( N e w R e p u b l i c) by the Lowell ARF, 1 p.m., Sts. Rimsky-Korsakov and others. For further info., contact the
bers (with proper ID) pay $10. Visit www.almainc.org or call Vartanantz Armenian Church, 180 Westford Road, North Holy Trinity Church Office at (617) 354-0632 or e-mail
(617) 926-2562 to preorder tickets/make table reservations. Chelmsford; complimentary dinner and program; David office@htaac.org.
O CT O B E R 3 — S t . S t e p h e n ’s A r m e n i a n E l e m e n t a r y S ch o o l Boyajian will be recognized for his years of dedicated service
p r e s e n t s Ye r a z A r t Yo u n g M u s i ci a n s fr o m A r m e n i a in a N OV E M B E R 6-7 — S t . S t e p h e n ’s A r m e n i a n A p o s t o l i c
to the No Place for Hate campaign and will offer an update.
concert sponsored by the Khatchig Babikian Fund. Saturday, Chu r ch , 53r d A r me n i a n B a z a a r. Friday and Saturday, 10
O CT O B E R 7 — A r m e n i a n Cu l t u r a l F o u n d a t i o n , B o o k
4 p.m. at the National Heritage Museum, 33 Marrett Road, a.m.-9:30 p.m. Armenian Cultural and Educational Center,
P r e s e n t a t i o n , 441 Mystic St., Arlington, 7:30 p.m. An
Lexington. Admission, $15. For tickets and info., call (617) 47 Nichols Ave., Watertown. Lamb, losh and chicken kebab,
evening with author, scholar and political activist Muriel
335-1159 or (857) 991-0297. kheyma, kufta and yalanchi. Meals served from 11:30 a.m.-
Mirak-Weissbach on her thought-provoking and ground-
O CT O B E R 3 — B r a t t l e B o u t i q u e a n d S p a r k s S t . Ca fé — A 8:30 p.m. Takeout available. Armenian pastries, gourmet,
breaking work, Through the Wall of Fire, Armenia-Iraq-
F a l l F a i r featuring specialty gift and food items, sponsored soujoukh, arts and crafts, books, tapes, art sale, children’s
Palestine: From Wrath to Reconciliation, examining the fate
by the Women’s Guild of Holy Trinity Armenian Church of games. Auction starts at 7 p.m. Also raffles, sports tickets
of the orphans in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide,
Greater Boston, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday. Charles and and much more.
Iraqi and Palestinian children after decades of war and
Nevart Talanian Cultural Hall, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge. deportations and search for a path to reconciliation. The
This new event will feature a variety of specialty vendors sell- event is free and open to the public followed by a reception N OV E M B E R 7 — F il m S cr e e n i n g o f “H o v e ,” p r e s e n t e d b y
ing gifts and gourmet food. There will also be a Children’s and book signing. For more info., call ACF at (781) 646- t h e A r m e n i a n L i b r a r y a n d M us e u m o f A m e r i ca , 65 Main
Corner with activities and items for children. Admission is 3090. St., Watertown, at 2 p.m. Olympia Dukakis stars in this mov-
free. For further info., contact the Holy Trinity Church Office O CT O B E R 8 — M i ch a e l B o b e l i a n , a u t h o r o f Ch i l d r e n o f ing tale about two Armenian women whose friendship is
at (617) 354-0632 or e-mail office@htaac.org. A r m e n i a, will participate in a reading and book signing. 7 deeply affected by an encounter with the past and the pow-
O CT O B E R 3 — A r m e n i a n A me r i ca n P r o fe s s i o n a l s Ga l a p.m. at NAASR Bookstore, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, erful, unresolved legacy of the Armenian Genocide. Co-star
B a n q u e t a n d D a n ce Honoring Massachusetts state Rep. Mass. This groundbreaking book is the first to chronicle the Shirleyann Kaladjian and Director Alex Webb will attend the
Peter Koutoujian of Waltham. 6 p.m., cocktail hour. Dinner aftermath of the first genocide of the 20th century, recount- screening. Admission is $8. ALMA members pay $5. Visit
with music and dancing with DJ Eddie K. Hyatt Regency ing the Armenian struggle for justice in the face of silence almainc.org.
Hotel, Cambridge. For information and tickets, contact Ara and denial. For more info., www.childrenarmenia.com. N OV E M B E R 16 — Co n ce r t o f w o r k s b y L e x i n gt o n co m -
Demirjian at (617) 974-8343. Sponsored by the following OCTO B E R 15 — Hu ma n R i gh ts i n Ar me ni a n Hi s to r y , a l e c- p o s e r H ay g B o y a d j i a n a n d s ev e r a l m e m b e r s o f t h e
associations: Armenian American Medical Association, tu r e by P r of. S im on P ay as l i a n, at 7 p.m. at the Armenian B o s t o n S y m p h o ny O r ch e s t r a . Edwin Barker, principal dou-
Armenian American Dental Society, Armenian American Library and Museum of America, Watertown. Payaslian, ble bass of the Boston Symphony Orchestra; Doriot Anthony
Nurses Association, Armenian American Bar Association Kenosian Chair in Modern Armenian History and Literature at Dwyer, former principal flautist of the Boston Symphony
(Law Society) and hosted by the Armenian American Boston University, discusses the development of human rights Orchestra; John McDonald, pianist, former chairman of the
Pharmacists’ Association. in Armenia within a long historical perspective and contends Music Department and present director of Graduate Music
O CT O B E R 3 — S e co n d S t . J a m e s P a r i s h R e u n i o n a n d ke f, human rights values and customary practices require centuries Studies at Tufts University, and Jodi Hitzhusen, soprano. First
hosted by the St. James ACYOA Seniors. Saturday, 8 p.m.-1 of development. For more info., visit www.alamainc.org. The Parish Church, 7 Harrington Road, Lexington Center. For
a.m. at St. James Armenian Church. Charles Mosesian event is free and open to the public. more information, call (781) 862-9395.
S A T U R D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 0 9 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R 17
COMMENTARY
COMMENTARY
agreement that would have simply stated: “Armenia and 7) The Protocols do not include any requirement that they
Turkey agree to establish diplomatic relations and declare be signed and ratified by a particular date. The oft-mentioned
their mutual border open on January 1, 2010.” In fact, such October 12 or 13 signature dates are not mentioned in the
a one-line agreement was adopted by the United States and text of the Protocols. The Armenian government should not
Turkey in 1927, when establishing diplomatic relations. rush to sign and ratify these Protocols.
My Turn 3) Armenia did not have to make any concessions in order
to entice Turkey to open its border. Since Turkey has been
Armenia’s leaders may yet be saved from damaging their
country’s interests by Turkey’s reluctance to ratify the
By Harut Sassounian desperately trying to join the European Union for several Protocols. Turkey may blink first.
decades, it has no choice but to open its border with 8) Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian admitted last week
Armenia. The EU requires that all member states have open that there is no legal requirement to submit these Protocols
Ten Major Concerns Regarding borders with neighboring countries. to Parliament for ratification. However, such ratification
4) By rushing to shut down the border in 1993, Turkey would unnecessarily compound the damage done to
Armenia-Turkey Protocols deprived itself of an important leverage over Armenia. Armenia’s national interests.
In earlier columns, I had described the major negative Should Turkey reopen the border, it would once again repos- 9) The Armenian government made no attempt during the
aspects of the already-initialed Armenia-Turkey Protocols sess that leverage, holding the threat of closing the border as lengthy negotiations with Turkey to consult with Diaspora
made public on August 31. a Damoclean Sword over Armenia’s head. This threat Armenians, despite the fact that the Protocols addressed
The concerns I had expressed dealt with two unacceptable becomes particularly potent, once Armenia’s population is vital pan-Armenian issues. Months ago, when organizations
preconditions— recognizing the territorial integrity of Turkey increasingly dependent on imported, cheap Turkish food- and individuals expressed serious concerns regarding the
and establishing a joint committee of experts to study his- stuffs and goods. preliminary text of the Protocols, they were simply ignored
torical archives, a not-so-veiled reference to re-examining the Should Turkey decide to close the border in the future by the Armenian authorities. Attempts to hold discussions at
Armenian Genocide. under some pretext, Armenia’s leaders would not be able to the eleventh hour are futile, since the Armenian foreign min-
Below is a more comprehensive evaluation, providing 10 reverse the damage done to the nation’s interests, even if ister has declared that the Protocols cannot be amended.
reasons why the Armenian government should not have ini- they abrogated the Protocols. 10) When the Armenian president met with leaders of
tialed, and should not sign and ratify these Protocols: 5) Prime Minister Erdogan said once again last week that more than 50 political parties in Yerevan last week, the five-
1) Armenia’s leaders made the misjudgment of trying to Turkey would not open its border with Armenia, unless the hour-long “consultations” were held behind closed doors.
resolve a large number of emotionally-charged Armenian- Karabagh (Artsakh) conflict is resolved. Armenia’s leaders Regrettably, only the president’s remarks were publicized.
Turkish issues all at once, through a single agreement. should announce that they will not sign these Protocols, One would hope that when Sargisian goes on his planned
Decades of antagonism cannot be dealt with in such haste. since Turkish officials have made it crystal clear that they trip in early October to Paris, New York, Los Angeles,
Armenian officials should have proceeded cautiously and have no intention of keeping their side of the bargain. Moscow and Beirut, his discussions with diaspora leaders
gradually, starting with the simple step of establishing diplo- 6) Retired Turkish Ambassador Yalim Eralp made an would be more open and transparent, and preferably tele-
matic relations, followed by the opening of the border. More important disclosure during a recent interview. He stated vised.
complicated issues should have been left for a later date. that the Turkish Parliament, while ratifying the Protocols, The one unintended outcome of this heated controversy is
2) Since the declared purpose of these negotiations is the could declare them to be valid only after the resolution of the the coming together of diverse Armenian organizations to
opening of the border with Armenia — which Turkey shut Karabagh conflict. Should the Turks advance such a condi- take a common stand against these Protocols. It is everyone’s
down 16 years ago — there was no reason to conduct such tion, the Armenian Parliament could retaliate by requiring earnest hope that the intense intra-Armenian discord would
protracted and complex negotiations, and draft an elaborate that the Protocols go into effect only after Turkey acknowl- not last long and Armenia’s leaders would find the courage
document that included many unrelated and unacceptable edges the Armenian Genocide and Azerbaijan recognizes the and wisdom to stand down from their decision to sign and
conditions. It may have been wiser to draft a one-sentence Republic of Artsakh. ratify these Protocols detrimental to the Armenian Cause.
20 S A T U R D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 0 9 T H E A R M E N I A N M I R R O R - S P E C TAT O R
Mirror-Spectator
Law in Turkey. In the same context, Dr. Seyhan
Bayraktar, from the University of Zurich, cov-
Ara Babloyan Elected ered the evolution of the Armenian Genocide
denial in the Turkish Press.
To WHO Executive A PhD candidate, at John Hopkins University,
Bilgin Ayata talked about the Kurdish —
Committee Armenian relations and the Armenian
Genocide.
COPENAGEN (Armenpress) — A ses- Dr. Roger Smith, a professor Emeritus of
sion of the European regional committee YES , I would like a 1– year subscription to The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.
government at the College of William and
of the World Health Organization (WHO) Mary in Virginia, lectured on Professional USA /Second Class Mail $75.00 CANADA /Air Mail $125.00
took place September 15 here, resulting Ethics and the Denial of the Armenian
in the election of representatives of USA /First Class Mail $120.00
Genocide; Dr. Henry Theriault, from the
Armenia and Norway to the organiza- Worcester State College in Massachusetts, ❏ THE SUBSCRIPTION IS FOR ME
tion’s highest executive committee. talked about restorative justice and alleviat- NAME
Ara Babloyan , chair of the Armenian ing the consequences of genocide and finally,
Permanent Commission for Health, ADDRESS
Dr. Richard Hovannisian, from UCLA, cov-
Maternity and Children’s Affairs, will ered the issue of universalizing the legacy of CITY STATE ZIP
serve in the position. the Armenian Genocide.
The discussants and moderators of the ses- ❏ THE SUBSCRIPTION IS A GIFT FOR:
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JESUSALEM, from page 19 our two people,” an Israeli thinker adds. “But it
It is a question that haunts not only Natsheh will require difficult compromises from both All payments must be drawn on US banks
and Abu Sway, or the other Arabs, Jews or sides.”
Christians I meet. It is a question that haunts For Haifa Al Khalidi, a former teacher at St
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the conscience of the whole world, I am told by George’s Boys school, peace cannot come too
a Hebrew University lecturer. soon. The library she has inherited at the 13th
The Jerusalem academic world is in fact in C Mameluke building at Bab Al Silsilah (the
the foreground of efforts to bridge the deep Gate of the Chain), houses some of the Islamic
Arab-Israeli divide, on both a personal and intel- world’s most precious manuscripts, including
TODAY!
lectual level. The virtual online library several Ottoman “firman”s (decrees). The oldest
(http://www.jerusalem-library.org) created by dates back 1000 years.
the Hebrew and Al Quds Universities is a living The Al Khalidis began collecting the works in
testament to the determination of men of good- earnest some three centuries ago, but the pre-
will to contribute and share, and to acknowl- sent library was set up only in 1900.
edge the fact that they are destined to live Haifa shows me some of her precious
together in this land. charges, and I can only gaze in wonder at the
Some of the leading Palestinian intellectuals inimitable Arabic calligraphy, and in horror at
I encountered (among them Sari Nuseibeh, the network of tiny tunnels dug over the years
President of Al-Quds University, anthropologist by the larva of book worm beetles in some of
Ali Qleibo, historian Mohamad Al Alami and the pages.
librarian Haifa Al Khalidi), were actually recom- The forlorn expression on Haifa’s face betrays
mended to me, and highly spoken of, by the pain and frustration she feels at this sacri-
Israelis. lege, but the underlying steel in her eyes is
One Palestinian scholar, who wishes to ample evidence that the bug stops here.
remain anonymous, tells me peace between (Arthur Hagopian, former press officer of the
Arabs and Israelis can only be achieved when
Israel has attained acceptance among the
Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem currently
residing in Australia, spent two weeks in the Check us out at
Arabs.
“It’s the best security they’ll ever have,” he
Old City recently, after a 15-year absence. This
is the fifth installment of his report on his www.mirrorspectator.com
insists. “Peace is certainly possible between sojourn there.)