National, International, Armenia, and Community News and Opinion

Yerevan
vistas and
the reasons
for staying
A visit
with Garig
Poghosyan
Armenia Fund
Telethon logo is
unveiled
See story on page 19m
See story on page C8m
See story on page 5m
Eastern U.S. Edition
Number 85
October 25, 2008
the armenian
reporter
In a ceremony presided over by Abp. Hovnan Derderian, Grigor Avagyan and Arsen Hayrapetyan are ordained as priests. Their new names are Fr. Diran and Fr. Nerses. Photo: Hilma Shahinian.
Two priests are ordained in
Pasadena as the Armenian
Church “renews itself”
Reporter.am
See story on page 1 m

The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008

Number 85
October 25, 2008
the armenian
reporter
National
Three generations participate in Fuller Center build
Cynthia Erickson and three generations
of her family who came to
Armenia to participate in building
projects with the Fuller Center for
Housing. Their three-week trip to
Armenia was not just a visit to the
homeland, but a mission to participate
directly in its development.
They acknowledge it was hard work,
but well worth the effort. The Armenian
Reporter’s Nyree Abrahamian
traveled to the village of Voskevaz
to talk to them.
Families like Ms. Erickson’s are
taking a fresh approach by actively
participating in the shaping of
today’s Armenia; they are affirming
that their ancestry is not just
a thing of the past, but living and
thriving roots.
See story on page 3 m
Armenia
A bold leap into the unknown, kids and all
Raffi Niziblian and Lara Aharonian
are the quintessential modern
Armenian couple. Married, with
three beautiful children, they have
demanding careers and a fulfilling
family life. And they’re doing all of
this in Yerevan.
Raffi and Lara are part of a growing
repatriation movement among
diaspora Armenians. They have
been living in Armenia since 2003
with their three children: Amassia,
Armenia Fund-U.S. Western Region
announced the launch of
its 11th International Telethon
campaign. The live fundraising
program will air in all major Armenian
communities in the United
States and across the globe
on November 27, from 8:00 A.M.
until 8:00 P.M. PST as well as on
the Internet, at armeniafund.org.
On October 10, Armenia Fund’s
Armenia
8, Varanta, 6, and Vayk, 3, who was
born in Armenia.
Both Raffi and Lara developed an
early love for Armenia and repatriation
for them is not a passing phase.
“Nothing is permanent,” says Raffi,
“But we’re here indefinitely.”
Nyree Abrahamian talks to them
about work, healthcare, education,
and more.
See story on page 16m
Lovers’ Park opened in Yerevan this past week thanks to the funding and
initiative of the Boghossian Foundation in cooperation with the Armenia Fund.
The fully refurbished 1.6-hectare park, with Eastern influences, is a calm oasis in
the heart of Armenia’s capital city.
See story on page 15 m
Community
Armenia Fund launches 11th International
Telethon Campaign
Community
longtime supporters and donors
gathered at the residence of Armen
Khachatourian and Maria
Mehranian to unveil the 2008
Telethon logo, “My Home, Armenia.”
The unveiling has become
a tradition over the past several
years and marks the launch date
of the campaign.
A night of art in the city that never sleeps
See story on page 5 m
On October 16, New York-based
painter, photographer, musician,
and filmmaker Haik Kocharian
held a multimedia event at the
Drum Lounge in New York City.
The showcase program comprised
an exhibition of Kocharian’s photographs,
which were displayed
throughout the venue; a screening
of his film Charlie; and a musical
performance, featuring Kocharian’s
vocals and guitar and accompanied
by a band. “I think my music
is universal and can connect
with every age group because my
subjects are universal,” Kocharian
said. “I feel alive when I am
on the stage. Any reaction I can
evoke, whether laughter, seriousness,
amazement, or even disgust
in many cases, whatever emotion
I can evoke, is a gift.”
See story on page 7m
Russia’s president, in Yerevan,
sees quick action on Karabakh
Sargsian endorses
Madrid principles as
basis for more talks
by Tatul Hakobyan
YEREVAN – President Dmitry
Medvedev of Russia is looking
forward to a meeting of the presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan
in Moscow, he announced during
an official visit to Armenia on October
20–21.
“I am hopeful that we are in
the stage where progress is being
made,” he said in a joint press
conference with President Serge
Sargsian. “In any case, the two
sides are prepared to look for solutions.
I will not comment on
the details of the negotiations
because they are details of negotiations
and that is their value.
I hope that in the near future
a meeting of three presidents
takes place in the capital of Russia,”
he added.
A large part of the discussions between
Mr. Sargsian and Mr. Medvedev
was dedicated to the resolution
of the Karabakh conflict.
“Armenia is prepared to continue
the negotiations on the basis of the
Madrid principles,” Mr. Sargsian
said, referring to a proposal presented
to Armenia and Azerbaijan
by high officials from the United
States, Russia, and France. “These
are foundations, which make it
possible to recognize Karabakh’s
right to self-determination and
some other issues that are matters
of principle for us,” Mr. Sargsian
added.
Two priests are ordained in Pasadena
as the church “renews itself”
by Lory Tatoulian
PASADENA, Calif. - With clouds of
incense, baritone chants, holy oil,
and prayers, two young deacons
from the Western Diocese were
ushered into the priesthood on
October 16, partaking in a series
of rituals that marked their sacred
passage.
The ordination of Grigor Avagyan
and Arsen Hayrapetyan took
place at St. Gregory the Illuminator
Armenian Church in Pasadena.
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
primate of the Western Diocese,
led the elaborate series of services
that included calling to the priesthood,
ordination, and consecration
rites.
In keeping with custom, the ordained
priests assumed new names
during the service, signifying their
new role as spiritual leaders in the
Armenian Church. The deacons did
not know what their names would
be up until the moment the bishop
anointed their foreheads with
holy oil (muron) and uttered their
names for the first time on the altar.
Mr. Avagyan’s new name is Father
Diran and Mr. Hayrapetyan’s
new name is Father Nerses.
President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia plants a tree at the Armenian Genocide
Memorial complex in Yerevan on Oct. 22 during his official visit. Photo: Photolure.
A phalanx of deacons, priests,
and bishops from across the state
assisted in the opulent ceremony;
they including former Primate of
the Western Diocese Archbishop
Vatche Hovsepian, parish priest
of St. Gregory the Illuminator
church Fr. Baret Yeretzian, Very
Rev. Fr. Baret Dz. V. Yardemian,
and Archpriest Fr. Nareg Matarian.
Moscow-Baku talks
After leaving Armenia, Russia’s
president spoke on October 22 to
the president of Azerbaijan. Mr.
Medvedev and President Ilham
Aliyev discussed preparations for
a meeting of the three presidents,
Interfax reported.
Mr. Medvedev had visited Baku
on July 3. During that visit, he and
Mr. Aliyev signed a Declaration on
Friendship and Strategic Partnership.
In the declaration, Moscow
and Baku emphasized “the importance
of speedily resolving the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the
basis of widely accepted norms and
principles of international law, and
first of all, maintaining and guaranteeing
those of the sovereignty
of states, their territorial integrity,
and the unchangeability of their
borders.” The two presidents also
pledged to promote military cooperation
(Russia last year sold
tanks to Azerbaijan for the first
time since the mid-1990s) and to
work against groups undermining
the sovereignty of each of the two
countries (with both sides stepping
up attacks on Islamist groups in
the border areas).
But when Mr. Aliyev returned Mr.
Medvedev’s visit in September – after
the war in Georgia – Mr. Medvedev
did not repeat the verbiage
about territorial integrity.
Madrid Principles
At a meeting in Madrid in November
2007, U.S. undersecretary of
state Nicholas Burns, Russian
foreign minister Sergei Lavrov,
and French foreign minister Bernard
Kouchner presented to the
foreign ministers of Armenia and
Continued on page m
The Armenian
Church “is
continually
renewing itself,”
said Abp. Hovnan
Derderian said
of the ordination
of two priests,
Fr. Diran and
Fr. Nerses, in
Pasadena on
October 16.
Photo: Hilma
Shahinian.
A crowd of 400 parishioners
joined in hymns performed by the
Khachadourian Choir and stood in
fascination while witnessing the
ordination of the two priests.
“This is a testament that our
church is continually renewing itself.
A spiritual renaissance is taking
place and these two priests have
Continued on page 4

The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008
National
Washington briefing
by Emil Sanamyan and
Lusine Sarkisyan
Active U.S. diplomacy
continues in Eurasia
Assistant Secretary of State Dan
Fried was in Armenia (Oct. 17),
Georgia (Oct.18–20), and Turkey
(Oct. 21) to discuss regional conflicts
and bilateral relations, local
news media reported. United
States regional diplomacy has been
stepped up significantly since Russian-Georgian
fighting in August.
In meetings with Armenian leaders,
Mr. Fried reportedly focused
on the Karabakh peace process (see
this week’s top story) and Armenia’s
recent talks with Turkey. Mr.
Fried said that a “strong, sovereign,
democratic Armenia is important
not just to the U.S., but to the region
as well.”
(In a similarly worded message,
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
who was in Yerevan on October
21, said Russia wants “the
Armenian people to live in a strong,
flourishing and stable state.”)
Mr. Fried arrived in Georgia simultaneously
with the U.S. Navy’s
guided missile destroyer U.S.S. Barry,
which made a “routine, friendly
visit” to Georgia’s Black Sea port of
Poti from October 18 to 20.
(Officials in Abkhazia, meanwhile,
confirmed plans for a new
Russian naval base at Ochamchir,
just forty miles up the Black Sea
coast from Poti.)
On his visit to Ankara, Mr. Fried
was received with Ertuğrul Apakan,
the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s
number-two, and at a subsequent
meeting with media, the U.S. diplomat
encouraged continued dialogue
between Turkish and Armenian
leaders.
According to the Turkish Daily
News, Mr. Fried called Armenian
President Serge Sargsian “courageous”
for extending an invitation
to his Turkish counterpart,
and Turkish President Abdullah
Gül “wise” for accepting the offer.
“Sometimes taking risks is the highest
realism,” he said.
Mr. Fried also pledged continued
U.S. intelligence help for Turkey’s
fight against Kurdish rebels, while
urging more Turkish cooperation
with Iraqi Kurdish leaders. Turkish
forces have suffered numerous casualties
in recent Kurdish attacks
(see this page in the October 11 Armenian
Reporter.)
Meanwhile, the top U.S. military
officer, Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael
Mullen, assured the three Baltic
republics, Estonia, Latvia, and
Lithuania – which have been NATO
members since 2004 – that they
could count on U.S. military help
should they ever come under a military
attack.
Days earlier, Admiral Mullen met
with Russia’s General Staff Chairman
General Nikolay Makarov in
Finland, for what was described as
“fence-mending talks.”
Abkhazia, South
Ossetia status talks
stall; more aid pledged
to Georgia
European, Georgian, Russian, and
U.S. officials met in Geneva on
October 15 to start discussions, in
the words of the French President
Nicolas Sarkozy, on the “future
status” of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,
and quickly adjourned until
November, Civil.ge and others reported.
The parties reportedly disagreed
on the format of talks, with breakaway
republics insisting they
should participate in the talks on
their future, and Georgia objecting.
The cease-fire agreement negotiated
between Russia and Georgia
continued to largely hold, although
several Russian and Georgian personnel
were reported killed in various
incidents.
Georgia also demanded a Russian
withdrawal from parts of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia that Georgia
held prior to the August war. That
position was supported by Dan
Fried of the U.S. State Department,
although he conceded that
that situation could not be resolved
“very easily” or “very soon.” Russian
officials said areas in question
are parts of breakaway republics
and would not be turned over.
At a “donors’ conference” in
UN Security Council.
Brussels on October 22, the United
States confirmed it would be allocating
$1 billion in aid to Georgia.
Last month, the U.S. Congress appropriated
about one-third of that
amount for Fiscal Year 2009.
In all, pledges of $4.55 billion in
grants and loans over three years
were made, with bulk of the funds
coming from the International
Monetary Fund and the World
Bank, as well as the European
Union (about $1 billion in grants
and loans) and Japan ($200 million).
Transparency International (TI),
a Berlin-based anticorruption organization,
called for publication of
the World Bank’s needs assessment
report on Georgia prepared in advance
of the conference.
“Despite the centrality of the
Joint Needs Assessment to the
future of Georgia, its contents remain
secret at the request of the
Georgian government,” TI Georgia
said in a statement, adding that it
was unclear how the money was intended
to be spent.
151 countries vote
Turkey into the UN
Security Council
Turkey successfully concluded its
five-year $50 million campaign for
a two-year nonrenewable term
on the United Nations Security
Council, as it was voted in by 151
countries on October 17, Turkish
and international news agencies
reported.
There are a total of 192 countries
with United Nations membership.
Countries voted in secret, and
because Turkey was competing
against Austria (which also won a
seat, with 132 votes) and Iceland
(which did not, with 87 votes), few
countries have made their votes
public. But Turkey lobbied heavily
around the world from Latin
America to Africa to Pacific Island
nations.
U.S.S. Barry.
President Abdullah Gül described
the vote as “a significant
success that should be a source of
joy to every citizen. The support
given to Turkey is a reflection of
the feelings of love and friendship
that are felt for our nation and the
trust the international community
has in our state,” the Jamestown
Foundation Eurasia Daily Monitor
(EDM) reported citing Turkish media
on October 18.
Turkey’s Permanent Representative
to the United Nations Ambassador
Baki Ilkin reportedly broke
down in tears of joy during a television
interview following the vote.
Professor Ahmet Davutoglu,
the Turkish government’s leading
foreign policy advisor, said the
outcome as “neither chance, nor
bribery,” even though Turkey spent
$20 million paying off the debts of
smaller nations to the United Nations.
Media watchdog:
peace is good for press
freedom
“It is not economic prosperity but
peace that guarantees press freedom,”
Paris-based Reporters without
Borders argues in its annual
report released on October 22.
The report notes post-election
setbacks in media freedom in Armenia
(now ranked 102nd in the
world, on par with Turkey), war-related
media censorship in Georgia
(now ranked 120th), as well as general
malaise in Russia (141), Azerbaijan
(150), and Iran (166).
Iceland, Norway, and Luxembourg
are ranked as having the most
liberal media environments. For
the full report: http://www.rsf.org/
article.php3id_article=29031 f
Russia’s president, in Yerevan, sees quick action on Karabakh
n Continued from page
Azerbaijan a document with their
proposals for the resolution of the
Karabakh conflict. The three officials
represent the three states that
co-chair the OSCE Minsk Group,
which mediates the resolution of
the Karabakh conflict.
“It is the same document that has
been on the table for about two
years,” Vartan Oskanian, Armenia’s
foreign minister at the time
said after the Madrid meeting. “In
those matters where there was no
agreement, the co-chairs have added
their own proposals to the sides,
for consideration. That is the only
detail of that document. For that
reason it is important to be careful
in one’s assessment, because
the level was high, and the expectations
could also be high.”
The substance of the earlier document
referred to by Mr. Oskanian,
known as the Prague document,
was made public in June 2006.
It was U.S. deputy assistant secretary
of state Matthew Bryza,
the U.S. co-chair of the Minsk
Group, who disclosed the main
principles of a framework peace
accord. Under the principles, he
said, Armenian forces would leave
those territories of Azerbaijan in
which they are now stationed;
Armenia and Azerbaijan would
normalize their economic and
diplomatic ties; peace-keepers
would be stationed; there would
be international economic aid for
Karabakh; and more. In the end,
he said, there would be a vote
on the future status of Nagorno-
Karabakh.
Mr. Bryza said the proposed
vote would take place “at some
point” in the future, after the
liberation of Armenian-occupied
lands in Azerbaijan, the deployment
of an international peacekeeping
force in the conflict zone,
and the restoration of political
and economic ties between Armenia
and Azerbaijan.
Official Yerevan responded
quickly to the June 2006 disclosures,
saying they were partial.
The matter of a referendum and
that of handing the Lachin corridor
and Kelbajar to Azerbaijan
were the most contentious issues.
As the negotiations continued, the
co-chairs offered their own proposals
– the Madrid Principles – for the
resolution of the issues on which
Yerevan and Baku could not agree.
Since Yerevan had accepted the
earlier document as a basis for negotiations
and Baku had rejected it,
the assumption was that the Madrid
principles were more favorable
to Azerbaijan.
On October 7, speaking to the
Russian daily Rossiiskaya Gazeta,
Mr. Lavrov, the foreign minister,
said, “There remain two or three
unresolved issues which need to
be agreed upon at the next meetings
of the presidents of Armenia
and Azerbaijan,” Mr. Lavrov told
the Russian newspaper. “The first
among them is the Lachin corridor,”
he added.
Working toward a
settlement
Mr. Bryza lately told the BBC, “The
resolution of the Karabakh conflict
must start with the principle
of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
Other complementary principles
can then be incorporated.”
He added, “We must say that
yes, from a legal perspective, by
law, Nagorno-Karabakh is part
of Azerbaijan. But, after all, so
that the negotiations result in
an agreement, Armenia too must
agree to it. We know that Armenia
has a different position, and we
must use very creative, constructive
approaches so that Armenia
and Azerbaijan find a common
language.”
Assistant Secretary of State Daniel
Fried, in Yerevan on October 18,
in response to a question from the
Armenian Reporter’s Armen Hakobyan,
clarified current U.S. policy:
“Territorial integrity is a recognized
principle of international law.
There are other principles, such
as self-determination. Now we all
know what we’re talking about here.
Bringing these principles together,
reconciling these principles is extremely
difficult and complicated.”
He added that the Minsk Group
continues to work “to actually find
a settlement.”
Mr. Fried gave no indication,
however, that a settlement is imminent.
f

The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008
National
Three generations participate in Fuller Center build
One family’s quest
to give back and stay
connected to their
roots
by Nyree Abrahamian
VOSKEVAZ, Armenia – Armenians
living in the Diaspora have always
felt a tug to return to their homeland,
or see it for the first time. In
recent years, with more and more
airlines flying to Armenia, quick
and easy visas at the airport, a
plethora of options for accommodations
and a growing tourism industry,
the dream of visiting Armenia
is becoming increasingly accessible.
According to the Armenian
Tourism Development Agency, the
Armenian Diaspora represents 62
percent of all tourist arrivals.
It’s wonderful to see growing
numbers of diaspora Armenians
in the country each year, and even
more uplifting that many are opting
to volunteer during their visit.
Another growing trend among Diaspora
Armenians is to visit with
the entire family, or as many members
of the family as possible. We
have been following the stories
of some of these families, many
of whom are here with members
representing three generations.
And while they all seem to feel a
common bond that is strengthened
and deepened when they visit
their homeland together with their
loved ones, each family’s stories,
their reasons for visiting Armenia
and their experiences are unique.
For Cynthia Erickson and the
three generations of her family who
came to Armenia to participate in
building projects with Fuller Center
for Housing, their recent threeweek
trip to Armenia was not just a
visit to their homeland, but a mission
to directly participate in its
development.
Cynthia started working with
Habitat for Humanity in Armenia
in 2003. She led teams in 2004,
2006 and 2007. This was her first
year working with Fuller Center
and her team consisted of nine
people, six of whom were members
of her family: her mother Satenig,
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aunt Cathy, uncle Dan, sister Ann
Marie, son Bradley and nephew
Orin.
All three generations of the family
were born in the United States.
Cynthia’s grandparents (Satenig’s
parents) were born in Western
Armenia. Her grandfather had immigrated
to the United States from
Van and worked on the railroad in
North Dakota. Her grandmother
was in Palu (near Kharpert) during
the Genocide, and shortly thereafter,
with the help of an uncle in
Rhode Island, she was able to get as
far as Havana, Cuba, where there
was a community of Armenians.
She and her husband met through
correspondences. He came to Havana,
where they were married and
together they returned to North
Dakota, where they had nine children.
Although the family has been in
the United States for almost a century,
their ties to Armenia are as
strong as ever. Satenig and her sister,
Cathy, had visited the country
on a few occasions, and on a visit in
1985, they discovered first cousins
living in Yerevan. Since then, they
have been extremely close with
their Yerevan family. Cousin Lilit,
who was only a baby when they
Your risk is our business
met in 1985, was with them on site
at the build where I met them in
Voskevaz. Cynthia’s 21-year-old son,
Bradley, joined her in Armenia for
the first time on a building project
last year, and her sister, Ann Marie,
had visited in 1997 and 1998.
The group worked for three
weeks, first in Markahovit, where
their main tasks involved concrete
mixing and pouring a concrete
floor, then in Tashir, on a build in
cooperation with the ARDA Project
(Armenian Relief and Development
Association), where they covered
up seams in the ceiling, plastered
and painted the walls. Their last
couple of days was spent in Voskevaz
village, near Yerevan, doing
similar heavy labor work.
“It was hard work,” said Dan Igielski,
Cathy’s husband who was in
Armenia for the first time, “Much
harder than I thought it would
be. I’m wondering how they expect
old folks like us to keep up.”
Though the last part was said half
jokingly, he was serious about the
hard work. “It’s not just window
dressing,” added Ann Marie, “Fuller
Center is really making a difference.
What we did was hard, and it
mattered, and it made a difference
for these families.”
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Left: Back row,
from left, Orin,
Ann Marie
Reimers, Dan
Igielski, Bradley
Erickson;
front row, Lilit,
Satenig Reimers,
Cathy Igielski,
Cynthia Erickson.
Right top and
bottom: Working
hard.
As team leader, Cynthia could not
have been happier with her group.
“Everybody adapted really well to
it,” she said, “We got our bucket
line down really well… My mom
was like our social ambassador. She
helped the women in the kitchen
and did some bucket line work as
well. She was even on the ladder
doing some ceiling plastering.”
Cynthia will to return to Armenia
with another Fuller Center project
next year. This year, it was a special
treat to have so many members of
her family as team members, but
she knows that regardless of where
people are from or their degree of
personal attachment to Armenia,
what really matters is their handson
participation in improving people’s
lives.
Still, there’s no denying that as a
family of Armenian descent, there
is something special about volunteering
in Armenia. “Being of Armenian
descent we feel ownership
to this country,” said Ann Marie,
adding with a laugh, “I don’t know
if it’s always appreciated, but we
really do. And there are limits to
how you can help and see the difference.
You can donate to organizations,
but you never actually see
it happen. Here you see it happen.
You do it with your own hands. You
wear the injuries.” The last remark
was a tongue in cheek reference to
her wrist, which she sprained on
the job.
Though most members of the
family live in areas of the United
States that don’t have very active
Armenian communities and speak
little or no Armenian, language
was never an issue. Emotional
connections can build bridges
right over language barriers.
“There’s a lot of exchange that happens
just through expressions and
gestures,” said Cathy, “People are
always opening their homes to us,
even if their home is just a domik,
and sharing with us whatever
they have.” Domiks are basically
construction containers, tiny oneroom
houses that were meant as
temporary housing after the 1988
earthquake. Some of the homes
that they worked on helped people
finally move out of their domiks,
20 years after the earthquake.
Her husband, Dan, was equally
touched by the welcome they received.
“The food that the families
prepared for our lunches and their
hospitality was just outstanding,”
he said.
For Orin and Bradley, the
younger members of the family,
volunteering through Fuller Center
is not just a great way to give
back, it helps them create ties with
their homeland, making Armenia,
its people and its culture a reality
rather than a vague and distant
concept. It also opens doors. The
two were offered a year’s stay to
help with one of the projects in
Vanadzor!
People living in any diaspora often
face an inner dilemma. They
want so badly to stay connected to
their roots that they cling to any
fragment of the past that remains.
But more and more, families like
Cynthia’s are taking a fresh new approach
towards reconciling the rift
that is caused by displacement. By
actively participating in the shaping
of today’s Armenia, they affirm
that their roots are not just a thing
of the past, but living roots. And
the best way to stay connected to
them is not to mourn for what they
used to be, but to help them grow
strong and healthy.
f
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4 The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008
Community
Two priests are ordained as the church “renews itself”
Continued from page 1
become the newest members of our
clergy to inspire us all, especially
the youth,” Archbishop Derderian
said.
This year, the Western Diocese
has ordained four priests and ten
more candidates are waiting to be
elevated to the rank of priest. The
Western Diocese is focusing its efforts
on providing young deacons
with intense theological training in
preparation to meet the challenges
of being an Armenian priest in this
modern age.
In addition to the theological
training received either at St. Nersess
Seminary in New York or St.
James Monastery in Jerusalem or
the Gevorgian Seminary in Etchmiadzin,
deacons who are studying
for the priesthood are now required
to obtain a masters in divinity to
complete their education.
“We are supporting them in every
way possible to make sure that our
young priests receive the best education,
and are spiritually prepared
to serve the Lord and respond to
the needs of our community,” Archbishop
Derderian said.
In a time when few Armenian
men are choosing to become
priests in the United States, Mr.
Avagyan and Mr. Hayrapetyan are
defying convention and have decided
to express the profound love
they have for the church and community
by devoting their lives to
the oldest Christian institution in
the world.
Fr. Kapriel Mouradjian, who
is now the parish priest at Holy
Resurrection Armenian Church in
New Britain, Connecticut, became
a priest four years ago after having
worked as a mortgage banker for
20 years.
“I decided to become a priest since
I was kid but I just kept putting it
off. God kept knocking on my door
and finally I said, ‘OK God you win.’
It was a long decision I had to make
with my family, but of course it was
the right decision,” Fr. Mouradjian
said.
At the time Fr. Mouradjian decided
to become a priest, he and his
wife had two children who were in
junior high. Fr. Mourajian attended
St. James Seminary in Jerusalem
and that is where he met Deacon
Grigor.
“When I found out that Deacon
Grigor was going to be ordained,
there was no way I could miss this.
A new book
by Rev. Arshen
Aivazian features
inspirational
writings by victims
and survivors of the
Genocide
by Alik Hovsepian
For the past two decades, Rev. Arshen
Aivazian has been studying
and translating a great many spiritual
writings, including poems and
homilies, penned by victims and
survivors of the Armenian Genocide.
Many of those pieces are now
collected in his newly-published
book, titled Echoes of Faith.
“Those writings were very inspiring
to me and I thought it would be
a pity not to share them with our
We have all built a strong brotherhood
at St. James,” he said.
Fr. Diran Avagyan takes his new
post very seriously and does not
view his ordination as a mere vocation.
“Ordination is a holy sacrament
and it is a mystery,” the young
priest said. “The Armenian Church
is my mother Church, and I have
always had an innate love for it; my
faith runs in my blood. It’s from
this love that I decided to become a
priest to better serve my community
and my holy church,” he said.
The 25-year-old priest was born
in Yerevan and in his teens served
as the chairman of the acyo Nork
Branch. In 1999 he was admitted
to the Armenian Seminary in Jerusalem,
where he became a fourthdegree
acolyte of the Armenian
Church and received permission to
become a stole bearer. In September
2003, he was ordained Diaconate by
Archbishop Torkom Manoogian,
the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem.
He continued his advanced
theological studies at the Theological
Faculty of the Patriarchate and upon
his graduation served as secretary
to the Chancellor of the Ecumenical
and Foreign Affairs Department
of the Patriarchate in Jerusalem. Fr.
Avagyan is enrolled at the Claremont
School of Theology and is expected
to graduate in three years. He will be
serving the parish in La Vern. He is
married and has one son.
Fr. Nerses Hayrapetyan also demonstrated
his conviction of faith: “I
people,” said Rev. Aivazian, pastor
of St. Paul Armenian Church
in Fresno. “What was striking to
me was that all these authors were
either victims or survivors of the
Genocide. So they lived through
terrible times, [as the Genocide
was] probably one of the greatest
tragedies in our history. And their
faith, which was reflected in those
writings, was extremely inspiring.”
Rev. Aivazian said that an overarching
goal in writing his book
was to help provide spiritual fortitude
to Armenians around the
world, thousands of whom have
experienced extreme hardship in
the past few decades because of political
and social upheaval, racial
hatred, and dislocation.
“I started translating [some of the
writings] for my parish newsletter,
and the reaction was so positive
that even at that time, many years
ago, I thought someday it would be
nice to collect all these in one volume,”
Rev. Aivazian recalled. Since
completing the collection two years
ago, he has focused on editing the
am so thankful to our archbishop
who gave us the opportunity to become
priests to encourage the faith
of our people and spread Christ’s
love.”
Fr. Nerses will be the priest for
the newly formed parish in Santa
Clarita. He is married to Araksya
and together they are expecting
their second child. Fr. Nerses was
born in Ararat, Armenia. In 1998 he
attended the Vazkenian Theological
Seminary in Sevan. After graduation,
he pursued his advanced
theological studies at the Kevorkian
Theological Seminary where he
submitted his thesis “The New Age
Movement and the Root Causes.”
When he graduated from the seminary,
he was assigned to serve at
the Department of Finance and
Economy at the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiatzin.
Fr. Nerses is also enrolled in the
Theological Studies program at the
Claremont School of Theology and
is expected to graduate in three
years.
The ordination was followed by a
reception in the Agajanian Hall of
the church. Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz.
V. Yardemian offered the invocation
and opening remarks wherein
he spoke about the rejuvenation of
the Church in context of the Latin
saying: Ecclesia Semper Reformanda.
The consul of Armenia, Armen
Liloyan, congratulated the newly
ordained priests and expressed
his delight in learning about the
Providing spiritual comfort in trying times
pieces, writing introductions to
each entry, and giving them added
context by including his own comments
and thoughts.
Echoes of Faith is dedicated o
Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan. “He
was like a mentor to many, including
myself,” Rev. Aivazian said. “He
was a founder of the Armenian
Church Youth Organization of
America. [Echoes of Faith features]
a very inspiring article that he had
written when he was a young priest,
in 1935.”
The book consists of 28 writings,
arranged according to the liturgical
calendar, starting with Christmas.
Some of the authors, such as
Archbishop Yeghishe Tourian, are
well-known. The younger brother
of famed poet Bedros Tourian,
Yeghishe Tourian was the Patriarch
of Constantinople and Jerusalem.
Another author whose work appears
in the book is Bishop Papken
Guleserian. In a piece about
Easter, Bishop Guleserian “says
there is a blessing at moments
of death, a blessing at a moment
unique nuances of Armenian traditions
in the diaspora. “It was so
wonderful to witness the members
of the Armenian Church partake
in a spiritually uplifting and
traditional service that has been
the spiritual fabric of our faith for
centuries,” the Armenian consul
said. “It gives me great pleasure to
be a part of this ordination today
and see these two young men rededicate
their lives to the church
and become the leaders who will
help guide the community in
strengthening their tie to their
holy faith.”
Chair of the Stewardship Committee,
Dr. Vahram Biricik, who
worked months prior to organize
the two-day event, wished the
newly ordained priests a “fruitful
service in their new capacity as well
as success in their studies.”
of birth, a great blessing in the
presence of God when two people
make a commitment to spend
their lives together in marriage,”
Rev. Aivazian explained. “So with
all of this you really come across
not only individuals who are eloquent
speakers and prolific writers,
but, above and beyond, people
of faith. And I’m very much in
touch with the fact that our nation
needs that type of message
right now. That’s why I thought,
instead of sharing my own homilies,
I would share theirs, because
they inspired mine.”
Rev. Aivazian believes that the
most important thing to note about
the writings in the book is that
their authors, despite experiencing
horrific tribulations, never gave up.
“At times, in our own lives, when
we encounter difficulty, we give up
hope and are ready to throw in the
towel. These people never did,” he
said. “I always struggle with the
questions, ‘What made these people
go on How did they keep their
strength, their inspiration, their
Left Very Rev.
Frs. Dajad Dz.
V. Yardemian
and Baret Dz.
V. Yeretsian,
and Frs. Diran
Avagyan
and Nerses
Hayrapetyan
facing Abp.
Hovnan
Derderian.
Below: the bew
priests have been
crowned. Photos:
Hilma Shahinian.
Toward the end of the evening,
Archbishop Derderian presented
the godfathers of the priests, Mr.
and Mrs. Heros Kajberouni and
Mr. and Mrs. Nishan Drderian
(who could not attend the ceremony),
with framed letters of commendation.
The two priests then
received pectoral crosses from the
primate.
Archbishop Hovsepian, who
served as primate for the Western
Diocese for 32 years, commented
on the profundity of a
person responding to the call
of priesthood: “It is important
to realize that it is not an individual
who solely makes a decision
to become a priest. We must
understand that the Lord graces
us with wisdom and we are responding
to the call of His service.”
hope’ But when you read the book,
it’s obvious: it was their faith [that
kept them going]. That’s what they
say in almost every aspect of [their
writings].”
Echoes of Faith, published by St.
Nerses Seminary, will be officially
released in Fresno on October
26, during the St. Paul Armenian
Church parish banquet; in Los Angeles
on October 28, at the Western
Diocese; and in New York on November
17.
Rev. Aivazian is already working
on his next project, which will
showcase the writings of his favorite
author from Echoes of Faith,
Bishop Guleserian. “That man
was way ahead of his time – in his
thinking, his understanding of
church, faith, and gospel, and his
personal experience with Jesus
himself,” Rev. Aivazian said. “He
has a series of articles commenting
on the [teachings] of Jesus.
They were written over 70 years
ago but they are so relevant today.
Life is life, no matter when you
look at it.”

The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008 5
Community
Armenia Fund launches 11th International Telethon Campaign
Telethon 2008’s “My
Home, Armenia”
logo unveiled
LOS ANGELES – Armenia Fund-
U.S. Western Region announced
the launch of its 11th International
Telethon campaign. The live fundraising
program will air in all major
Armenian communities in the U.S.
and across the globe on November
27, 2008, from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00
p.m. PST as well as on the Internet,
at armeniafund.org.
On October 10, Armenia Fund’s
longtime supporters and donors
gathered at the residence of Armen
Khachatourian and Maria
Mehranian to unveil the 2008
Telethon logo. The unveiling has
become a tradition over the past
years and marks the launch date of
the campaign. Present at the dinner
reception was the former president
of Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
Arkady Ghoukassian. The
president currently serves on the
International Board of Trustees of
Armenia Fund.
Also present at the event were
representatives of all Armenia
Fund Board member organizations:
the Armenian Assembly of
America, the Armenian Catholic
Exarchate of America, the Armenian
Democratic Liberal (Ramgavar)
Party, the Armenian Evangelical
Union of North America, the
Armenian General Benevolent
Union, the Armenian Relief Society,
the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, the Social Democratic
Hunchakian Party, the Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church,
and the Western Prelacy of the Armenian
Church.
Attendees were provided with
updates on the progress of various
Armenia Fund projects, including
the Hadrut Regional Hospital, Togh
School, and the Amaras highway
– all major projects of the U.S. Western
Region affiliate of the Fund.
Mrs. Mehranian, chairperson of
Armenia Fund, Inc., welcomed the
guests and thanked them for their
continuous financial and moral
support. Abp. Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate of the Western
Prelacy, offered the opening prayer
and his blessings. Arch. Mardirossian
commended the projects of
Armenia Fund and its “dedication
to enhancing the lives of the Armenian
people.”
Sarkis Kotanjian, executive director
and public relations manager
of the Fund’s Western U.S. affiliate,
provided an extensive update
on the progress of major projects.
Kotanjian also reminded the guests
that Armenia Fund not only focuses
on infrastructure and rural development,
but continues to provide
monetary assistance to families
and children affected by war.
Edik Balaian, the artist who
designed the 2008 Telethon logo,
briefly commented on the concept
of the logo, mentioning that its are
from the palette of legendary artist
Minas Avetisyan.
Armenia Fund Honorary Member
and philanthropist Vahe
Karapetian, who has supported
Armenia Fund since its inception,
introduced the former president of
Karabakh. In his remarks, Karapetian
commended Armenia Fund’s
recent projects and praised its interim
management in Yerevan.
President Ghoukassian and Armenian
Consul General Armen
Liloyan, along with the leadership
of Armenia Fund, unveiled
the logo. It features an Armenian
village house with a tricolor smoke
rising from its chimney. The slogan
of the Telethon campaign is “My
Home, Armenia.”
“Armenia Fund maintains continuity
of its programs,” said Ms.
Mehranian. “This year’s Telethon
will include both infrastructure and
economic development projects in
the villages of Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh. We are also excited
to see unprecedented participation
from Armenia. Despite the difficult
global financial environment, we
believe we are going to have great
results for this year’s Telethon.”
Ms. Mehranian invited Very Rev.
Fr. Baret Yeretsian, who was
representing Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Primate of the Western
Diocese, to offer his blessings
and closing remarks. Fr. Yeretsian
commended the Fund’s “continuous
commitment to the development
of Armenia and Karabakh.”
The event also secured the participation
of 400 community members
in the Armenia Fund Annual Gala,
which will be held on Sunday, November
23, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency
Century Plaza Hotel in Century
City, California. The event will
be attended by Bako Sahakyan,
president of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic. The evening’s keynote
speaker will be the newly-appointed
minister of Diaspora Affairs of Armenia,
Hranush Hakobyan.
connect:
(818) 243-6222
ArmeniaFund.org
From left, Executive Director Sarkis Kotanjian, Vice-chairperson Ara Aghishian,
former Karabakh President Arkady Ghoukassian, Chairperson Maria Mehranian,
and Development Director Greg Boyrazian.
Governor Schwarzenegger appoints Maria Mehranian to
Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board
Maria Mehranian
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – On October
16, California Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger appointed
La Canada community activist, urban
planner, and businesswoman
Maria Mehranian to the Los Angeles
Regional Water Quality Control
Board (larwqcb).
As a managing partner of the
Cordoba Corporation, a civil-engineering
and construction management
firm, Ms. Mehranian has led
projects ranging from the Master
Plan of the largest produce-distribution
network in China to planning
subway stations in Southern
and Northern California.
At Cordoba, she has served as
managing partner since 1992 and
previously served as vice-president
of urban and transportation planning,
from 1986 to 1992.
Ms. Mehranian (see profile,
Community Section, September
22, 2007) is also the chairperson
of the Armenia Fund-U.S. Western
Region, a member of the American
Planning Association, and serves
on the California Hospital Medical
Center Foundation Board of Directors.
Her appointment to the larwqcb
requires confirmation by the
California Senate.
“Water supply and quality continue
to remain a major challenge
in the Los Angeles region
and Southern California,” said
Ms. Mehranian to the Armenian
Reporter. “Our need for water has
almost always exceeded our supply
and we have had to depend on
innovative measures to provide
the necessary resources for our
continued growth.”
The community activist, who has
served as a planning commissioner
for the City of La Canada-Flintridge,
where she lives, said that
California’s population is expected
to reach 50 million by 2030, and the
health of the state’s citizens and
the state’s economy hinge on the
availability of clean water.
“In this light, water becomes
more than an environmental concern,”
she said, “it becomes an issue
that needs to be dealt with on all
levels, including the efficient and
innovative use of water to sustain
and develop our urban fabric.”
As an urban planner working in
the field for more than 25 years, Ms.
Mehranian said she has come to understand
land use and public-policy
issues that affect the development
of Los Angeles. She said she intends
to offer her expertise to the
larwqcb in an effort to make this
important shift in paradigm.
“I accept this appointment with
great humility,” she said to the Reporter.
“I assure you that during my
term as a board member, I will adhere
to the mission set forth by the
larwqcb, to preserve and enhance
water quality in the Los Angeles region
for the benefit of the present
and future generations.”
Ms. Mehranian said she will do
what she can to assist the larwqcb
in addressing regionwide and specific
water quality-control concerns,
monitor and enforce waste-discharge
requirements, implement
and enforce local storm water-control
efforts, enforce water quality
laws, and inform the public on all
water-quality issues.
Las Vegas poker tournament to benefit
Armenian Monument project
LAS VEGAS – The Armenian
American Cultural Society of Las
Vegas (aacs) will hold its Second
Annual Armenian Poker Tournament
on Saturday, November 15, at
the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas.
The event will begin at 1:00 pm.
at the Hard Rock Casino’s newlyopened
poker lounge, considered
one of the best of its kind in Las
Vegas.
The $10,000 prize pool is
based on 100 entrants, and the
buy-in is $250. Proceeds from
the tournament will benefit the
Las Vegas Armenian Memorial
project. The aacs was founded
in 1978 and incorporated in 1981
as a 501(c) (3) Nevada nonprofit
corporation.
Those who wish to register for
the tournament can call the Hard
Rock Casino at (800) HRD-ROCK
or (702) 639-5000 and ask for “the
Cage.” Participants can also register
in person at the Hard Rock Casino
on the day of the tournament, beginning
at noon.
connect:
(702) 400-2052
AACSNews@cox.net
Let us know what’s on your mind.
Write to us at
letters@reporter.am
The next big step in the
fight against breast cancer
It’s the one we take together.
Hope starts with us.
Sunday, October 26
Bergen Community College
Paramus
And 27 other sites in N.Y. and N.J.
1.800.ACS.2345
www.cancer.org/stridesonline
Join the Walk!
© 2008 by the American Cancer Society. All rights reserved.
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6 The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008
Community
Adventures From History
THIS ARMENIAN LIFE
– Der Zor
Part I of
II
by Tamar
Kevonian
We arrive in Der Zor, deep in the
heart of the Syrian desert, at one
o’clock in the morning. I’m traveling
with my father, Nazareth, our
driver, Toros and his son, Appo.
We’ve been on a journey through
the ancient Armenian kingdom of
Cilicia, now the southeastern end
of Turkey. The day started early in
Kessab, an Armenian village on the
far northwestern edge just across
the Turkish border. Toros’ minibus
has no air-conditioning. We’ve been
drinking copious amounts of water
to combat the heat and dehydration
but it quickly made its way to
the surface of our skin. We’ve been
driving five hours without having
to stop. We approach the sparkling
city on the horizon as it rises out
of the dark, flat expanse. It’s alive
with people shopping and strolling
down the main boulevard as it is
Ramadan, the Muslim holy month
of fasting. Toros stops to ask for
directions to our hotel and soon we
pull up to a modern hotel blazing
in electric lights. Across the street
we notice an edifice decorated with
a familiar Armenian motif. I approach
to read the writing over the
door and discover that it’s the outer
wall of the Holy Martyr’s Armenian
Church, the memorial built for the
one and a half million victims of
the Armenians Genocide who died
here in 1915. Traveling through the
lands of my long ago ancestors, it
was necessary to make a pilgrimage
to Deir es Zor where their ancient
story ended and the new one
began.
In the morning our little entourage
makes its way across the street
to the new stone church built in
1990 by the Holy See of Antilias in
Beirut, Lebanon, to replace the old
wooden one that had stood in its
place for decades. The outside wall
is imposing and made of blocks of
stone with Armenian motif-ed columns
flanking the arched doorway.
We knock on the heavy wooden
door and a few minutes later the
caretaker opens the doors to lets
us in. Atop the dozen steps leading
from the door is a large stonepaved
and spotlessly clean courtyard.
The perimeter is decorated
with symbolic remembrances like
the ever flowing water spouts, the
eternal flame, khatchkars (stone
slabs carved and decorated with
Armenian style crosses) and carved
replicas of various Armenian genocide
monuments from around the
world.
In the center of the courtyard
is the two-storied circular stone
church. I enter its cool confines
from its only door and suddenly
everything is bathed in a soft yellow
light. Across the door is a small
altar decorated with the usual paraphernalia:
red velvet altar cover, an
Armenian cross, an incense holder
and a couple of candles. The most
unusual feature is the opening in
the center of the floor, like the
mouth of a well, where a column
decorated in bas relief covered in
gold leaf rises from the center.
To the left of the altar is a circular
stairway leading down to the entrance
of the subterranean chamber
where the walls are decorated
with inscribed Armenian verses
from the bible. In the center is the
base of the column with a shelf
about three feet from the floor.
It’s lined with bulbous apothecary
jars labeled with the names of the
historic Armenian cities and filled
with the soil from each place. They
are different shades of dirt, some
more rocky or sandy than others.
On the floor spanning the circumference
of the stone columns are
wedge shaped Plexiglas topped
cases. They are shallow and flush
with the floor, filled with sand and
toped with bones. There are carefully
laid skulls, shin bones, pelvic
bones, jaw bones and teeth. I don’t
find them as difficult to look at as I
expected.
Through the doorway on the opposite
end is another room with
display cases holding quotations
from various personalities of the
time like Enver Pasha, one of the
masterminds of the Genocide, U.S.
Ambassador Morgenthau, journalists
and others who witnessed the
perpetration of the mass deportation,
killings and atrocities. The
walls are lined with photographs of
images from the march. I’m familiar
with these images, having been
raised on a steady diet of them every
April during high school when
student assemblies were held in
memoriam of our ancestors. Over
the years I have become hardened
to the images of pain and death
but in this collection are a few photos
that are new to me. The first
is of three Turkish generals posing
with two decapitated heads placed
on a small table laid with a white
cloth. They have taken care to set
up the tableau in the photo. There’s
a backdrop and a beautiful rug on
the floor. The white cloth, in sharp
contrast to the dark surrounding,
has a lace trim. The decapitated
heads are placed carefully facing the
camera. The generals stand proudly
behind their prize. The second is
of a skeletal body of a woman lying
dead in the road. She is flanked
by her two children, also dead by
her side with mouths agape. The
third is of a dismembered body
of a woman lying on the ground
with her legs tossed wide towards
the camera. She’s been clearly tortured
and her genitals have been
stretched so wide that it is now a
gaping hole. Her head has been decapitated
and tossed on the ground
near her hip where it looks into the
camera. There’s the photo of the
men lying side by side in a mass
grave. They’re clothed but many are
missing their shoes. Standing on
the side of the grave overseeing the
fruits of their labor are the soldiers
who shot them.
The men were the lucky ones since
they were rounded up first and
shot, just outside their villages, before
the women and children were
collected for the long march to the
desert. The men were killed before
the Ottomans devised slower and
more barbaric methods of killing.
Boredom was a common complaint
of the soldiers during the months it
took to transfer hundreds of thousands
of people to the outer edges
of their empire. They needed entertainment
to sustain them and the
helpless women and children under
their supervision became ready targets.
The last photo is of a woman
who no longer looks line one. Her
hair is cut short and sticking out
unevenly from her scalp. She is
so emaciated that nothing exists
but the skin covering her skeleton
and her large eyes gazing into the
camera. She’s alive and gnawing
on a piece of bread while holding
it with both hands. I wonder if she
considered herself lucky to be alive
or did she wish she had died with
the other members of her family
Did she even have any thoughts beyond
eating the precious piece of
bread in her hands
Arpa International Film Festival highlights
LOS ANGELES – From October
24 to 26, the 11th Annual
Arpa International Film Festival
will screen 50 films from 21 nations,
including Armenia, Australia,
Canada, China, Congo, Czech
Republic, Ecuador, France, Iran,
Ireland, Italy, Romania, Sri Lanka,
Switzerland, Tobago, Trinidad,
Turkey, UK, and Venezuela.
Festival highlights will include world
premieres of several films, a panel discussion,
and an awards ceremony. The
festival will be held at Hollywood’s
Egyptian Theatre (6712 Hollywood
Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028).
The Arpa International Film Festival
is produced by Arpa Foundation
for Film, Music, and Art (affma),
a nonprofit organization dedicated
to artists exploring issues of
identity, multiculturalism, war, exile,
genocide, and global empathy.
Festival at a glance
Friday, October 24,
Theatre 1/Theatre 2
6:00 p.m. - Shorts Program 1;
My Big Fat Armenian Family
8:00 p.m. – Opening-night film:
The River Ran Red; plus The Flyboys
1:00 p.m. – Strength and Honour;
Familiar Voices
Saturday, October 25,
Theatre 1/Theatre 2
12:00 p.m. - Shorts Program 2;
Yai Wanonanable – Enemy of God
1:45 p.m. - We Drank the Same
Water; filmmaker panel discussion
3:15 p.m. - Mary Apick’s Checkpoint
and Iranian Film; Music Video
Program
6:00 p.m. - Float; Shorts Program
3
8:00 p.m. - Rita Hayworth
tribute, featuring Blood and Sand;
Shorts Program 4
10:15 p.m. - Sela Maniyo; Children
of the Congo
The Executive Board of the Committee for Armenian Students in Public Schools (CASPS) with Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian.
Prelate and Executive Council meet with
casps Executive Board
Sunday, October 26:
Theatre 1
11:00 am - The Kolaborator; The
Morganthau Story; Armenia: An
Open Wound
1:00 p.m. - A Road Less Traveled:
The Handjian Story; S.F. Hye
3:00 p.m. - Darfur Now and Q&A
with Ted Braun
6:00 p.m. - Arpa awards ceremony
- red carpet/cocktail hour
7:00 p.m. - Arpa awards ceremony,
emceed by ReelzChannel’s Jill
Simonian
9:00 p.m. - Reception
Premieres and a tribute
Arpa’s highlight events include
the world premiere of J. Michael
Hagopian’s The River
Ran Red on the festival’s opening
night, on Friday, October 24,
at 8:00 p.m. The screening will
be followed by a reception copresented
by the Armenian Film
Foundation.
Other Friday highlights include
Mark Mahon’s Strength and
Honour, starring Michael Madsen
and Richard Chamberlain
(10:00 p.m.); Familiar Voices,
with Mia Farrow; and The Flyboys,
starring Jesse James and
Steven Baldwin.
Serge Avedikian’s We Drank
the Same Water will screen on
Saturday, October 25, at 1:45 p.m.,
and Tadeh Daschi’s The Witch
of Portobello, based on Paulo
Coelho’s novel, will screen on at
6:00 p.m.
Later that night, Arpa will present
a new 35mm print of 20th
Century Fox’s Blood and Sand.
On the heels of the Vanity Fair
November cover story featuring
actress Amy Adams as film
icon Rita Hayworth, Arpa will
salute Hayworth’s breakout film,
by director Rouben Mamoulian.
Blood and Sand will screen at
8:00 p.m.
LA CRESCENTA, Calif. – On
the evening of October 14, the Executive
Board of the Committee
for Armenian Students in Public
Schools (casps) visited the Prelacy,
where it met with Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian and
Executive Council Chairman Dr.
Garo Agopian. Former Executive
Council member and Prelacy representative
to casps Dr. Hagop
Der Megerdichian also participated
in the meeting.
The discussion centered on issues
related to Armenian students
attending public schools in Glendale
and North Hollywood and the
support that casps receives from
parents, as well as an update on upcoming
casps projects.
Filmmaker panel
discussion
Filmmakers Tadeh Daschi, Hrag
Yedalian, Mark Mahon, Eric Nazarian,
and Roger Kupelian will
discuss their current and upcoming
films during a special program dedicated
to contemporary projects.
The panel event, which will be
held on Saturday, October 25, at
1:45 p.m., is open to all filmmakers,
film students, and festival guests.
The panel will be moderated by producer
Zoe Kevork.
Awards ceremony
The festival will honor award-winning
actress and international activist
Mary Apick with the Arpa Foundation
Award on Sunday, October 26.
The awards ceremony will start at 6:00
p.m. with a red carpet/cocktail hour.
The Arpa Foundation Award will
be presented to Apick by Emmywinning
producer and past Arpa
Foundation Award recipient Robert
Papazian (The Day After, Rome,
Nash Bridges, Coffy). Additionally,
there will be a screening of Apick’s
1987 film, Checkpoint, on Saturday,
October 25, at 3:15 p.m.
Award recipients will also include
Theodore Braun, who will receive
the Armin T. Wegner Award for his
film Darfur Now; and Marco Khan,
who will be named Breakthrough
Artist of the Year for his performances
in 10,000 B.C., Iron Man,
and Don’t Mess with Zohan.
Honorees and award-winners
will be recognized at a ceremony
attended by such celebrities as
Patricia Kara (Deal or No Deal),
Frankie Jay Allison (Miami Vice,
Ocean’s 11), Ken Davitian (Borat),
and the Hollyscoop Girls.
The event will be hosted by ReelzChannel’s
Jill Simonian.
connect:
AFFMA.org
(323) 663-1882
The Prelate and Dr. Agopian
commended casps for its commitment
to the Armenian youth
and reaffirmed the support of the
Prelacy.
Later in the evening, the casps
Board members attended the
meeting of the Executive Council
and reported on their work and
mission.

The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008 7
Community
A night of art in the city that never sleeps
Haik Kocharian
showcases his music
and pictures at New
York’s Drum Lounge
by Antranig Dereyan
On October 16, New York-based
painter, photographer, musician,
and filmmaker Haik Kocharian
held a multimedia event at the
Drum Lounge in New York City.
The showcase program comprised
an exhibition of Kocharian’s photographs,
which were displayed
throughout the venue; a screening
of his film Charlie; and a musical
performance, featuring Kocharian’s
vocals and guitar and accompanied
by a band.
The event was kicked off with a
viewing of the artist’s photos, which
included a wide range of subjects.
Joyce Artinian, an audience member
who was seeing Kocharian’s pictures
for the first time, commented: “I am
fond of the photo with the little girl
sitting on the stoop in front of the
menswear shop as well as the one
with all the pigeons flying around in
front of the lady.”
Charlie, a black and white film,
tells the story of the titular protagonist,
who narrates episodes in
his struggle to extract meaning and
purpose out of the challenges facing
his life. The film was shown on
pbs in July.
“It is the psychological world of
one person, Charlie, who worries
about his financial wellbeing, [so
much so] that he misses out on opportunities
in his life that he should
enjoy,” Kocharian explained. “In a
psychological sense, he kills himself
doing that. He is a murderer of his
own identity because he is constantly
worried about the concept of life
rather than just living through it.”
Charlie resonated with the audience.
“I thought the narration in
the first half was amusing and honest.
Many people can relate to it,”
Artinian said.
Following the movie’s screening,
Kocharian took the stage to perform
a set of his songs.
“I have realized that as I get older,
I experience more and more back
pain, so I am going to start with a
song about back pain, titled ‘Back
Pain,’” he told the audience.
Teeming with sarcastic lyrics,
including biting commentary on
relationships, break-ups, and sex,
Kocharian’s music drew mixed reactions
from the audience, though
sympathetic amusement remained
a constant. Among the songs he
performed were “Naked Man and
Fresno Harvest Festival set for October 31
Haik Kocharian
showcases his art
in photographs
and on stage.
Naked Woman,” a number he has
written when he was a teenager,
and “In and Out.”
Many had high praise for Kocharian’s
style and said he came
across as an engaging storyteller.
“He sings like he is reciting poetry,”
one woman noted. “He is not really
singing but rather telling stories.”
“I think my music is universal and
can connect with every age group
because my subjects are universal,”
Kocharian said. “I feel alive when I
am on the stage. Any reaction I can
evoke, whether laughter, seriousness,
amazement, or even disgust
in many cases, whatever emotion I
can evoke, is a gift.”
Audience member Laurie Harrisen
said of Kocharian: “He is very
sincere in his music and his art in
general. Everyone was entertained
by the humor of the music, but he
is also getting across a serious message
that is common to a lot of us.
[It’s about] loneliness, heartbreak,
and feelings of being stuck in one’s
life. He is a very open person and
he stays true to himself and the
crowd with his music. His set was
like a reel of his life.”
You share the same
community. Discover what
happens when you share
the same experience.
FRESNO, Calif. – The First
Armenian Presbyterian Church
announced that it will celebrate
111 seasons of Thanksgiving by
hosting its Seventh Annual Harvest
Festival on Friday, October 31,
from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. The event
will take place in the Church Fellowship
Hall, 430 South First
Street at Huntington Boulevard
(midway between Huntington
Boulevard and the Kings Canyon/
Ventura Promenade).
The organizers said the festival
is designed for children ages preschool
through sixth grade, their
families, and “for the young at
heart.” Admission is free and open
to the public.
Festival activities and attractions
will include “a gourmet hot
dog dinner, bounce house, carnival
games with candy prizes, the amazing
California Clown, Ringo Bingo,
the ultimate Dance Dance Revolution
experience, Sierra snow cones,
cotton candy, and nonstop popcorn.”
Guests of all ages are invited
to wear friendly costumes to the
“open house” seasonal gathering.
Chartered by pioneering agriculturalists
on July 25, 1897, the First
Armenian Presbyterian Church
is a member congregation of the
Presbyterian Church (USA) and
the Armenian Evangelical Union
of North America. Rev. Mgrdich
Melkonian is senior pastor, Rev.
Aren Balabanian is associate pastor,
and Shant Barsoumian is interim
youth director.
connect:
(559) 237-6638
associate@fapc.net
Visit us at reporter.am
Very Rev.
Fr. Barthev
Gulumian during
his lecture.
Year of Christian Education
lecture series continues
GLENDALE, Calif. – On the
evening of October 14, a lecture
in the Year of Christian of Education
series took place at St. Mary’s
Church in Glendale, under the auspices
of and with the participation
of Arch. Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate.
The keynote speaker was Christian
Education Department Codirector,
Very Rev. Fr. Barthev
Gulumian, who was invited by
Master of Ceremonies Mr. Hagop
Tchaghatsbanian to present his
lecture on “How to Foster Christian
Armenian Education in our
Schools and Homes.”
The evening also included an artistic
program, in which members of
the newly-established youth choir
participated with hymns and spiritual
songs, accompanied by choir
organizer Armine Derderian.
The event concluded with the
Prelate’s closing remarks and benediction.
For more information about
Relay For Life or to join an
event near you, visit
www.cancer.org/RelayNYNJ
or call 1.800.ACS.2345.
Let us know what’s on your mind.
Write to us at
letters@reporter.am
Paint the Town Purple in
celebration of Relay For Life on
May 1, May Day For Relay.
1.800.ACS.2345
www.cancer.org/relayNYNJ

8 The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008
Community
Prelate continues to visit schools
Tavlian Pre-School.
LOS ANGELES – Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
continued his visits to Prelacy
schools in the Los Angeles area to
convey his blessings for the 2008-
2009 school year.
On the morning of October 15,
the Prelate visited Levon and Hasmig
Tavlian Pre-School in Pasadena,
where he was greeted by director
Helen Manoucherian and school
administrators. The Prelate was
accompanied by St. Sarkis Church
Pastor Rev. Fr. Khoren Babochian,
Board of Trustees and Ladies’
Auxiliary members, and Board of
Regents member Maggie Sarkouni.
The students had prepared
a program for the Prelate, which
they performed during his visits to
the classrooms. The Prelate spoke
to the students about the parable
of the Good Shepherd and presented
them with religious and educational
mementos.
In the afternoon, the Prelate visited
Armenian Mesrobian School,
accompanied by the pastors of
Holy Cross Cathedral, Rev. Fathers
Nareg Pehlivanian and Ashod
Kambourian, Board of Trustees
members, and Mrs. Sarkouni.
They were welcomed by Principal
Hilda Saliba and administrators.
The Prelate visited classrooms and
conveyed his blessings and good
wishes to the students.
On October 17, the Prelate visited
the North Hills and Encino
campuses of Ferrahian School.
The day began with a visit to ars
Ashkhen Pilavjian Pre-School in
North Hills.
The Prelate was accompanied
by Holy Martyrs Church Pastor
Rev. Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian,
Executive Council member
Khatchig Yeretzian, Board
of Trustees Chairman Vartan
Minassian, and Board of Regents
member Dr. Al Tomassian.
They were welcomed by
Principal John Kossakian, Director
Vehik Gabrielian, and
administrators. There took place
an artistic program, in which renowned
singer Alla Levonian
participated. Afterwards the
Prelate conveyed his message to
the students.
At Ferrahian’s Encino campus,
the Prelate attended a celebration
of Armenian Culture Month
presented by the students at
Avedissian Hall. The event also
included a lecture by Christian
Education Co-director Very Rev.
Fr. Barthev Gulumian. The
event concluded with the Prelate’s
remarks, blessings, and
good wishes.
Los Angeles City and California State employees celebrate
diversity and learn about all things Armenian
LOS ANGELES – On October
15, as Disability and Diversity
Day 2008 was celebrated
by employees of the California
Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) and the City of Los
Angeles Department of Transportation
(ladot), Armenian
culture was prominently showcased
at the event. The celebrations
took place across the
street from the Los Angeles-Yerevan
sister city sign in downtown
Los Angeles.
The Armenian presence at the
event was made possible by a
small group of Armenian employees
of Caltrans, who set up
a booth to tell their colleagues
about all things Armenian. Visitors
could view maps of Armenia
and displays of Armenian costumes
and art, as well as listen to
Armenian music.
Organizer Shahe Terjimanian,
who has worked as a transportation
engineer at Caltrans since
1991, told the Armenian Reporter
that there are about 30 Armenians
currently working in Caltrans’ new,
state-of-the-art building.
LAW OFFICE OF SOUREN A. ISRAELYAN
39 Broadway, Suite 950, New York, New York 10006
(646) 459-7556 or (718) 751-5254
Representing people who have suffered catastrophic injuries
Construction accidents
Slip/trip and falls
Defective products
Train/airplane accidents
Nursing home negligence
Also speaks Armenian and Russian
Car/bus/truck accidents
Elevator/escalator accidents
Fire and explosion
Negligent supervision/security
Animal attacks
“After several years of witnessing
Diversity Day without Armenia being
represented, I volunteered to
represent Armenia this year,” Terjimanian
said. “I designed our banner
and
had our graphics department
print it out. I knew that everyone
knew about Mount Ararat, but not
everyone knew that it was a national
symbol of Armenia and all
Armenians. I also added the [Armenian]
flag and alphabet to complete
the banner. I got many Armenians
in Caltrans and city employees involved.”
Helping Terjimanian were Garabed
Kevorkian from Caltrans
and Vahan Pezeshkian from
ladot, who worked on the Armenian
fliers that were handed out to
those visiting the booth.
Also on hand was Steven Dadaian
from Caltrans, who spoke
to those gathered about Armenian
musical instruments. Dadaian
subsequently introduced Jivan
Gasparyan, Jr. and fellow
band members oudist Antranig
Kzirian and bassist Vicken
Momjian, who performed a selection
of their music. Terjimanian
estimates that some one
thousand state and city employees
turned out to listen to the
performance.
Karine Partamian from Caltrans
pitched in by providing
most of the displays at the Armenian
booth, and Arthur Vardanyan
from Caltrans prepared a
PowerPoint presentation about
Armenia.
“Our aim was to offer non-Armenians
a chance to envision Armenia
through their experience
at the booth, taste Armenian
delicacies,” Terjimanian said. The
delicacies didn’t have to come
from far; they were freshly prepared
by Harry Begian, whose
coffee shop is located inside
Above: From left,
Alec Mardirossian,
Karine Partamian,
Arthur Vardanyan,
Barkef Karapetian,
Haykaz
Aghajanian,
Ohannes
Anserlian,
Garabed
Kevorkian,
and Shahe
Terjimanian. Left:
Playing Armenian
music.
the Caltrans Building on Main
Street.
Terjimanian said that when Armenian
music was being played, a
handful of Armenians started a
shurch bar (circle dance). Organizers
hope to book a professional
Armenian dance group for next
year’s Disability and Diversity
Day.
“One of the most interested
visitors, who was a fellow employee
at Caltrans, told me that
he never knew our history was
‘that old,’” Terjimanian said. “He
asked if it was as ancient as the
Persians’, and I answered that it
was just as old.”

The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008 9
Community
In pursuit of inner truths
Nancy Agabian’s new
memoir chronicles
her ongoing quest
for self-discovery
by Karine Chakarian
Nancy Agabian’s new memoir, Me
as her again: True Stories of an Armenian
Daughter, comes with a
warning. “Nonfiction advisory
– Armenian gossips and busybodies
beware,” the author writes. “If you
happen to know my family members
and believe they are described
in this memoir, you will come down
on the wrong side of fiction versus
nonfiction. They are lovely people
and don’t deserve to be judged as
they appear in this text.”
Published by Aunt Lute Books,
Me as her again is Agabian’s third
book. It begins with the time when
she had just moved to Los Angeles,
at 22, and reminiscences of writing
poetry and growing up in an
Armenian family – which led her
to a pursuit of self-discovery. Agabian
is careful to note that because
the book is based on memory and
memory is fiction, two people can
remember an event in completely
different ways. “I feel very protective
of my family and don’t want
people to misunderstand them,”
she says. “I also think that a book
is a book and separate from the
people it’s about.”
NEW MILFORD, N.J. – The
first bell sounded for the Hovnanian
School of New Jersey on
September 8, marking the beginning
of a new academic year for
kindergarteners to 8th graders.
The Early Learning Center (ELC),
nursery, and pre-kindergarten
returned one day later, on September
9. After a few days, all
the students were acclimated to
their new “homes” and the novelty
in their daily lives. However,
each year is different, as exciting
things happen every day at the
school.
Tuesday, September 23, was
Back to School night. The multipurpose
room was teeming with
parents who had come to meet
with the new teachers as well as
the inveterate faculty. After the
opening remarks and introduction
of the faculty by Principal Anahid
Garmiryan, school nurse Carole
Apkarian shared health issues
with the parents. Lydia Baldassarre,
librarian, spoke about the
activities in the library to bring
about a new generation of readers.
Karen Nargizian, co-chair of the
PTO, reviewed the past and present
activities of the organization.
Conceiving a medley of fiction
and nonfiction is not new to Agabian,
who has spent years creating
performance art based on life experience.
All about identity
Born in Massachusetts, Agabian
began writing poetry after receiving
a B.A. in art and moving to
Los Angeles. Literary expression
became a tool she learned to use
for personal development. “I was
writing to explore truth,” she says.
Her musings led to poetry readings,
which eventually developed into
one-woman performances encompassing
universal motifs of sexual
and racial identity. The era was the
1990s. “It was a close-knit art community
and everyone was working
around the same themes at the
time,” she says. She would conceal
these autobiographical shows
from her relatives for years as she
grappled with the same topics she
wrote about.
In Los Angeles she would go on
to collaborate with Anne Perich to
form the folk-punk duo Guitar Boy.
Together they would produce a collection
of unconventional songs
about the art world and popular
culture. Their CD, Freaks like me,
released in 2000, is an eclectic collection
of songs with titles like “I
Could have Saved Kurt Cobain” and
“Don’t Fall off the Getty Center.”
It was also during this time that
Agabian published her first book,
Princess Freak, a collection of poems
and performance-art text, and
taught workshops at literary and
The assembly over, parents met
with teachers in the classrooms
and learned about the academic
program of this year.
On Thursday, September 25, 6th-
8th graders went to the St. Vartan
Cathedral in New York City and
participated in the welcome ceremony
for the president of Armenia,
Serge Sargsian. It was a long
trip, but as 7th-grader Melissa
Kinoian remarked, “It is not every
day that you can meet a president,”
after presenting the president
with flowers and a special
memento prepared by the class.
The school had several special
visitors too. On Monday, September
22, Ara Papian, former ambassador
of Armenia to Canada,
visited the school in commemoration
of Armenia’s Independence
Day. In a roundtable discussion
with 7th and 8th graders, he offered
a history of the Treaties of
Sèvres and Lausanne to the students’
rapt attention and interest.
On Wednesday, September 24,
Archbishop Norvan Zakarian,
primate of the Armenian Diocese
of France, paid a special visit to the
school during a trip to New York. “I
was looking forward to seeing the
Nancy Agabian.
art centers like Beyond Baroque,
where she encouraged others to tell
their life stories.
After spending nine years in Los
Angeles, the life of a struggling artist
and the material she had created
about her experiences forced
Agabian to reevaluate her direction.
She shifted gears, received a threeyear
fellowship to attend Columbia
University, and moved to New York.
It was there, at the Columbia University
School of the Arts’ Writing
Division, that she would further
develop her prose. Me as her again
would become the fruit of this labor.
The power of roots
Agabian’s journey in the book begins
with her memories of growing
up Armenian in America. “We
weren’t really meshed in an Armenian
community,” Agabian states
about her family. “I went to Armenian
church and Friday-afternoon
Armenian school, but as a kid it felt
really foreign to me.”
The pressure of assimilation and
her identity as an Armenian-American
led her, at the age of 30, to
Turkey with her artist aunt to find
her grandmother. Back home in the
United States, she would have her
grandmother’s audio tapes translated
to English in order to learn
more about her family’s history.
While Agabian knew that her
grandmother was a Genocide survivor,
the magnitude of what that
meant didn’t resonate with her until
she began writing and imagined
what it was that her grandmother
had experienced. “It forced me to
mourn something I didn’t know I
had to mourn,” she says.
Fulbright Scholar in
Armenia
In 2005, Agabian was invited by
an organization called Utopiana
to perform in Armenia. The developing
republic’s struggle to define
itself in its new geopolitical role
touched a familiar nerve in Agabian.
“There were so many struggles
for people to survive and so many
different ideas,” she says.
She was awarded a Fulbright
Scholarship, which allowed her to
return to Armenia the following
year. She recalls: “My idea was to
write about the artists as a way to
write about the social issues: the
way woman’s roles were changing,
school I have heard so much about,”
he said.
Finally, on Wednesday, October
1, Dr. Lilit Galstyan, a member of
the Armenian parliament and executive
director of the Hamazkayin
cultural and educational organization
in Armenia, paid a visit to the
school and saw several classes in
action.
the way that gay people weren’t
really coming out but there were
the first expressions of people who
were gay and meeting each other.”
In the year she spent in Armenia,
Agabian taught at Yerevan
University, kept a blog to record
her observations, and was awarded
a second grant through CEC Arts
Link, which enabled her to conduct
writing workshops at the Women’s
Resource Center.
It was also in Armenia that she
would co-write her second book,
In the Unspace, a collection of writings
on the theme of Armenian
women’s identity. Agabian’s contribution
is written in English and
in journal style. The other two authors,
Shushan Avagyan and Lara
Aharonian, wrote in Armenian and
French, respectively. Avagyan combined
personal experience with
her literary critique of Micheline
Aharonian Marcom’s book The Daydreaming
Boy, and Lara Aharonian
drew from her experiences at the
Woman’s Resource Center to explore
her life’s journey.
Appearances at Beyond Baroque
and Abril Bookstore in Glendale
were only short forays during
Agabian’s recent West Coast booksigning
tour to promote Me as her
again. Before the second leg of her
tour, she returned to New York to
continue teaching creative-writing
classes at Queens College and begin
work on a new book, which will
depict her experiences in Armenia.
For more information on Nancy
Agabian’s books, visit her website
at nancyagabian.com.
The Hovnanian School starts new school year with a slew of activities
Orthodox Prayer Service to be hosted at St. Vartan
Hovnanian
School students
and principal
Anahid
Garmiryan (c.)
with President
Serge Sargsian
of Armenia and
Abp. Khajag
Barsamian.
Between the
president and
the principal
is Amb. Tatoul
Markarian.
On October 11, the Hovnanian
Alumni School started its third year
of Saturday activities, with graduates
of the classes of 2006–2008 attending.
Open to UN
community, general
public
NEW YORK – Members of the
United Nations community and
Orthodox Christians in the New
York metro area will gather for
the annual Orthodox Prayer Service
and reception at St. Vartan
Armenian Cathedral in New York
on Thursday, October 30 at 6:30
p.m.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern),
will preside over the service
and deliver the homily. Ambassador
Negash Kebret Botora,
permanent representative of the
Federal Democratic Republic of
Ethiopia to the United Nations,
will speak after the service. Raffi
V. Balian, a foreign service officer
at the U.S. Department of State
and a member of the Diocesan
Legate’s Committee, will serve as
master of ceremonies. The theme
for this year’s event will reflect
the UN Millennium Development
Goal to stamp out poverty and inequality.
Organized under the auspices of
the Standing Conference of Canonical
Orthodox Bishops in the Americas
and the Standing Conference of
Oriental Orthodox Churches, the
Orthodox Prayer Service is a tradition
begun in 2001 to give Orthodox
Christians an opportunity to
come together for worship and to
learn more about each other’s culture
and heritage by engaging with
representatives from the United
Nations.
For Armenian-Americans, the
event has been particularly important
as it builds upon the community’s
relationship with the United
Nations at a time when increased
attention is drawn to the geopolitical
situation in the Middle East
and Armenia.
The prayer service was last held at
St. Vartan Cathedral in 2006. This
year, as the Cathedral marks its
40 anniversary, it will once again
welcome clergy, ambassadors and
members of the general public for
an evening of worship and conversation.
For more information, please
call Maral Serce at the Diocesan
Center.
connect:
1-212-686-0710

10 The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008
Editorial
Support our friends running for
Alabama
Artur Davis (D.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.
American Samoa
Eni F. H. Faleomavaega (D.), a
member of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, voted in favor of
the H.Res. 106.
Arizona
Ed Pastor (D.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.
Gabrielle Giffords (D.), a member
of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
voted in favor of the H.Res.
106.
Raul Grijalva (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
California
See last week’s Reporter.
Colorado
Diana DeGette (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Ed Perlmutter (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
John Salazar (D.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.
Marilyn Musgrave (R.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Connecticut
Chris Murphy (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Chris Shays (R.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Joe Courtney (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
John Larson (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Rosa DeLauro (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
District of Columbia
Eleonor Holmes Norton (D.), a
member of the Armenian Caucus
and co-sponsor of the H.Res. 106.
Florida
Gus Bilirakis (R.), a member of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
voted in favor of the H.Res.
106. A member of the Armenian
Caucus, he spoke at the September
2008 Capitol Hill Karabakh event
Kendrick Meek (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Mario Diaz-Balart (R.), a cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Ron Klein (D.), a member of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee,
voted in favor of the H.Res. 106.
Georgia
Jack Kingston (R.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Jim Marshall (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
John Barrow (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
John Lewis (D.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.
Guam
Madeleine Bordallo (D.), a cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Hawaii
Mazie Hirono (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Neil Abercrombie (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Illinois
Bobby Rush (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Dan Lipinski (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Danny Davis (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Donald Manzullo (R.), a member
of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
voted in favor of the H.Res.
106.
Janice Schakowsky (D.), a member
of the House Caucus on Armenian
Issues and co-sponsor of the
H.Res. 106.
Jerry Costello (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Jesse Jackson (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Luis Gutierrez (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Mark Kirk (R.), a member of the
Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106. He supported
Rep. Knollenberg’s July 2008
amendment to eliminate a $3.9 million
allocation of military aid to
Azerbaijan.)
Melissa Bean (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Peter Roskam (R.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Phil Hare (D.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.
Indiana
Julia Carson (D.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.
Mark Souder (R.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Peter Visclosky (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Iowa
Bruce Braley (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Kentucky
John Yarmuth (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Louisiana
Charlie Melancon (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Maine
Michael Michaud (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Maryland
John Sarbanes (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Steny Hoyer
The House majority leader, Mr.
Hoyer stood firmly for the Armenian
Genocide resolution
in the face of vitriolic attacks
jointly orchestrated last October
by the Bush administration and
the Turkish lobby.
Chris Van Hollen
Mr. Van Hollen is one of the
members of the House Democratic
leadership who stood on
principle and rejected pressure
to forsake the Armenian Genocide
resolution last October.
Massachusetts
Ed Markey (D.), a member of the
Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106. Mr. Markey cosigned
a letter asking for extra aid
to Armenia in the wake of the war
in Georgia.
James McGovern (D.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and
co-sponsor of the H.Res. 106. Mr.
McGovern attended the 2008 Congressional
commemoration of the
Genocide and co-signed a letter
asking for extra aid to Armenia in
the wake of the war in Georgia.
John Olver (D.), a member of the
Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
John Tierney (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Barney Frank
A member of the House Democratic
leadership, Mr. Frank
spoke at the September 2008
Capitol Hill Karabakh event and
co-signed a letter asking for extra
aid to Armenia in the wake of
the war in Georgia.
The Armenian Reporter and the U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee (USAPAC) jointly urge
Armenian-Americans to support our friends running for the House of Representatives. Last
week, we focused on the California delegation. This week we consider the rest of the nation.
In our endorsements, as always we have given special consideration to members of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. We have considered candidates’ interest in and
support of Armenian-American issues, including co-sponsorship and support of H. Res. 106,
which affirms the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide. We have also noted where members
have taken additional steps to support the Armenian-American agenda in Congress.
In several cases, we urge Armenian-Americans to oppose members who have opposed or
withdrawn their support of House Resolution 106. The House Foreign Affairs Committee
adopted the resolution in October 2007 over the very strong opposition of the Bush administration
and the Turkish lobby. That led to an even more intense effort to kill the resolution
as it headed for the floor of the full House. The administration and the Turkish lobby mobilized
their resources across the country, making the fight for the resolution a top story for
most news organizations for a few days.
This was a seminal matter. Members of Congress were being asked by the administration and
a foreign state to suppress a proud chapter of American history – the efforts of the State Department,
Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, and U.S. consuls in the Ottoman provinces in 1915–17 to
save the Armenians, and the broad response of the American people to appeals for help. Why
Because an American ally, Turkey, was blackmailing the United States: If the resolution was
adopted, the Turkish prime minister wrote ominously in the Wall Street Journal for October 19,
2007, Turkey, would take action that would “not be in the interests of either the U.S. or Turkey.”
We could not and cannot accept that the appropriate U.S. response to such a threat would
be to coddle the Turkish government.
On Election Day, November 4, let the Armenian-American voice be heard loud and clear at
the polls.
f
Michael Capuano (D.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Niki Tsongas (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Richard Neal (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Steve Lynch (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106. Mr. Lynch
co-signed a letter asking for extra
aid to Armenia in the wake of the
war in Georgia.
William Delahunt (D.), a member
of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
voted in favor of the H.Res.
106. He is a member of the Armenian
Caucus.
Michigan
Candice Miller (R.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Joe Knollenberg
A co-chair of the House Caucus
on Armenian Issues – in a competitive
race – Mr. Knollenberg,
a Republican, has tirelessly led
efforts to move the Armenian-
American agenda forward in
Congress. This summer he fought
to eliminate a $3.9 million allocation
of military aid to Azerbaijan.
(He had heralded his intentions
in an article for the Armenian Reporter,
“Enough is enough, Azerbaijan,”
June 21, p. 22.)
Thaddeus McCotter
The chair of the GOP Policy
Committee, Mr. McCotter cosigned
a letter asking for extra
aid to Armenia in the wake of
the war in Georgia.
Dale Kildee (D.), a member of the
Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Dave Camp (R.), a member of the
Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
John Conyers (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Mike Rogers (R.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Sander Levin (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Tim Walberg (R.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Minnesota
Betty McCollum (D.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and
co-sponsor of the H.Res. 106. Ms.
McCollum attended the 2008 Congressional
commemoration of the
Genocide.
Collin Peterson (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106. Mr. Peterson
Ashwin Madia
Mr. Madia, a Democrat, is running
for an open seat. In meetings
with Armenian-Americans, he
has spoken clearly of his support
for Armenian-American issues.
Tim Walz
A leader among first-term members
of Congress, Mr. Walz, a
Democrat, has been an outspoken
supporter of the Armenian-
American agenda. He spoke at
the September 2008 Capitol Hill
Karabakh event.
co-signed a letter asking for extra
aid to Armenia in the wake of the
war in Georgia.
Keith Ellison (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Michele Bachmann (R.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Missouri
Emanuel Cleaver (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Wm. Lacy Clay (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Mississippi
Bennie Tompson (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
North Carolina
G.K. Butterfield (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Melvin Watt (D.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.

The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008 11
the armenian
reporter
the House of Representatives
Nevada
Jon Porter (R.), a member of the
Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Shelley Berkley
Ms. Berkley, a supporter of the
Armenian Genocide resolution,
spoke at the September 2008
Capitol Hill Karabakh event. She
is a Democrat.
New Hampshire
Paul Hodes (D.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.
Joseph Bradley
Mr. Bradley, a Republican and a
supporter of Armenian-American
issues, seeks to reclaim a seat he
lost in 2006 to Carol Shea-Porter
– who co-signed a letter in opposition
to the Armenian Genocide.
New Jersey
Albio Sires (D.), a member of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee,
voted in favor of the H.Res. 106.
Frank Pallone, Jr.
A co-chair of the House Caucus
on Armenian Issues, Mr. Pallone,
a Democrat, has tirelessly
led efforts to move the Armenian-American
agenda forward
in Congress. He has campaigned
for increased U.S. engagement
with Karabakh outside the mediation
process.
Christopher Smith (R.), a member
of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, voted in favor of the
H.Res. 106. He is a veteran member
of the Armenian Caucus.
Donald Payne (D.), a member of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
voted in favor of the H.Res. 106.
A member of the Armenian Caucus,
he co-signed a letter asking for extra
aid to Armenia in the wake of
the war in Georgia.
Frank LoBiondo (R.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Robert Andrews (D.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Rodney Flelinghuysen (R.), a cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Rush Holt (D.), a member of the
Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Scott Garrett (R.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106. Mr. Garrett
co-signed a letter asking for extra
aid to Armenia in the wake of the
war in Georgia.
Steve Rothman (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106. Mr. Rothman
spoke at the September 2008 Capitol
Hill Karabakh event.
New York
Anthony Weiner (D.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Carolyn Maloney (D.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and
co-sponsor of the H.Res. 106. Ms.
Maloney attended the 2008 Congressional
commemoration of the
Genocide and co-signed a letter
asking for extra aid to Armenia in
the wake of the war in Georgia.
Carolyn McCarthy (D.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Charles Rangel (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Edolphus Towns (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Eliot Engel (D.), a member of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee,
voted in favor of the H.Res. 106.
He is a member of the Armenian
Caucus.
Gary Ackerman (D.), a member
of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
voted in favor of the H.Res.
106. He is a member of the Armenian
Caucus.
Jerrold Nadler (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
John Hall (D.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.
John McHugh (R.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Jose Serrano (D.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.
Joseph Crowley (D.), a member
of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
voted in favor of the H.Res.
106. He is a member of the Armenian
Caucus.
Kirsten Gillibrand (D.), a cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Maurice Hinchey (D.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Michael Arcuri (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Nita Lowey (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106. (However, as
chair of the Foreign Aid Subcommittee,
she opposed Rep. Knollenberg’s
amendment to eliminate a
$3.9 million allocation of military
aid to Azerbaijan.)
Nydia Velazquez (D.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Steve Israel (D.), a member of the
Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Tim Bishop (D.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.
Yvette Clarke (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Ohio
Betty Sutton (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Dennis Kucinich (D.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Steve Chabot (R.), a member of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
voted in favor of the H.Res. 106.
Steven LaTourette (R.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Tim Ryan (D.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.
David Krikorian
Mr. Krikorian is an Armenian-
American activist running as an
independent in what local media
characterize as a “wide open” race.
Zach Space (D.), a member of the
Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Oregon
David Wu (D.), a member of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee,
voted in favor of the H.Res. 106.
Earl Blumenauer (D.) a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Peter DeFazio (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Pennsylvania
Allyson Schwartz (D.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Chaka Fattah (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106. Mr. Fattah
co-signed a letter asking for extra
aid to Armenia in the wake of the
war in Georgia.
Charles Dent (R.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Jim Gerlach (R.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Joseph Pitts (R.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Mike Doyle (D.), a member of the
Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Robert Brady (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
We oppose
Arizona
Jeff Flake (R.), a member of the
Foreign Affairs Committee, he voted
against the H.Res. 106 and was publicly
dismissive of Armenian-American
concerns during the debate.
Florida
Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (R.), Ranking
Member of the Foreign Affairs
Committee – and of the Armenian
Caucus – she voted against the
H.Res. 106.
Robert Wexler (D.), co-chair of the
Turkish Caucus and an outspoken
opponent of Armenian-American
concerns. A member of the Foreign
Affairs Committee, he voted against
the H.Res. 106.
Illinois
Rahm Emanuel (D.) worked
against the H.Res. 106.
Indiana
Dan Burton (R.), an outspoken
opponent of Armenian-American
concerns. A member of the Foreign
Affairs Committee, he voted against
the H.Res. 106.
Kentucky
Ed Whitfield (R.) worked against
the H.Res. 106 in October 2007. He
is a co-chair of the Turkish Caucus.
Rhode Island
James Langevin (D.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106. Mr. Langevin
co-signed a letter asking for
extra aid to Armenia in the wake of
the war in Georgia.
Patrick Kennedy (D.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and
co-sponsor of the H.Res. 106. Mr.
Kennedy spoke at the September
2008 Capitol Hill Karabakh event
and co-signed a letter asking for
extra aid to Armenia in the wake of
the war in Georgia.
South Dakota
Stephanie Herseth Sandli (D.), a
member of the Armenian Caucus
and co-sponsor of the H.Res. 106.
Tennessee
Zach Wamp (R.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.
Texas
Al Green (D.), a co-sponsor of the
H.Res. 106.
Charles Gonsalez (D.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Ciro Rodriguez (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Gene Green (D.), a member of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee,
voted in favor of the H.Res. 106.
Kenny Marchant (R.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Lloyd Doggett (D.), a member of
the Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Michael McCaul (R.), a member
of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
received a call from President
Bush in opposition to the
H.Res. 106. Mr. McCaul voted in
favor of the Genocide resolution.
Sheila Jackson Lee (D.), a member
of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
voted in favor of the H.Res. 106.
Utah
Jim Matheson (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Missouri
Russ Carnahan (D.), a member of
the Foreign Affairs Committee, he
voted against the H.Res. 106. He
was a co-sponsor of the resolution
but withdrew his co-sponsorship.
North Carolina
Virginia Foxx (R.) worked against
the H.Res. 106. She is active in the
Azerbaijani and Turkish caucuses.
New York
Gregory Meeks (D.), a member
of the Foreign Affairs Committee
– and of the Armenian Caucus, he
voted against the H.Res. 106.
Puerto Rico
Luis Fortuno (R.), a member
of the Foreign Affairs Committee
– and of the Armenian Caucus
– he voted against the H.Res. 106
– after a call from President Bush.
He was a co-sponsor of the resolution
but withdrew his co-sponsorship.
Pennsylvania
Bill Shuster (R.) worked against
the H.Res. 106. He is co-chair of the
Azerbaijani Caucus.
John Murtha (D.), a member of
the Democratic leadership, broke
with Speaker Pelosi and Majority
Virgin Islands
Donna Christensen (D.), a cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Virginia
Frank Wolf (R.), a co-sponsor of the
H.Res. 106, attended the 2008 Congressional
Genocide commemoration.
Eric Cantor
A member of the House Republican
leadership, Mr. Cantor has
been supportive of Armenian-
American issues.
Jim Moran (D.), a member of the
Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Robert Scott (D.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.
Washington
Brian Baird (D.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R.), a
co-sponsor of the H.Res. 106.
David Reichert (R.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Jim McDermott (D.), a member
of the Armenian Caucus and cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Wisconsin
James Sensenbrenner (R.), a cosponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Paul Ryan (R.), a member of the
Armenian Caucus and co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
Ron Kind (D.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.
Steve Kagen (D.), a co-sponsor of
the H.Res. 106.
Tammy Baldwin (D.), a co-sponsor
of the H.Res. 106.
A word of thanks – see page 19m
Leader Hoyer on the issue of the
H.Res. 106; he co-organized a press
conference against the resolution.
(He is running unopposed, however.)
Tennessee
Steve Cohen (D.) worked against
the H.Res. 106. He co-organized a
press conference against the resolution.
Texas
Kay Granger (R.) worked against
the H.Res. 106. She is a co-chair of
the Turkish Caucus.
Ruben Hinojosa (D.) a member
of the Foreign Affairs Committee
– and a co-sponsor of the H.Res.
106 -- he voted against the resolution.
Solomon Ortiz (D.) worked
against the H.Res. 106. He is a cochair
of the Azerbaijani Caucus.
Ted Poe (R.), a member of the
Foreign Affairs Committee, he voted
against the H.Res. 106. He is an
outspoken opponent of Armenian-
American concerns.
Washington
Adam Smith (D.), a member of
the Foreign Affairs Committee
– and of the Armenian Caucus -- he
voted against the H.Res. 106.

12 The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008
Community
Armenian, Greek supporters of Obama in New York to host
joint fundraiser
NEW YORK – With a little more
than two weeks to go in the 2008
presidential election, Armenian-
American and Greek-American
supporters of the Obama-Biden
ticket in Manhattan will show their
support by hosting a fundraiser.
The event, which will take place
on October 28 at Lafayette Bar and
Grill in downtown Manhattan, will
feature community figures from
the Armenian and Greek communities,
as well as actor Tate Donovan,
an Obama supporter.
“This is a great opportunity for
Armenians and Greeks to come
together and rally for the Obama-
Biden ticket,” commented Nicole
Vartanian, Armenians for Obama
New York activist. “Both senators
have proven to have solid support
on Armenian and Greek American
issues, and come November 4th, it
will be a true victory for all Americans
when Obama wins the presidency.”
In January of 2008 Senator
Obama released a statement to the
Armenian-American community
expressing his support on key issues
on US-Armenian relations,
recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
a peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabagh conflict in-line
with the principles of self-determination
and democracy, and working
to end the Turkish and Azerbaijani
blockades of Armenia.
Mr. Obama has also called for an
end of the Turkish occupation of
Cyprus.
connect:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/
event/detail/gs5gr8
1-917-751-4916.
Above: Armenians for Obama NY activist Karine Birazian
and actor Tate Donovan at Obama fundraiser in nyc. Left:
Armenians for Obama NY activist Nicole Vartanian with
actress Sarah Jessica Parker at Runway for Change event
in nyc.
Gary Ishkhanian, a headache authority, was appointed medical
director of Mount Vernon Hospital
Gary Ishkhanian.
MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. – Gary
Iskhanian, MD, was appointed
medical director of the Mount Vernon
Hospital, a 196-bed community-based
teaching hospital.
Dr. Ishkanian is a graduate of
Fordham University; he received his
medical degree from St. George’s
University School of Medicine in
Grenada. He completed his residency
at Mount Vernon Hospital,
where he served as chief medical
resident and was awarded the Francis
T. Rogliaro Award for outstanding
medical resident.
A diplomate of the American
Board of Internal Medicine, a diplomate
the American Board of Quality
Assurance and Utilization Review
Physicians Organization, and
a fellow of the American College of
Physicians, Dr. Ishkhanian is also
a member of the American Headache
Society, the National Headache
Foundation, and the International
Headache Society.
Dr. Ishkanian is an assistant
clinical professor of medicine
and the director of primary care
for the Department of Medicine
of St. George’s University School
of Medicine as well as an adjunct
assistant clinical professor
of medicine at New York Medical
College. He is also a faculty
member of the Internal Medicine
Residency Training Program
at Mount Vernon Hospital; this
program accepts only 24 highly
qualified medical school graduates
yearly from an application
pool of thousands.
Since 1991, Dr. Ishkhanian has
been a member of the medical staff
at Mount Vernon Hospital, and he
joined the medical staff at Sound
Shore Medical Center in 1998. Dr.
Ishkanian has also been on staff at
a number of area long-term care
facilities – including most recently,
the Wartburg Adult Care Community.
Dr. Ishkanian is also in private
practice in Mount Vernon.
His expertise in his specialty has
resulted in Dr. Ishkanian’s involvement
as principal investigator in
numerous clinical research trials
on headache and in the publication
of many peer-reviewed papers on
the subject.
connect:
www.mtvernonhospital.org

The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008 13
Community
Calendar of Events
New York
OCTOBER 26 & NOVEMBER
2 - Nancy Agabian reads from
“Me as her again: True Stories of
an Armenian Daughter.” SUN-
DAY, OCTOBER 26, 3 - 4:30 pm,
LGBT Center, Room 410, 208 W.
13th Street, NYC 10011, btwn
7th and 8th Aves, $1-$5 donation.
Sunday, November 2, 7
pm, Bluestockings Bookstore,
172 Allen Street, NYC btwn
Stanton and Rivington, NYC
10002, Free. Info: http://nancyagabian.com
NOVEMBER 9 - HOLY MAR-
TYRS 50TH ANNIVERSARY
JUBILEE DINNER DANCE at
the Garden City Hotel, Garden
City, NY. 5 P.M. - 10 P.M. Featuring
Arthur Apkarian and
his band. Price per person $150.
For reservations, please call
Arlene Aprahamian at (516)
365-7808 or Adele Aghazadian
at (516) 365-1044 by October
19th.
NOVEMBER 21– FRIDAY –
“HOW SWEET IT IS: THRIVING
WITH DIABETES” comprehensive
workshop for the general
public sponsored by AAHPO
(Armenian American Health
Professionals Organization) at
7:00 pm. at the Armenian Society,
39-03 Little Neck Parkway,
Little Neck, Queens, NY with
the participation of nine prominent
medical professionals. No
charge for the workshop. Limited
seating. For further information
please call AAHPO officers
Dr. Larry Najarian (908)
781-2020, cell (908) 451-3746 or
Dr. Arthur Kubikian at (718) 786-
3842).
NOVEMBER 23 – 79TH AN-
NUAL FOOD FESTIVAL & BA-
ZAAR & MUSIC. Sponsored by
Holy Cross church of Armenia,
580 W. 187th Street, NYC. Traditional
Armenian dishes &
pastries, choereg, katah, keshkeg,
karput, keofteh, manti,
simit, etc. Food to eat or to
take home. Call in advance,
for your orders. Sunday after
Church service from 12 noon
to 6:00 p.m.
NOVEMBER 26 – THANKS-
GIVING EVE CELEBRATION
& FUNDRAISER. SAVE THE
DATE! Fourth annual NYC party.
Hosts: AGBU Young Professionals
of Greater NY, Armenian
Network Greater NY Region, NY
Armenian Students’ Assoc, AYF-
YOARF NY Hyortik Chapter,
AYF-YOARF NJ Arsen Chapter.
21+ w/ proper ID. Portion of
proceeds will go to Armenian
educational causes in NY/NJ
and Armenia/Karabagh. More
details to come.
DECEMBER 7 - Christmas
Family Brunch sponsored by
Armenian American Health Professional
Organization(AAHPO)
at Clinton Inn,Tenefly NJ. Hold
the date.
DECEMBER 31 – HMADS NEW
YEAR’S EVE PARTY. Hosted by
the Friends of HMADS and
PTO at The Armenian Church
of the Martyrs Kalustyan Hall
8:00 p.m. featuring Varujan Vartanian
and his band with hors
d’oeuvres, full dinner and Champagne.
DJ and Santa Claus for
the kids. Adults: $ 100, Children
under 14: $ 60.For reservations
please call: school office: (718)
225 4826, Nyda: (516) 603 2809,
Shakay (516) 398 0410, Hovsep:
(718) 225 2515.
MARCH 28, 2009 - SAVE THE
DATE! ARS Centennial Gala
Banquet at the prestigious Yale
Club of NYC. Details to follow.
718-961-9550.
MAY 16, 2009- SAVE THE
DATE! HMADS Gala Dinner
Dance at Russo’s on the Bay. Details
to follow, for information
please call: (718) 225 4826.
New Jersey
OCTOBER 25 - Gala celebration
of the 50th Anniversary
of the Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church of
America under the jurisdiction
of the Great House of
Cilicia and the 110th anniversary
of the establishment
of the Armenian Church in
America. Marriott at Glenpointe,
Teaneck, New Jersey.
Details to follow.
OCTOBER 25 & 26 - FALL
BAZAAR & FOOD FESTIVAL
- sponsored by St. Thomas Armenian
Church, E. Clinton
Avenue & Rt. 9W, Tenafly, NJ.
Sat. 12 -10 PM, Sun.12 - 6 PM.
Shish Kebab, Homemade Desserts
& Armenian Gourmet
Foods; RUG SALE !!! Performances
by AKH’TAMAR Dance
Ensemble on Saturday and
ANTRANIG Dance Ensemble
on SundayVendor Booths, Armenian
Bookstore & Artifacts,
Jewelry, Raffles, “White Elephant,”
Face Painting, CARNI-
VAL RIDES, & DJ Music. Free
admission and parking! For
more information call 201/567-
5446 or visit www.stthomasarmenianchurch.com,
click on
calendar or directions.
OCTOBER 31, NOVEMBER 1,
NOVEMBER 2 — Sts. Vartanantz
Armenian Church Annual
Bazaar & Food Festival. 461 Bergen
Blvd, Ridgefield, NJ. Fri 5-
10PM, Sat 4-11PM, Sun 12-4PM.
Fabulously delicious Armenian
food homemade by the community
of Sts. Vartanantz. Shish
kebab, Armenian pastries, boutique
vendors! Live music Saturday
night! And a festival of fun
for the kids. Free admission. We
welcome everyone! Questions...
call the Church Office 201-943-
2950.
NOVEMBER 2 - LUNCHEON
- ST. LEON ARMENIAN
CHURCH DEDICATES EDU-
CATIONAL/RECREATIONAL
CENTER. Immediately following
Divine Liturgy. Ceremonies
will be presided by His
Eminence Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian. Reservation
deadline: Oct. 26. Adults: $25/
children under 14: $10. Mail
checks to: Diane Zoraian, 35
Colonial Drive, Allendale, NJ
07401. For more information
call the church office, (201)
791-2862.
NOVEMBER 15 & 16 — Tekeyan
Cultural Association Mher
Megerdchian Theatrical Group
presents Raffy Shart’s “My
Wife’s Name is Maurice” — a
comedy in One Act directed by
Harout Chatmajian. Oradell Elementary
School, 350 Prospect
Avenue, Oradell, NJ. Saturday,
November 15th at 8:00 pm and
Sunday, November 16th at 4:00
pm. Tickets: $35 and $25. For
more information and/or tickets,
please call Marie Zokian at
201-947-4365, Maro Hajakian
at 201-934-3427, Noushig Atamian
at 718-894-5878 or Missak
Boghosian at 212-819-0097.
NOVEMBER 21– FRIDAY –
“HOW SWEET IT IS: THRIVING
WITH DIABETES” comprehensive
workshop for the general
public sponsored by AAHPO
(Armenian American Health
Professionals Organization) at
7:00 pm. at the Armenian Society,
39-03 Little Neck Parkway,
Little Neck, Queens, NY with
the participation of nine prominent
medical professionals. No
charge for the workshop. Limited
seating. For further information
please call AAHPO officers
Dr. Larry Najarian (908)
781-2020, cell (908) 451-3746 or
Dr. Arthur Kubikian at (718) 786-
3842).
DECEMBER 6 - Taline, Friends
& Santa Christmas Concert. At
St. Thomas Armenian Church
,E. Clinton & Highway 9W,
Tenafly, N.J. Sat.1:30 PM &
5:00 PM.Includes lunch/dinner.
Call Mary Ann, (201)871-9111;
Martha, (201)568-5315; Sirvart,
(201)265-5230; Church Office,
(201)567-5446.
DECEMBER 7 - Christmas
Family Brunch sponsored by
Armenian American Health Professional
Organization(AAHPO)
at Clinton Inn,Tenefly NJ. Hold
the date.
DECEMBER 31 – Sts. Vartanantz
Annual New Year’s Eve
Gala. At the Sheraton Meadowlands,
East Rutherford, NJ. Live
Music, open bar, mezze, full
dinner, desserts, prizes. Supervision
and Santa Claus for the
kids. SAVE THE DATE! MORE
INFORMATION TO COME!
NOVEMBER 15, 2009 - SAVE
THIS DATE: “ONE NATION,
ONE CULTURE” A Cultural Festival
organized by Hamazkayin
Eastern USA Regional Executive,
with the participation of Traditional
Armenian Dance Ensembles
& Music Groups. SUNDAY,
NOVEMBER 15, 2009. Felician
College Lodi, New Jersey. Details
to Follow.
Massachusetts
OCTOBER 25 - FALL HAR-
VEST BAZAAR, Saturday,
Noon – 8 PM. First Armenian
Church, 380 Concord Ave, Belmont.
Armenian and Middle
Eastern delicacies, including
manti, cheoreg, yalanchi,
kufte, pastries, fresh nuts and
dried fruits while they last!
Kebab served all day, children’s
activities at lunch and
dinner. Marketplace featuring
books, plants, games. All welcome.
MBTA and handicapped
accessible. For info: call 617-
484-4779, or www.firstarmenianchurch.org.
Newport Beach,
California
NOVEMBER 9—The Armenian
EyeCare Project will host its Seventh
Annual Newport Gala on
Sunday evening, November 9, at
six in the evening, at The Balboa
Bay Club, Newport Beach. The
event will honor Nishan and
Ruby Ann Derderian with a Lifetime
Humanitarian Awards and
celebrate “Bringing Sight to Armenian
Eyes” for sixteen years.
Dinner is $500 per person and
proceeds will benefit the Project’s
programs to eliminate preventable
blindness in Armenia.
For advance reservations and
additional information, contact
the AECP office toll free at 866-
448-2327.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
NOVEMBER 9 - 12 - “Armenian
Women Interacting in Worldwide
Arenas,” Armenian International
Women’s Association’s
5th International Conference,
Sheraton Libertador Hotel. Info:
AiwaInc@aol.com, 617-926-0171,
310-472-2454.
CONDO FOR RENT
Lake Worth, FL
2 BR/2 BATH,
LIV/DIN
EIK, WASH/DRY
$1,800/Mo
(201) 664-7551
N. Lael Telfeyan, Ph.D., LCSW
Counseling and Psychotherapy
with Individuals, Families and Couples
Adults and Adolescents
140 West 97th St.
New York, NY 10025
By appointment 917-975-3109
24 Windsor Road
Great Neck, NY 11021
e-mail: nlael@aol.com
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Tel. 718-224-2390
Website: www.jamiejrfuneral.com.
Serving the Armenian Community Since 1969
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14 The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008
Armenia
From Armenia, in brief
Asian bank to fund
feasibility study for
Armenia-Iran railway
At a press briefing in Yerevan, Armenia’s
Prime Minister Tigran
Sarkisian said that the Asian Development
Bank will fund a feasibility
study for the construction of
an Armenia-Iran railway. The study
will cost $1.5 million.
According to Armenpress the
prime minister said that the study
will then be presented by the bank
to the private sector, “which may
also participate in the project. We
will invite our strategic partners to
participate in the project.” He went
on to say that he believes that by
the following year there will be serious
progress in the actual implementation
of this project.
Transport and Communication
Minister Gurgen Sarkisian told
journalists that the project is expected
to cost approximately $1.5–2
billion and be implemented in five
years time.
According to RFE/RL the project
has been under discussion for years
by the Armenian and Iranian governments.
Armenian authorities
have recently signaled their desire
to finally get it off the drawing
board, with President Serge Sargsian
declaring its implementation
one of his administration’s top economic
priorities.
WiMax broadband
wireless Internet
service launched in
Armenia
Comstar – United TeleSystems (a
component of AFK Sistema) Armenian
project – a national telecom
network, Comstar-OTS was
launched in Yerevan with the participation
of Russian President
Dimitry Medvedev and President
Serge Sargsian on October 21. According
to company officials the
network will offer WiMax broadband
wireless Internet service
in Yerevan and another 18 cities
throughout Armenia. This telecommunication
system is beneficial to
countries like Armenia which has
difficulty with access to services because
of its geographic location.
A feasibility study
is underway
toward a rail link
between Iran and
Armenia. Photos:
Photolure.
Dimitry
Medvedev and
Serge Sargsian at
WiMax. Photo:
president.am
According to Mediamax, president
of Comstar-OTS, Sergey
Pridantsev at a news conference
said that this network is
not only unique in Armenia but
“one of the first telecommunication
networks of its kind in the
world.” The company has already
invested $4.6 million in Armenia
for this service.
According to the company, 24
multisectoral base stations have
been installed to assure the communication.
Airspan Networks
Company (U.S.) is the supplier of
the network equipment. The network
is intended to provide a full
spectrum of telecommunications
services to both companies and private
residences, including services
in data transfer, digital telecommunication,
high-line Internet access,
organization of corporate networks
(IP VPN), etc.
The company currently has 600
clients and is expected to welcome
another 400 by the end of the year.
Comstar is the biggest communication
operator in Moscow based
on financial indicators and subscriber
base.
Prime Minister Sarkisian at the Global Innovation Forum.
Global Innovation
Forum for Education
and Development kicks
off in Yerevan
The Global Innovation Forum for
Education and Development organized
by the UN Global Alliance for
ICT and Development (UN GAID),
UN e-Leaders Committee, Athgo
International and the Ministry of
Economy of Armenia took place in
Yerevan October 21-24.
The forum was attended by students
and young entrepreneurs
from several countries, where
they discussed telecommunication
in the context of education
and innovations. According to
Opposition decides to suspend rallies temporarily
by Armen Hakobyan
YEREVAN – Levon Ter-Petrossian,
the first president of Armenia and
now a leader of the opposition, has
announced a temporary halt in all
mass protests. He made his announcement
at a mass rally on October
17.
The decision to suspend rallies
for two months was not unanimously
accepted by the various organizations
within the Armenian
National Congress headed by Mr.
Ter-Petrossian.
Jirayr Sefelian, who is a
member of the Armenian National
Congress, announced
that he does not agree with the
decision to stop the rallies, but,
nevertheless, will not disobey it.
Levon Zourabian, the coordinator
of the congress’ central office
announced that all their supporters
who were disappointed
by this decision will understand
the significance behind this step
and rid themselves of their emotional
state.
During the rally, Mr. Ter-
Petrossian as usual gave a long
speech. He accused the current
president of making a “sharp turn
toward the West” at the cost of relations
with Russia. (This announcement
came on the eve of the official
visit of the Russian president to
Armenia.) Mr. Ter-Petrossian also
alleged that in order to solve his
issues of legitimacy with Western
countries, Mr. Sargsian is prepared
to sacrifice Armenia’s state interests
and is submitting to strong international
pressure in the settlement
process of the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue and is on the way to making
severely damaging compromises.
The former president – who was
forced from office for urging “severely
damaging compromises” in
Karabakh – suggested that under
such circumstances the opposition’s
public struggle could be used
as a tool in the hands of the international
community and so that is
Mediamax Prime Minister Tigran
Sarkisian at the opening of the
forum said that the government of
Armenia is striving to determine
the country’s real potential in the
sphere of information technologies.
He stressed the importance
of developing this sector because
“as opposed to our neighbors, we
have no resources other than the
intellectual one.”
The Minister of Economy Nerses
Yeritsyan said that Armenia is
striving to become a global player
in the IT sphere and that
the government is stimulating
development in this
direction.
According to the organizers of
the forum, the objective is to concentrate
on the basic tools that facilitate
the creation of innovative
solutions, particularly, systematic
and quality educational opportunities.
Currently, proper education is
not widely available in developing
regions, thus slowing innovation
and hampering the implementation
of existing ICT. Consequently,
the forum will focus on ways to
improve educational opportunities
and quality through ICT, specifically
focusing on building ICT
skills among young people. To this
end the impact of access, connectivity
and relevant local content in
meeting educational and analytical
needs will be examined and methods
to overcome the obstacles discussed
and presented.
UN Under-Secretary
General Cheick Sidi
Diarra in Armenia
The UN Under-Secretary General,
Cheick Sidi Diarra arrived in
An antigovernment rally in Yerevan on October 17. Photo: Photolure.
why he took the decision to stop all
political actions and to concentrate
on the defense of opposition members
who were imprisoned after the
clashes on March 1, resolving the
organizational issues of the opposition
congress, and establishing its
structure.
Attendance at Mr. Ter-
Petrossian’s rallies has been dwindling.
Edward Sharmazanov,
member of parliament and a member
of the Republican Party of Armenia,
said he believes that the opposition
has exhausted its resources
for struggle through rallies. f
Cheick Sidi Diarra.
Yerevan to take part in the Global
Innovation Forum for Education
and Development on October 22.
While in the country he met with
the president, prime minister and
minister of economy of Armenia.
According to Arminfo General
Cheick Sidi Diarra said that IT in
Armenia must be developed in
parallel with infrastructure development.
He added that underdeveloped
rural regions needed just
as much attention. “Society must
be ready to apply the achievements
in IT-sphere as well as actively integrate
the technologies into the
economy and daily life,” the UN official
said.
General Sheick Sidi Diarra
is also the High Representative
of Landlocked Developing
countries. During a press briefing
on October 21 he said that
there are 31 such states in the
world. According to the general,
the UN Almaty Program of
Action became the first global
document, directed to securing
the special needs of developing
landlocked countries. The program
contains special measures
and recommendations concerning
the policy in the sphere of
transit transportations, development
of transport infrastructure
and assistance to trade
development. Almaty Program
of Action provides for financial
and technical help to this group
of countries.
Armenia ranks 102nd
in Press Freedom Index
prepared by Reporters
without Borders
Every year Reporters without Borders
issues its Press Freedom Index.
The organization prepares a
questionnaire with 49 criteria that
assess the state of press freedom
in each country. The questionnaire
includes every kind of violation
directly affecting journalists (such
as murders, imprisonment, physical
attacks, and threats) and news
media (censorship, confiscation of
newspaper issues, searches and harassment).
It also includes the degree
of impunity enjoyed by those
responsible for press freedom violations.
This year Armenia ranked 102,
with Azerbaijan coming in last in
the South Caucasus. Georgia was
ranked 120, Russia 141, Belarus 154,
and Uzbekistan 162. The bottom
three were Turkmenistan, North
Korea, and Eritrea. Most of the
European Union member states
ranked in the top 40 with the exception
of Italy which came in 44th
position. The United States ranks
the 36th.
f
—M.T.

The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008 15
Armenia
A calm oasis in the heart of Yerevan
Lovers’ Park opens
thanks to the
Boghossian family
by Maria Titizian
YEREVAN – “We envisage a park
that is beautiful and unconventional
in its manifestation and worthy
in its content; a gift from my
family to the city of Yerevan,” Albert
Boghossian said. His family
is responsible for the complete revitalization
of Lovers’ Park in the
heart of Yerevan. “This park, with
its special landscape is meant to be
a place for people who can escape
the pressures of daily life can take
a pause, relax and find serenity. A
place where lovers can share their
emotions in a powerful and unusual
environment, a place where an artist
or a poet can find inspiration to
complete their creation. A place for
Yerevantsis and visitors of Yerevan
to simply spend some good time.”
With the cooperation of the Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund and the
Boghossian Foundation, the official
opening of Lover’s Park took place
on October 17, a particularly sunny
autumn day. The 1.6-hectare park
was designed by Pierre Rambach
of Switzerland who has designed
many gardens with eastern influences.
“I tried to give the magnitude
of the natural movement of terrain,
Republican Party
loses in Syunik and
Etchmiadzin
by Armen Hakobyan
to create tenderness and sensuality
by the outlined curves of passages.
I also sought to express a sense of
freedom, releasing the trees from
the old rectilinear structure by an
eye-catching appearance of the hills,”
explained Mr. Rambach. “To create a
place for the meeting of cultures or
solitary meditations, to create a place
where the urban turmoil fades into
oblivion and leaves yourself to be
lulled by the whisper of water. Also a
place, where generations meet with
the help of a play-ground for kids,
not far from the one reserved for
games for elderly people.” According
to the Boghossian Foundation, even
though the park was conceived in
the tradition of Japanese landscaping,
in composition and spirit it is a
reflection of modern Armenia.
Local project management was
Local elections continue in
Armenia’s regions
YEREVAN – The ruling Republican
Party of Armenia has lost in a number
of recent local elections.
Local elections took place in Etchmiadzin
on October 19, where Karen
Grigorian, son of General Manvel
Grigorian (who is president of the
Yerkrapah Volunteers Union) ran
against Hakob Hakobyan, who is
a member of the Republican Party
Council and a former member of
parliament. Mr. Grigorian was being
supported by another general,
Seyran Saroyan, who was said to
be a supporter of opposition politician
Levon Ter-Petrossian.
More than 20,000 registered
voters turned out on election day
in Etchmiadzin. Mr. Grigorian received
12,208 votes while Mr. Hakobyan
received only 6,994. Mr.
Hakobyan has decided to appeal
the results of the election.
Local elections in Lori province
did not take place without controversy.
In one of the largest villages,
Odzun, the incumbent was
a Republican Party member, Melik
Ayvazian, who declared that
he had won the vote for village
head by 7 votes. After a recount
it became clear that Mr. Ayvazian
had won 1,078 votes and his rival
Arsen Titanian had received
1,123 votes. Since there were 69
scrapped ballots, it was decided
to hold new elections in Odzun in
three weeks.
In Syunik, a traditional Republican
stronghold, the party secured
seats only in Kajaran and Agarak.
In both villages the Republican
candidate was running unopposed.
In Kapan, in the center of
the province, the ARF’s Arthur
Atayan achieved a clear victory
(10,859 votes), while the incumbent
mayor, Republican Armen
Karapetian received only 7,741
votes. In Meghri the incumbent
mayor, again a Republican, lost to
a non-partisan candidate. In Sisian,
Aghasi Hakobjanian of the
Prosperous Armenia Party won,
beating out the ARF and the RPA.
The next big test will be on October
26, when mayoral elections are
slated to take place in Armenia’s
second largest city, Gyumri. f
Reach over 100,000 Armenians
with your message
Advertise in the Armenian Reporter, on the new
USArmenia Television, and on Armenia TV on
the Dish Network. For more information, from the
Western U.S. call 818.800.3311 or from the Eastern
U.S. call 201.226.1995.
From left: Sarhad Petrossian, Pierre Rambach, and Albert Boghossian.
handled by architect Sarhad
Petrossian, working with architect
Naneh Toumanian.
Ara Vardanyan, the acting executive
director of the Armenia
Fund said, “Together with the
Boghossian Foundation we have
spared no efforts in order to restore
the park, as well as have
done our best to provide a fresh
touch and new quality. I hope
that the park will continue to be
a favourite place for relaxation.”
The revitalization of the park
cost $1.3 million; it boasts an artificial
lake with islets, several
waterfalls, over 20 stone compositions,
and beautifully manicured
lawns and flower beds. The park is
wheelchair accessible and even has
jogging paths. Decorative lights
are presented throughout and the
If you want peace you must train well
NATO military
training concludes
successfully in
Armenia
by Armen Hakobyan
YEREVAN – Driving along dirt
roads, the column of military trucks,
which had transported humanitarian
aid to the village, returned to the
peacekeeping forces base. Suddenly
an all-terrain vehicle emerged and
raising a plume of dirt squeezed in
between the column and the advance
guards, which was about half
a kilometer ahead. The sound of an
explosive was heard, smoke started
to rise and automatic rifle shots
began. Two snipers who were lying
in ambush on nearby hills started
to fire on the column of vehicles.
The soldiers, who came out of the
advance guard vehicles, quickly
oriented themselves to the situation,
took their positions and with
covering shots started approaching
their endangered comrades. While
resisting the ambushing terrorists,
they called for help from the rapidresponse
team, which quickly arrived
with three armed vehicles
and the terrorists were finally surrounded
and rendered harmless.
It can be said that the operation
ended successfully, especially
if we take into consideration that
soldiers from 14 countries were included
in the peacekeeping forces.
They spoke to one another and
exchanged data and commands in
multi-accented English.
This “military” action took place
on October 19, at the Armenian
Defense Ministry’s military training
center close to Balahovit village,
within the framework of NATO’s
Cooperative Longbow/Lancer military
trainings. The “explosion” was,
of course, fake and the shots were
A view of the new Lovers’ Park in Yerevan.
blank cartridges. Armenian Defense
Minister Seyran Ohanian,
Commander Allied Land Component
Command Headquarters
Heidelberg, Lieutenant General
Roland Kather (Germany), Deputy
Commander Land Component
Command Heidelberg Lieutenant
General John D. Gardner (USA)
and Armenian and foreign highranking
military personnel and officers
attentively followed the “war”
from a nearby hill.
During a briefing with journalists,
Lieutenant General Roland
Kather noted that during a meeting
that very morning he had thanked
Mr. Ohanian, “as his efforts helped
the Cooperative Longbow/Lancer
military trainings to take place.
This morning my Deputy, General
Gardner confirmed that the Armenian
government and the Defense
Ministry have exerted every effort
in order to ensure the success of
the military trainings. These trainings
proved that Armenia is ready
to become a member of NATO’s
Partnership for Peace family and I
can clearly announce: welcome to
this family.” General Kather had
headed NATO’s forces in Kosovo in
2006–2007 and had gotten to know
the Armenian soldiers. According
to the general, the professionalism
and preparedness of Armenia’s
peacekeeping battalion had left an
excellent impression.
As far as the Cooperative Longbow-
08 commander headquarters
and Cooperative Lancer- 08 military
trainings, during which hundreds
of participants from 17 countries
were welcomed in Armenia for
about a month and a half are concerned,
General Kather noted that
the results were excellent. He once
again noted that the political aim
of these military trainings was the
reinforcement of regional stability
and peace and the development of
level of cooperation between multinational
forces.
“Summarizing the results, today
we can record with satisfaction that
Boghossian Foundation has committed
to maintaining and being
responsible for the upkeep the park
for the next 21 years.
Taking part in the ribbon cutting
and opening ceremonies of Lovers’
Park was President Serge Sargsian,
Mayor of Yerevan Yervand
Zakharian, Mr. Boghossian representing
Boghossian Foundation,
Pierre Rambach, members of parliament,
ministers and other high
ranking officials.
During his speech at the opening
ceremonies, Mr. Boghossian said: “I
envision for this park to go beyond
its original purpose of a promenade
and to become a living place
throughout the year where artists
of different horizons, musicians,
sculptors, painters will perform at
the open air auditorium or expose
their art through the landscape.
Even in winter, when everything
is frozen and little outdoor activity
happens, I envision a festival
of lights and forms emerging from
the depth of the park bringing life
in the midst of winter and snow.”
The Boghossian Foundation was
created in 1992 by Robert Boghossian
and his two sons Jean
and Albert, jewelers based in Antwerp
and Geneva.
f
the military trainings served their
purpose by guaranteeing the high
standard of the mutually agreed
cooperation between more than
700 representatives from a dozen
countries. One of the important
achievements of the military training
was also the experience gained
by the participants of mutual cooperation
in similar situation,” Mr.
Ohanian said the next day during
his speech at the official closing
ceremony of the Cooperative Longbow/Lancer
military trainings Vazgen
Sarkissian military institute.
He added, “These military trainings
once again proved that differences
in language and nationality and
differing norms and approaches
cannot hinder reaching universal
goals. This is more than important,
when the issue concerns such
modern and universal issues, such
as peacekeeping and guaranteeing
international safety.” The minister
thanked the partner countries participating
in the military trainings
and all representatives of Armenia’s
different state departments
for their successful participation.
Robert Simons, the Special
Representative of NATO’s General
Secretary in the Caucasus and Central
Asia had also come to participate
in the closing ceremony of the
military training. The President of
Armenia, Serge Sargsian, had
met him that day. According to
the official statement, during the
meeting the President had said
that a European orientation continues
to be one of the priorities
of Armenia’s foreign policies and
cooperation with NATO is one of
its important elements. According
to Armenia’s president, the partnership
with the Euro-Atlantic alliance
will continue and Armenia
views this as a component in the
security of the country. Robert Simons
has evaluated the NATO-Armenia
cooperation process as very
successful and has noted that good
preconditions exist for further development
of relations. f

16 The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008
Armenia
A bold leap into the unknown, kids and all
One family’s
repatriation story
by Nyree Abrahamian
YEREVAN – Raffi Niziblian and
Lara Aharonian are the quintessential
modern Armenian couple.
Married, with three beautiful children,
they have demanding careers
and a fulfilling family life . . . in
Yerevan. Raffi and Lara are part of
a growing repatriation movement
among diaspora Armenians. They
have been living in Armenia since
2003 with their three children:
Amassia, 8, Varanta, 6, and Vayk, 3,
who was born in Armenia.
The couple met and married in
Montreal, where they had both immigrated
with their families at a
young age. Raffi was born in Jordan,
spent his early years in Kuwait, and
moved to Montreal at the age of 9.
Lara was born in Lebanon, fled to
Cyprus during the war in 1990, and
moved from there to Montreal. The
two had a lot of common interests
and seemed to click from very early
on. “We’ve done a lot together,” reflects
Lara, “Scouting, school.... We
basically grew up together.”
Both Raffi and Lara developed an
early love for Armenia and had visited
the country during the Soviet
era; Raffi in 1990, with the Hamazkain
dance group (he was the lead
dancer), and Lara in 1985, as part of
a program in Lebanon that sent the
best students to a summer camp in
Armenia.
In 1999, to celebrate their first
anniversary, the couple came to
Armenia through the Land and
Culture Organization (LCO) to help
with the renovations of a church.
They returned with LCO in 2001
(this time to Shushi) with their first
daughter Amassia, who was hardly
a year old. They would take turns
with the baby and sometimes bring
her along to the worksite. “I used
to put her in her stroller and she
Raffi Niziblian.
Deem Commuinications
Deem is a full-service marketing
and communications agency
that covers advertising, PR and
events planning. Raffi Niziblian,
who has a background in communications
studies from Concordia
University, had an idea early on
of starting a radio station that
would link Armenia to the West.
“I think I created that with Deem,”
he says, “It brings a Western perspective
to marketing and communications
in Armenia. There is
a growing need for local and international
companies investing
in Armenia now.”
The young company has quickly
gained success and recognition,
working with such high profile clients
as Armenia Marriott Hotel,
Zvartnots International Airport,
Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Guy Manoukian and Nune
Yesayan, to name a few.
In two years, Deem has expanded
from a two-person operation
to a staff of eleven, plus designers
who they outsource work
to. The ‘Deem Team’ is a colorful,
energetic and diverse group.
“The most interesting part is our
staff,” says Raffi, “We’re a mix of
diaspora Armenians from Canada,
the United States, and Lebanon,
and local Armenian experts.” Currently,
Deem also has two interns,
from Argentina and Canada.
Asked about the challenges of
starting a business in Armenia,
Raffi responds, “There were actually
much fewer obstacles than
I’d imagined. Starting a business
anywhere in the world has its
challenges, but because I had experience
living and working in Armenia,
I had some insight on how
things function here. It was less
surprising for me to see a more
Middle Eastern/post-Soviet approach
to business.”
“A lot of diasporans, when
they start a business in Armenia,
think they’re still in the
West,” he goes on to explain,
“They’re shocked by something
as simple as having to wait a few
days to get a document signed
by the proper authorities. With
time, you learn to deal with all
of this. You don’t have to accept
the ways things work, but you
learn to deal with it. In order to
get a job done, you know there
are certain things you need to
do. You need to know how to
say things, how to put things…
there are certain subtleties and
innuendos that make all the difference.”
Another challenge that Raffi
faces as a repatriate doing business
in Armenia is networking. “I
have a strong networking base,”
he explains, “But not as strong
as the Hayastantsi who has his
classmates, neighborhood, community…
Especially in this type of
people-oriented business, that’s
important.”
But operating in the Armenian
business world as a diaspora-Armenian
has its perks, too. “Because
I’m from the West,” says
Raffi, “There’s a different kind
of business relationship, an extra
alertness. People don’t know
how a diasporan will react to their
methods, so they’re cautious.”
So naturally, being an “outsider”
works both for and against the
savvy Diasporan businessperson
trying to establish a successful
enterprise in Armenia.
As for Raffi, the venturesome
entrepreneur embraces the
bumps along the road, seeing
them as learning experiences and
opportunities for growth. “Every
day presents new challenges,” he
says, “Every challenge presents
new opportunities.”
f
connect:
www.deemcommunications.com
would watch us work, eat, sleep,”
says Lara, “There were plenty of volunteers
around and they all loved
to play and have fun with her.”
Of course, when it came to
bringing their infant along to
Shushi, a neglected war zone
that received next to no foreign
aid, the new parents had their
concerns. “The food and water issues
were what worried me,” says
Lara, “Luckily, I was still breastfeeding
at the time, but water was
scarce. I would boil pots of water
at night, and put it aside in bottles.”
But in the end, it was worth
it. One of the main reasons they
brought baby Amassia along was
to baptize her at Saghmosavank,
a church that they had helped
renovate the previous year.
In 2002, Raffi was offered a position
as director of LCO and in
2003, when their second daughter,
Varanta, was just 8 months old, the
couple made the bold move to Armenia.
“Lara had long, African braids. I
had crazy, long hair and a beard. In
the winter, the kids were decked
out in funky Canadian gear…. We
were sort of the colorful family in
Yerevan,” laughs Raffi, “People stare
anyway, but we asked for it.”
While Raffi was settling into
his new position at LCO, Lara was
busy with exciting plans of her
own. “When I was volunteering,
my major problem was the situation
of women and how they’re
treated here,” she says, “I decided:
If I’m going to move here, I have
The Women’s Resource Center, the
brainchild of Lara Aharonian, is
the premier facility of its kind in
Armenia. “I decided that if I’m going
to move here, I have to change
something,” says Lara, “So first of
all, it was for me.”
With a master’s degree in French
comparative literature focusing on
French and Armenian feminist literature,
Lara was very involved in
women’s issues when she lived in
Montreal and volunteered much
of her time at a women’s resource
center affiliated with Concordia
University. So when the idea of
the WRC was in its early stages, she
decided it would be most logical to
be affiliated with a university.
She got in touch with Shushan,
a friend she had met years ago
while volunteering in Karintak
(near Shushi) and together, while
Lara was still in Montreal, they
began to brainstorm. “People suggested
to go through the American
University of Armenia, or the
French University,” she says, “But
the whole point was I wanted
to be accessible to has many local
women as possible.” So from
Montreal, she wrote several letters
to different departments of
YSU (Yerevan State University) to
find someone who was willing to
cooperate. She finally connected
with Gohar Shahnazaryan, a
professor in the sociology department
who was the first woman in
Armenia to do a Ph.D. on gender
issues, and together, in 2003, they
founded the WRC.
“It started very small, very grassroots,”
says Lara, “We fought to
get a small room from the university.
We’d have occasional round
tables, human rights training, and
students would come from all different
departments.”
Eventually, the number of volunteers
grew and the center became
more active. They began to
talk about issues like sexual health
Raffi Niziblian, Lara Aharonian, with Amassia, Varanta, and Vayk.
to change something.” Her initial
frustration and lots of persistent
hard work led to the establishment
of Armenia’s Women’s
Resource Center, which is going
strong as the country’s leading
advocate of women’s rights,
creating an open dialogue about
gender relations, sexual health,
and human rights.
Women’s Resource Center
Lara Aharonian at the Women’s Resource Center.
After a few years of living in Armenia,
Raffi was recruited by VivaCell,
the top telecommunications
company in Armenia, to establish
their commercial department. The
position opened up a lot of doors
and helped him better understand
the business environment in Ar-
Continued on page 17 m
and reproductive rights. Lara began
a workshop called “My Body,
My Right”, a ten-session discussion
series that is still extremely
popular.
The university, traditionally
conservative in its values, was not
thrilled with the excitement and
buzz stirred up by the Women’s
Resource Center, and one day,
while at a conference in Istanbul,
Lara was informed that they were
kicked out of their cubby hole of a
room because “they stayed open
past university hours.”
“When I got the call that they
had closed down the Women’s
Centre, I was ready for it,” says
Lara, “I felt like it was time to
move on. Working within the
university’s time constraints and
conservative framework was restrictive.”
They moved everything
into their homes, quickly found
a small apartment, and in 2007,
moved into their current location,
a comfortable space on Zarubyan
Street in Yerevan’s center.
Today, the Women’s Resource
Center is one of Armenia’s most
reputable NGOs, with widereaching
projects in all regions
of Armenia and Karabagh. Last
February, they opened a branch in
Shushi whose focus is mainly on
women and peace building, and
on creating economic sustainability
for women. They have a gynecological
room with free consulting,
a service they hope to make
available once a week.
The Center in Yerevan now has
five paid staff and 21 active members
(who actually participate in
creating forums, classes and activities),
as well as hundreds of other
members who drop by from time
to time to participate in workshops
and use the resources. Their activities
include: women’s rights trainings,
round-tables on gender issues,
career seminars, “My Sexuality”
closed group discussions, prenatal
courses conducted with the help of
a midwife – Martha Boudakian,
“Mother and Child” mornings, film
and book clubs, and a new Sexual
Assault Drop-In Center and Hotline.
They publish booklets and
pamphlets on issues ranging from
breast cancer to human trafficking.
Members also travel regularly to
different regions of Armenia, conducting
courses with youth on topics
such as reproductive rights and
gender relations.
The impressive list of the organization’s
endeavors goes on. And
all members are encouraged to
bring whatever they can offer to
the table. “It’s in the name,” says
Lara, “It’s a resource center. You
bring your resources, and you receive
resources from others.” f

The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008 17
Armenia
“With the people, for the people”
Opening ceremonies
of the Armenian
Relief Society’s 69th
General Assembly
takes place in
Yerevan
by Sosseh Tachdjian
YEREVAN – Over 200 women from
all over the world converged in Armenia
to take part in the Armenian
Relief Society’s (ARS) 69th General
Assembly. They had come from
Greece, Lebanon, Australia, France,
Syria, Canada, the United States
– 26 countries in all – bringing with
them an almost 100-year history
of dedication and commitment to
their people. Their motto is a reflection
of their purpose, “With the
people, for the people.” The women
of the ARS are truly inspirational
and the proof is in the pudding.
Established almost a hundred
years ago in New York City in 1910,
the ARS is the oldest Armenian
women’s organization, providing
educational and humanitarian assistance
to Armenians throughout
the globe. The ARS has affiliates in
26 countries who realize programs
such as building, operating and
subsidizing Armenian language
schools, community centers and
nursery schools; sponsoring orphans
and orphan meal programs
in Armenia and Artsakh; granting
scholarships to deserving and outstanding
students; building a longneeded
community infrastructure
in Javakhk, Georgia and providing
Left: Hasmig
Derderian
with Armen
Topouzian. Right:
Hagop Der
Khachadurian of
the ARF Bureau.
critical maternal care and general
health services through the Mother
and Child Medical Clinic and Birthing
Center in Akhourian, Armenia.
Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian,
various ministers, including
the Minister of Education Spartak
Seyranian, Minister of Social
Affairs Arsen Stepanian, and
Minister of the Diaspora Hranush
Hakobyan, representatives from
USAID, AGBU, Hamazkayin Cultural
and Educational Association,
the Lebanese Ambassador to Armenia,
Armenia’s former first lady
Bella Kocharian, high-ranking
officials of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) Bureau
and Supreme Council of the party
were on hand to participate in the
official opening of the General Assembly
of the ARS in Yerevan on
October 18.
The evening’s host was Alvard
Petrosian, member of the ARS’s
board in Armenia and a member
of parliament elected on the
ARF ticket. Ms. Petrosian read the
message from Aram I, Catholicos
of the Great House of Cilicia,
afterward noting that Karekin
II, Catholicos of All Armenians,
had not sent a message, nor had
he sent a representative of the
Church to partake in the ceremonies.
Armenia’s prime minister
and minister of the diaspora
welcomed the participants and
wished them success in all their
future endeavors.
Hasmig Derderian, president
of the world body of the ARS, the
Central Executive Board, presented
a comprehensive report on the
activities of the organization over
the past several years and also
spoke about their preparations for
the ARS’s centennial celebration
for 2010. Ms. Derderian said that
along with the special activities
being organized globally to commemorate
100 years of work, they
A bold leap into the unknown, kids and all
have also established a Centennial
Fund which, to date, has already
raised over $1,000,000. This past
year, the ARS opened its archives
and during the opening ceremonies
presented the first collection
of their archives to the Armenian
National Archives’ Executive Director
Amatuni Virapian. During
her presentation, Ms. Derderian
also presented Armenian-American
benefactor Armen Topouzian
with a special plaque from the
ARS thanking him for his diligent
and selfless contribution to the
many nursery schools that the ARS
operates in Karabakh.
The ARS is a participating nongovernmental
organization (NGO)
at the United Nations. Since 1977
the ARS has been a member of the
United National NGO Department
of Public Information and in 1998
was accepted for roster status by
the UN’s Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC). The ARS is also
an active member of UNICEF and
its Working Group on Girls; the
NGO Committee on the Status of
Women (CSW); the planning committee
of the NGO DPI Conference;
the CONGO NGO committees on
Mental Health, HIV/AIDS and Children’s
right.
One of the most moving moments
of the evening was a speech
by Galya Arustamyan, chairperson
of the Mothers of Karabakh
Freedom Fighters Union who had
come to Yerevan from Stepanakert
to take part in the meeting. Ms.
Arustamyan lost a son during the
armed conflict with Azerbaijan in
the early 1990s. But she had come
to Yerevan with an important message
about the activities of the Armenian
Relief Society. She said that
the work carried out by the ARS
over the last two decades has had
a lasting impact on the people and
especially the children of Karabakh.
She thanked the ARS for its monumental
efforts to help the people of
Karabakh and wished the organization
continued success.
Closing the evening’s ceremonies
was a speech by Hagop Der
Khachadurian, member of the
ARF Bureau, who said that while
the ARS is one of the most experienced
and well-organized global
Armenian organizations, and while
their mandate is providing educational
and humanitarian assistance,
the organization should work more
closely with women’s and children’s
rights issues in the future.
The General Assembly of the ARF
wrapped up on October 24 in Yerevan.
Undoubtedly the women of
this organization will return to their
respective countries armed with
more energy and vigor to continue
serving their fellow Armenian. f
n Continued from page 16
menia, but soon, he decided it was
time to move on. “With time, I realized
that I needed to have my own
thing,” he says, “At 36, I decided to
start my own company.” And so in
2006, Raffi Niziblian and Arsineh
Khachikian fulfilled their mutual
vision with Deem Communications,
a full-service marketing and
communications agency.
With their professional endeavors
going strong and three school
age children, Raffi and Lara have
their hands full. Leaving a comfortable
life in Canada behind and
moving to Armenia is one thing.
Doing it with a young family is another.
People often ask them why
and how they did it, but Raffi and
Lara cannot be more pleased with
their decision.
“It started out as something
very emotional,” says Raffi, of
their decision to move to Armenia,
“But we approached it from a
rational perspective. We weighed
the pros and cons of raising our
children in Armenia versus Montreal,
and Armenia won. There are
more cultural opportunities here.
Safety and security are another
big issue. Here, they play with all
the other kids in the yard behind
our building, and we don’t have
to worry.”
At first, the couple had their
doubts about whether they were
taking something away from
their children by raising them in
Armenia, but those doubts soon
diminished. Lara was sure that
they had made the right decision
on their last trip back to Canada.
Their children were singing, dancing,
playing piano, and happily
entertaining themselves while
the other kids around them were
preoccupied with the latest video
game or Barbie doll. “They have
a more cultural upbringing here,”
she says, “And they’re happy with
small things. Now I’m sure that
this is the place. They’re receiving
a strong base here. In Canada,
most of my energy would go
towards raising them Armenian.
Here, I can focus more on raising
them as people, as good human
beings. The Armenian part
is natural.
“Healthcare is a major challenge
in Armenia,” she admits, “But you
have to know your resources…. I
was confident. I had read a lot.
I always keep myself informed,
and resources are available here.”
Lara decided to have her third
child, Vayk, in Armenia. “It was
an amazing experience,” she says.
“I have a good doctor that I trust,
who I can call whenever I want if
one of my kids is sick: something
that is not available in Canada.”
So everywhere has its advantages
and its drawbacks. Technologically,
the Armenian healthcare
system may not be the best
equipped, but there is a personal
touch here that you cannot find
anywhere else.
And as for education Again,
it’s not as big a challenge as one
might think. The children are enrolled
at Aregnaz, an alternative
Waldorf school, where they learn
Armenian, English, Russian, and
German. Plus, Lara teaches them
French at home. In North America,
it’s hard enough to raise bilingual
children. The Niziblian children
are simultaneously learning five
languages, and still find plenty of
time to play with the neighborhood
kids in the yard.
On to the tricky question. I ask
Raffi and Lara how their families
feel about their move to Armenia
and surprisingly, it’s not
that big an issue. “They’re happy
we’re happy,” says Raffi, “Just
not happy that they don’t get to
see their grandchildren, nieces
and nephew regularly.” Lara
continues, “They don’t like the
idea, but just a couple of years
ago, they started understanding
why we’re here. They figured, we
moved to Canada to escape the
war, for a better life, so why are
you going backwards But since
they started coming every summer,
they see that it’s a good decision.
I have three kids and a
very active life – something that
would have been next to impossible
in Canada.”
Looking to the future, Raffi and
Lara understand that many factors
can come into play like health,
world events, and family needs
back home, but their repatriation
is not a passing phase. “Nothing is
permanent,” says Raffi, “But we’re
here indefinitely.”
f

18 The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008
Armenia
Wedding in the mountains
Besides green and
black, Nagorno-
Karabakh also has
another color - white,
just like the snow
by Tatul Hakobyan
GANDZASAR, Nagorno Karabakh
– Recently my voluminous book
on the history, war, and negotiation
process of Nagorno-Karabakh
was published. I had worked on the
book for six years and during that
time had visited Nagorno-Karabakh
numerous times and walked
through the liberated territories. I
named the book Green and Black,
after hearing the impressions of
the conflict by one of the chroniclers
of the Karabakh war, director
and filmmaker Tigran Xzmalian.
While we spoke about the brutality
of the war, Tigran recounted
many events, but told me that his
most intense emotions were not
connected to the brutalities of
the war itself. He said that during
the war two colors were increasingly
visible in Karabakh: black and
green-khaki. The men wore khaki,
green camouflage, while the number
of their women in black continued
to increase.
“The increase of black was the
most depressing, the most acute
impression from the Artsakh war,”
recounted Tigran. During the war,
the usage of these two colors constantly
increased in Karabakh:
more and more mothers wore black
and more sons wore the military
uniform.
However, if I had known that another
color also existed in Artsakh,
white, just like the snow, I would
probably have named my book
Green, Black and White.
On October 16, Bishop Yezras
Nercessian, Primate of the Diocese
of New Nakhichevan and Russia
, prayed on the grounds of the
13th-century church of Gandzasar,
a jewel of medieval Armenian architecture,
Saint Hovhannes Mkrtich.
He prayed for the Lord to bless 200
newlywed couples and keep them
united in their deep love until old
age.
“May God protect you from all
temptations and danger. It is God’s
command that you all remain faithful
to one another and support and
protect each other until death. We
believe that this wedding in this
cherished place is a victorious celebration
for all of us; a holiday of
love and faith,” Bishop Yezras told
the 200 couples.
Standing amidst the colorful
autumn forest, 200 young brides
brought a new color to the scenery.
Their wedding gowns as white
as snow brought new meaning – an
Scenes from the big wedding day. Photos: Tatul Hakobyan for the Armenian Reporter.
end to the war, a farewell to arms;
victorious Artsakh henceforth
needs only peace and love.
I rushed from Gandzasar to Shushi,
where the wedding of another 500
couples took place on the grounds
of Sourp Amenaprkich Ghazanchetsots
Cathedral, with the blessing of
Archbishop Barkev Mardirossian,
primate of the Diocese of Artsakh.
It was a unique scene.
That evening all 700 couples
walked down from Renaissance
Square in Stepanakert, toward the
stadium, where the biggest Armenian
wedding celebration was
to take place. More than 20,000
people had gathered at the stadium
and on the surrounding hills; a
fantastic number for Stepanakert,
with a population of only 40,000.
Bishop Barkev wished the newlyweds
eternal happiness, love, and
children in order to strengthen the
Artsakh fortress.
“Today, in this newly renovated
stadium, with God’s blessing, the
support of our benefactors, and the
caring attention of our authorities,
we congratulate 700 newlywed couples,
700 new Armenian families.
Your parents liberated the country
for this very day,” the bishop said.
The idea for this unprecedented
wedding belonged to Russian-Armenian
benefactor and businessman
Levon Hairapetian, whose
devotion to his birthplace, the village
of Vank in Martakert, is obvious.
He was the principal sponsor
and best man of the wedding.
Rouben Vardanian, Gevork
Mehrabian, Gagik Zakarian,
Danil Khachatourov, Sergery
Sarkisov, Ararat Tavadian, and
dozens of other Armenian benefactors
were also stood as best men.
Addressing the newlyweds and
the thousands of citizens gathered
at the stadium, Bako Sahakian,
the president of Nagorno-Karabakh,
said that the event had turned into
a pan-national event, because that
was the wish of its organizers.
“This wedding ceremony is unprecedented
in its nature, substance
and significance. We are
confirming our stance toward
human values and principles and
that we value the role and meaning
of family in our lives. The big
Artsakh wedding is the best way
to immortalize the memory of all
those who died during the war and
it is the best gift to those who are
currently defending the borders
of the fatherland and defending
its safety. This is also the continuation
of the respect and traditions
toward family, which we have inherited
from our ancestors,” said
Mr. Sahakian.
The president thanked the sponsors
and organizers of the event
and all those who had helped make
this important initiative become a
reality.
“Dear newlyweds, I congratulate
all of you from the bottom of my
heart. I am sure that the squeals
and laughter of children are going
to proclaim the well-being of our
country and nation and its eternal
path will continue through our
strong families,” Mr. Sahakian said.
The large wedding in Artsakh
lasted until midnight and ended
with fireworks. The toastmaster of
the wedding was much-loved actor
Ashot Ghazarian. Armenian pop
singers, as well as high-ranking officials,
political figures, and intellectuals
had come to Stepanakert
especially for the event.
This unprecedented event, which
will be remembered by the 700
couples and the Armenians of Artsakh
for a long time, has a very
important significance for the reinforcement,
strengthening, and empowerment
of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Carrying arms is not the only way
to keep and protect the fatherland.
It also requires using scythes and
spades and simply living on liberated
lands and forming families and
having children for that liberated
fatherland.
f
Armenian Reporter (ISSN 0004-2358), an independent newspaper,
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The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008 19
Commentary
Swan Lake. Photos: Photolure.
The statue of Arno Babajanian.
Living in
Armenia
Yerevan vistas and the reasons for staying
by Maria Titizian
Swan Lake, nestled among weeping willows
on the corner of Toumanian and Teryan is
home to Arno Babajanian, sitting in front
of his piano, one hand extended in the air
immortalized in the form of a basalt statue.
The monument to the great Armenian
composer was the cause of much cultural
debate several years ago when it was unveiled,
because it did not fit into the mold of
the classical statues strewn throughout the
city. Those statues are so similar in style and
composition, that you could switch heads
and be no less the wiser of who it actually is
– Sundukian or Toumanian himself. The one
exception is the statue of Mother Armenia
perched upon a hill, with a sword in her
hand standing guard ready to protect the
homeland. A closer look at Mother Armenia
and you can’t help but notice that she looks
more like a man; nothing feminine about
her at all. But a statue to replace one of Stalin
in the 1950s would have to contain the
characteristics of all things imperious.
I have been guilty of being overly sentimental,
some might even argue borderline
delusional about my connection to this land.
And while I continue to live and learn about
Armenia, my friends and acquaintances continue
to wonder what it is that makes me
want to stay. Colleagues will often question
why I question things, “Ba, Maria jan, are you
just realizing what kind of country you are
living in,” or “You left a country like Canada
to come here; are you crazy”
Most times I am at a loss to try to put to
words the reasons for coming and the reasons
for continuing to cherish the lives we have
been able to create. I sometimes wish people
would just accept the fact that moving to Armenia
and staying here isn’t an anomaly.
This past week afforded me the opportunity
to remember why I love being being
here. Swan Lake for starters. When the manmade
lake was transformed into a skating
rink in the winter months in 2005, it without
a doubt added to the quality of life. Families
had somewhere to go in the winter to
spend time with their children. The skating
rink, with it’s $1 million dollar price tag, was
donated to the people of Yerevan by the city
of Moscow.
Last year the government of France refurbished
the fountains in Republic Square. Every
evening starting from 9 P.M til midnight,
Yerevantsis are able to enjoy a spectacular
water and light show set to music by Aznavour
and Khachaturian. Without exception,
there are hundreds of people there every
night. It too, like Swan Lake became a place
for families to take their children, meet up
with friends, and enjoy the Square, lit up and
glowing like soft candlelight. When we went
for the first time to watch the show, it was
mesmerizing.
This past week, thanks to the Boghossian
Foundation, Lovers’ Park opened its
doors to the residents of our capital city. I
was there on the day of the opening, having
arrived much earlier than the appointed
hour for the official ceremonies. I walked
around and then sat on one of the many
benches by a man-made lake and enjoyed
the beautiful autumn weather. A camera operator,
a former colleague, walked up to me
and asked why I wasn’t working – in other
words why wasn’t I interviewing the architect
or the officials from the Armenia Fund
Trustee contributions to the AGMM
Financial contributions by former and current members of the Board of Trustees of Armenian Genocide Museum
and Memorial (AGMM) for the benefit of the AGMM as of September 2006.
who were milling around the park. What he
didn’t realize was that, in my own way, I was
working. I was simply enjoying being in a
miraculously tranquil corner of a bustling,
noisy city, thanking the Boghossian family
for having the foresight to bequeath to the
city something so beautiful and worthwhile.
Something was added to the quality of my
life and I’m sure for the rest of the city’s
residents as well. The next day I took my
children so that they could share in my borderline,
delusional happiness. When we arrived
and saw that hundreds and hundreds
of people were streaming into the park, curious
to see the new gift they had received,
strolling around the grounds just as happy
as I was, I felt vindicated.
While we continue to reap the benefits
of all the qualitative changes taking place
in our city and country, we have our diaspora
compatriots to thank, we have foreign
governments to thank, and we also have
expats to thank. Russian-Armenian Levon
Haorapetian, formerly of the village of Vank
in Nagorno Karabakh, was singlehandedly
responsible for the betrothal of 700 young
couples in one day this past week (see opposite
page). When we started receiving
the photos that our reporter in Karabakh
had taken of rows of young brides in white
gowns standing with their grooms framed
by lush mountains, there was a collective
sigh of joy in the office. It was a day of national
celebration. 700 new families on the
n Continued from page 19
A word of thanks
We also take this opportunity to thank the
following members of Congress for their
service:
Martin Meehan (D.-Mass.), who retired
in 2007, was an active member of the
House Caucus for Armenian Issues.
Mike Ferguson (D.-N,J.), who is retiring,
was a co-sponsor of the Armenian
Genocide resolution.
Michael McNulty (D.-N.Y.), who is retiring,
spoke on the record in February
2008 in support of the independence of
Karabakh and co-signed a letter asking
for extra aid to Armenia in the wake of
the war in Georgia.
Tom Allen (D.-Maine), a member of the
House Caucus for Armenian Issues, is
running for the Senate.
road to a new life, ripe with promise and
hope, a gift of $2,000 and a cow. What else
could you ask for
My son, for reasons I have decided not to
explore, has felt the shortcomings of this
country more acutely than the rest of us. He
hates inequality. He is always giving money
to beggars. He is incensed at what he sees
around him. He can’t understand the dynamics
of relationships here, nor can he understand
why people drive the way they do. My
fear has lately been that at some point he
would not see his future here.
I have tried not to pass judgement, but
to let him formulate his own opinions. The
nudging fear of not being able to justify all
that which is truly unjust to my young son
was momentarily lifted a few nights ago.
Talking about all these changes, about some
new directions that the government seems
to be implementing he said, “Wow, I didn’t
stop to think of all the good things happening.”
It’s true, we are all quick to pass
judgement, we are all impatient to finally
see the promised land as we individually envisioned
it.
There are things on my own wish list. I
could ask for a quick and easy resolution
to the Karabakh conflict, access to the sea,
cleaner air, regular garbage pick up, more
parking spaces, more jobs, more civil liberties,
more quality of life.
But this week proved to me that over all,
we’re not doing too poorly.
f
Editorial: Support our friends running for
the House of Representatives
Al Wynn (D.-Md.), who lost the primary,
co-sponsored the Armenian Genocide
resolution.
Ray LaHood (Ill.), who is retiring, co-sponsored
the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Jerry Weller (R.-Ill.), who is retiring, is a
member of the House Caucus on Armenian
Issues and co-sponsored the Armenian
Genocide resolution.
Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D.-Ohio), who
died on August 20, was a member of the
House Caucus on Armenian Issues and
co-sponsored the Armenian Genocide
resolution.
Mark Udall (D.-Colo.), is running for the
Senate and received our endorsement
on October 11.
Tom Udall (D,-N.M.), co-sponsored the Armenian
Genocide resolution and is running
for the Senate.
Rick Renzi (R.-Ariz.), who is retiring, cosponsored
the Armenian Genocide
resolution.

20 The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008

The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008

The Armenian Reporter | October 25, 2008